StonyWords 2024

StonyWords is now in its 20th year. We’ve come a long way since we started all those years ago. Now it’s a fortnight of events from January 19th to February 4th organised by 15 different groups and taking place in seven venues around the town.

This year we have events organised for children – Storytime in the Library, Squeals on Wheels in the Parish Hall and Shake, Rattle and Sing in St Mary and St Giles Church. We have theatre provided by Drama Llamas in their production of Love and Information by Caryl Churchill. We have a evening of storytelling for adults with the title Tales Tattled & Told. And we mark the birthday in January 1884 of the writer and journalist Arthur Ransome. You may know him as the author of Swallows and Amazons. Did you also know of his connection with the Russian Revolution of 1917?

There is a film about Chile organised by Stony Scala Film Club. In 1976, we hear the story of a woman drawn into the anti-Pinochet resistance in an engrossing story of suspense and political intrigue. There is also music from the local band, Living Archive.

Finally, we have a series of visiting writers on a range of topics. There is a Saturday afternoon devoted to history: Henry III, Christopher Hatton courtier to Elizabeth 1, and a new history of 17th century England. A second Saturday focuses on the miners’ strike in 1984-5 and walking round contemporary London. The final Saturday focuses on the importance of walking, the art of being unreasonable and the role of textiles in health, well-being and change.

In between you can travel down the Danube to Prague, enjoy a play about James Hooten, a stable lad at the Bull Hotel and find out about one of the founders of modern midwifery in 17th century France.

Oh, and you can also learn about La Chandeleur – the French equivalent of Pancake Day.

Full details of all events and how to get tickets will be available from www.stonywords.org.uk in December. You can also pick up leaflets around the town and look out for posters. We look forward to seeing you.