Storyhouse Childless festival returns for fifth year

By Dherran Titherington 24th Jul 2025

Attendees will experience powerful panel discussions, creative workshops and performances (Image via: Mark McNulty)
Attendees will experience powerful panel discussions, creative workshops and performances (Image via: Mark McNulty)

Storyhouse Childless, a weekend of events exploring living without children, is set to return for its fifth year.

Running from 12 – 14 September, the programme seeks to create space for honest and empowering conversations about living without children - allowing attendees to build community, share stories and make connections. 

Since 2019, Storyhouse have brought together hundreds of people through keynotes, panel discussions and workshops that reflect "the full complexity of non-parenthood".

The weekend is for all adults without children. Friends and family who want to find out how they can support the 'non-parents' in their families and communities are also welcome.

The weekend begins with an evening of live music and connection.

It is followed by opening reflections from Dr Dawn Llewellyn, associate professor of religion and gender at the University of Chester, who will frame lead conversations about pro-natalism, identity and belonging. 

Across the weekend, attendees will experience powerful panel discussions, creative workshops and performances.

Saturday's programme also welcomes journalist and broadcaster Bibi Lynch, leading a panel on stigma around singlehood and non-parenthood.

An evening of theatre, comedy and cabaret will follow, featuring 'Otherhood' by Old Bird Theatre, a reading from Robert Nurden's new play 'Empty' and a comedy line-up hosted by the TOKEN Collective. 

Sunday offers a reflective start with breakfast gatherings and body-mapping sessions, followed by a keynote from TEDx speaker Emily Monsell-Holden.

A panel of voices will join her to share diverse stories of navigating a world shaped by parenthood norms. Creative writing and visual arts sessions led by Gayle Letherby and others will round out the day. 

The festival closes with a bold panel chaired by Dr Llewellyn, asking: Is childlessness an intersectional issue?

Guests include activist Hafsa Qureshi, Pride Cymru trustee Kate Hutchinson and author Yvonne John - who will explore how race, sexuality and identity intersect with the experience of being without children. 

You can find out more here.

     

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