Why Do We Need Storyhouse Childless?
Storyhouse Childless
Event details
Now in its 4th year, Storyhouse Childless has gone from strength to strength in creating an inclusive space to explore living without children across childless and childfree experiences.
In this opening session, join Dawn Llewellyn in discussion with friends old and new – some of the voices who have helped shape the event and who’s stories have helped Storyhouse Childless grow.
This panel reflects and reviews the journey so far! How did Storyhouse Childless begin and what have we learnt? What are the personal inspirations and social and political motivations for coming together? What does it mean to curate childless conversations and community? Why do we need Storyhouse Childless?
Join us for an engaging and welcoming start to your weekend.
Members: £4.50
Non-members: £5
Included in the Childless Weekend Pass (£35)
Click here to buy your pass
Please book a space for the events you will be attending with your pass
The Panel
Dawn Llewellyn She/Her
Dawn is an Associate Professor of Religion and Gender at the University of Chester. She’s been researching, publishing, and speaking publicly about pronatalism for over 12 years and her current book project examines how Christian women understand and manage their reproductive agency and choice. She co-founded the festival in 2019. Although labels are tricky things, she usually moves between childless by choice/childfree/not a parent/Dawn.
Nicola Haigh She/Her
Nicola has been a Community Manager for Storyhouse since 2017 which involves co-curating programmes and festivals with a number of communities. These include Storyhouse Childless, Storyhouse Women, Storyhouse Elders and a Disability festival. Nicola is passionate about bringing people together to share their stories and was inspired to develop Storyhouse Childless after learning about childlessness from Kirstie Higgins and Dawn Llewellyn. Nicola is an ally to the childless/childfree community.
Jody Day She/Her
Jody Day is a Founder of the childless movement in 2011 with Gateway Women, Author of ‘Living the Life Unexpected’; Psychotherapist and Gateway Elderwomen @apprenticecrone. Jody has been a key part of the Storyhouse Childless programme each year including 2019, 2022 & 2023.
Andy Harrod He/Him
Andy is the co-founder of The Childless Men’s Community for Childless not by Choice Men on Facebook. Andy was an audience member in 2019 and has since shared his experience and stories on panels and been a key member of the focus group. Andy is a lecturer and researcher in a health and wellbeing geography at Lancaster University. Andy is Childless not by Choice and is interested in creative expressions of childlessness.
Yvonne John She/Her
Yvonne John is a British author and activist for the Childless women of colour. Yvonne John delivered a key note at Storyhouse Childless in 2019 which looked at the unique aspect of the women of colour experience of childlessness. Yvonne is childless due to unexplained infertility.
Kirstie Higgins She/ Her
Kirstie is the Chester lead for the Childless Collective formerly Gateway Women. She has complex disabiling health conditions and is childless not by choice. In 2019 Kirstie approached Storyhouse to find a meeting place for Gateway Women & discuss the possibility of more childless focussed events. In November 2019 the first Storyhouse Childless took place as a one-day event and Kirstie has been thrilled to stay involved ever since.