At Storyhouse we have a series of festivals and events which we curate with the community. These include Storyhouse Queer, Storyhouse Women and Storyhouse Elders. We realise not everyone resonates with the word childless however we have worked closely with a focus group to discuss and agree on one word we could use. 

This event is for everyone living without children and will explore many aspects of this experience, so please don’t be put off from attending if childless is not a word you identify with. 

Storyhouse is an independent arts centre incorporating two theatres, a cinema, library and restaurant.

The building is used by lots of different types of people and is used by families with children.

Trigger warning: the children’s library is located to the right of the main entrance (the one with the steps and ramp). If you want to avoid this please use the sliding door entrance which is opposite Exchange Square (Chester Market and Picturehouse).

A variety of events including panel discussions, workshops, discussion groups and comedy.

Everything is included in the festival pass and you can pick and choose what you attend. There is space in Storyhouse to take a break from the events and Storyhouse is located in a city centre close to shops and restaurants.  

The festival starts in the Friday evening with a social event and involved optional speed friending. This is a great way to meet other attendees and to get to get to know Storyhouse as a venue.  

For the last three festivals we have held all events in the Garret Theatre and Garret Bar. Due to the growing size of the festival, we are now hosting events in both the Garret Theatre and the Main Theatre. This means more events, and more options in what you can choose to attend.

Please note that the Main Theatre is accessible from the ground floor, which is also home to The Kitchen ( Storyhouse’s restaurant). The Garret Bar on the fourth floor remains available as a private space for festival-goers to relax away from other Storyhouse visitors.

No! Storyhouse Childless is for everyone and the programme includes stories from men, and from trans, queer, and gender fluid people.  

Yes! If you have made the decision to be Childfree or still in the process of making that decision, this event will be an opportunity to meet and hear from others living without children. 

Please be reassured that no one will be asked to disclose their own ‘label’ unless they want to. 

Having programmed and held this event three four five times now, we have received lots of positive feedback about the inclusion of the childless by choice community, including this quote from one attendee: 

I found the inclusion of the childless by choice community incredibly powerful too, as, in truth, I honestly hadn’t considered in any depth, the huge decisions and questions you face too in choosing a life without children, and I really think it helped to give more richness and depth to the conversations and topics – I really valued the inclusion of it, and the broadening of the conversations.  

Firstly please email Nicola (Community Manager) nicola@storyhouse.com and say hello! We can arrange a phone call/video call if this is something you would like.  

Also, its recommended that you attend the Friday Night event – there you will meet Nicola and members of the community who have attended the festival every year and can help you feel at home.  There will also be opportunities for you to have a meal with other attendees.  

You can also join the Storyhouse Childless Facebook Group here and if you are local to Chester you can attend the Childfree/Childless Social which takes place at Storyhouse every month. https://www.storyhouse.com/whats-on/childless-childfree-social/  

We are hosting a meet up on the Friday night where there will be optional speed-friending. If you don’t like organised fun, please come along anyway to meet others who are attending the weekend.

The Garret Theatre and Garret Bar can be accessed by a lift which is right by the entrance to the Main Theatre on the ground floor. There will be Storyhouse volunteers who can help you find your way around the building.

If you have access needs for theatre seating please email hello@storyhouse.com with requirements.

To find out more about accessibility at Storyhouse, click here.

You are more than welcome to attend. Real life stories are a great way to educate and raise awareness and to learn how to support a friend/ family member.   

We ask that you don’t bring babies or children into the events. 

“Of course, the diverse and complex world of any particular group can easily go unseen by those outside it. The weekend also made wonder what assumptions and expectations I might be placing on groups other to me.” 

 “It was a weekend of creativity, colour and energy. Events ranged from a keynote presentation on Pronatalism and societal assumptions around child-bearing to panels and discussion groups on childlessness as experienced from the perspective of being single, gay, in chronic illness and ageing. The range of emotions was palpable too, from tears to defiance, anxiety to settledness and joy in purposeful living beyond biological parenthood.” 

 “It was my 3rd year of attending and as I said to a friend as we sat having breakfast at the hotel, looking out onto the streets of Chester, it has become part of our lives and we feel so at home there.” 

 “On a personal level I was so thankful for the chronic illness and disability session.  It was fantastic and I was very inspired by the panel again creativity weaved into that too.” 

 “The beautiful panel on childlessness and intersectional issue made the subject feel accessible and made me want to learn more.” 

“I felt so welcomed, the weekend was actually beyond anything I imagined. I knew it was going to be special, I just couldn’t anticipate the many ways it was!  

I’d really like to have the cabaret & comedy continued.it was just fabulous, and such a relief to be able to laugh together.” 

“Storyhouse Childless  is ultimately about being in a room with likeminded people and every year I am lucky to connect with new people, reconnect with people I already know and sometimes meet people I only know from the internet, all of whom are just lovely”. 

Please contact nicola@storyhouse.com  –  Nicola Haigh the Community Manager will be able to answer your question/ query.