Great Malvern Festival of Stories for Children
Seb loves to read aloud. The problem is finding anyone who wants to listen.
When he misreads a village notice, he becomes convinced there is a job waiting for someone to read aloud to the Sea, and sets off to find it.
What follows is a strange journey through empty places and unexpected encounters, as Seb practises his stories on a broken-down car, an old tree and anything else that might stay still long enough. But the further he travels, the more uncertain things become. His family are searching for him, the way home is getting harder to find, and the Sea may not be quite what he imagined.
Inspired by Joan Aiken’s short story, The Boy Who Read Aloud to the Sea blends shadow and bunraku puppetry, physical theatre, words, audience interaction and visual storytelling.
Funny, peculiar and full of heart, the show follows a child trying to hold onto his imagination and find someone willing to listen.
Winner of the Tall Stories Directors Award 2025
“It’s a small-scale show with a big, beating heart, and the company’s award-winning touch is clear in every moment.”
Malvern Gazette
“Imaginative without being frenetic, thoughtful without being heavy, and always rooted in the joy of shared storytelling.”
Malvern Gazette
Inspired by The Boy Who Read Aloud by Joan Aiken and presented with permission from the Joan Aiken Estate.
Running time: Approx. 65 minutes
Please note: running times are approximate and may change on the day of a performance.
Age guidance: 5–11 / Key Stages 1 and 2
