WORDTheatre: Seasons of Yearning: Selections from Nicholas Royle’s Best British Short Stories Series 2011-2025

Dubbed the “short story specialists” by The Sunday Times, WORDTheatreUK is a charitable organisation on a mission to connect people by sharing beautifully crafted literary works! Their signature Author • Actor Series features great actors who step into the finest contemporary short stories with the authors present. Enjoy selections from Nicholas Royle‘s annual Best British Short Stories series.

All proceeds will go towards their schools initiative, WORDTheatre Campus, which brings live and digital performances of celebrated stories to historically under-resourced schools, encouraging students to experience the joy of reading, the power of language, and the impact of great literature.

Five Stories, Five Actors & One Piano Player

*THE CAST: Ayesha Antoine, Doña Croll, Karl Johnson, MyAnna Buring & Harry Lloyd

ATTENDING AUTHORS: David Bevan, Tom Bromley. Dean, Catrin Kean and Leone Ross.

MUSICIAN: Paul Cook on piano

Produced & Directed by Cedering Fox, WORDTheatre Artistic Director • Produced by Kirsty Peart, WORDTheatreUK Creative Partner

Proceeds support WORDTheatre Campus, which offers live and digital performances of celebrated stories, paired with study guides, free to under-resourced schools in the UK & the US. Our programming is designed to ignite imaginations and encourage students to experience the joy of listening, of reading, the power of language, and the soul nurturing impact of great literature.

For more information visit WORDTheatreUK.org or email admin@wordtheatreuk.org.

*Please note that all appearances are subject to final availability.

What previously featured authors have to say…

“She [Tallulah Greive] certainly had a lot of people in the audience crying, and a lot of people coming up to us afterward telling us how much they connected with the work.”
– Anneliese Mackintosh

“It was so special to see this story read aloud. It was important to me that it be read by a duo of black actors to give an authentic voice… Kayla [Meikle] and Leemore [Marrett Jr] told me afterwards how much this story meant to them, and we all felt quite emotional about it. There were hugs, they said it felt like a gift, and that, too, is what I always intend.”
– Leone Ross

“I had a particular voice in my head, but when I saw Con [O’Neill] performing the story, it was a completely different voice. And my words were made new and strange to me, which was a really kind of wonderful and interesting experience.”
– Ben Tufnell