Stealing Thunder
A small storytelling organisation with a big imagination, based in the Lake District, UK.
Family StoryWalks - Orrest Head
Between Monday 27 October 2025 and Saturday 22 November 2025
An autumn stroll with stories, for ages 4-11.
Up through the rhododendron forest, we’ll follow the winding path of stories with brave children, wicked witches, hairy trolls, dragons and fairies (not the nice kind!) for company.
Your guide will be internationally renowned storyteller, Emily Hennessey, who lives in Cumbria and loves walking.
The aim of this walk, as well as enjoying a gorgeous autumn stroll with great stories, is to make us feel braver with every tale. These stories contain encounters with slightly scary characters and events, and always end positively. Not suitable for children under 4.
Paths can be steep, uneven and muddy in places.
Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Dogs on leads welcome.
Duration: 1 mile/75-90mins to the summit (or nearby, depending on the pace of the group)
MEET at the narrow lane next to the lower entrance to the Windermere Hotel.
What3Words: ///opposing.unfocused.bike
Funded Westmorland & Furness Council
Orrest Head, Windermere
Stories Under the Stars: Fireside Storytelling for Families
Between Thursday 30 October 2025 and Sunday 9 November 2025
Fireside storytelling sessions for all ages 7+
As the nights draw in, let's wrap up warm, gather around the fire and dive into a constellation of narration, with stories of ghosts, gods, monsters, mythical creatures and heroes to send our imaginations soaring into the cosmos.
Where: Bowland Bridge - in the field next to the bridge. (Look for the coffee van parked opposite.)
What3Words: ///innocence.learning.hooks
Duration: 1 hour.
Parking: Along the road in the village (please avoid the pub car park)
Stories will be aimed at ages 7-14, and therefore might not be suitable for under 7’s.
Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, cocktails and more available to buy from ‘A Word in Your Ear’ coffee van on site.
Wear warm clothing!
Funded by Westmorland & Furness Council
Queries - emily@stealingthunder.co.uk
MORE autumn storytelling events - www.stealingthunder.co.uk
Field by the Beck
Stories Under the Stars: Fireside Myth & Music for grown ups
Between Friday 31 October 2025 and Sunday 2 November 2025
Myth and music beside the fire, beneath the stars.
An evening of cosmic stories, soaring through worlds of gods, queens, heroes, mythical creatures and... shopping trolleys!?
Hot chocolate, wine, cocktails and more available to buy from ‘A Word in Your Ear’ coffee van on site.
Where: Bowland Bridge - In the field next to the bridge. (Look for the fairy lights and the coffee van parked opposite.)
What3Words: ///innocence.learning.hooks
Duration: Around 90mins.
Parking: Along the road in the village (please avoid the pub car park)
Stories will be aimed at adults and are not suitable for under 14's.
Wear warm clothing!
Funded by Westmorland & Furness Council
Queries - emily@stealingthunder.co.uk
MORE autumn storytelling events - www.stealingthunder.co.uk
Field by the Beck
Stealing Thunder Storytelling Festival 2025
Join us in the Lake District for an epic storytelling festival. Our 2025 festival theme is Scandinavian Midsummer, encompassing all the beauty, wonder and wild abandon of the midnight sun!
Expect some of the finest storytellers from the UK and Scandinavia telling fairytales for grown-ups, along with midsummer celebrations, wild encounters, live music, late night DJ sessions, tales told around the fire, storywalks through the woods, hands-on workshops, and great food and drink. Enter a world of playfulness, epic stories and wild enchantment nestled in a gorgeous green valley near Lake Windermere.
Our main programme is aimed at adult audiences, but Stealing Thunder is a family friendly festival. Our myths for kids programme is packed full of superb family friendly storytelling, and you’ll find plenty of other activities to keep everyone entertained – from toddlers to teens.
Camp for the full weekend or just join us for the day; either way, don’t miss this festival in 2025.
Bowland Bridge
Storytelling Skills for Beginners
Saturday 30 November 2024
‘Once Upon a Time…’
Storytelling skills for beginners
Have you ever fancied telling a story without a book or a script?
This practical taster workshop will introduce you to the basic principles of performance storytelling using visualisation, voice and gesture.
Led by professional storyteller, Emily Hennessey.
Suitable for complete beginners and those looking to develop their skills.
Wear comfy clothes for moving around.
Aimed at adults, 14+
Emily is a dynamic, internationally renowned performance storyteller often found wielding a stick and stamping her feet as she embraces epics, myths, wondertales and folktales from across the world.
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
www.stealingthunder.co.uk
Ford Park
