Stealing Thunder Storytelling Festival is run by storytellers Emily and Nick Hennessey. The festival came about from Nick and Emily’s wedding, when they had an epic festival-style celebration with storytelling and music in their Lake District village. Lots of people from the local community came… as well as the occasional sheep… and the neighbours kept asking when it would happen again!
‘THE FRIENDLIEST FESTIVAL I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. MAY THERE BE MORE!’ – 2023 audience member

Emily Hennessey performing at Stealing Thunder Festival 2023
Nick and Emily already ran Stealing Thunder StoryNights, so a festival didn’t seem like too great a leap! The Stealing Thunder Storytelling Festival has now become a celebration of the world’s very best storytellers and musicians, attracting both local and far flung audiences to this beautiful corner of the Lakes.
Alongside the programmed shows, the festival aims to provide spaces for magical moments to happen – giving audiences the opportunity to share in the live experience, tell stories around the campfire, and steal some thunder of their own – as well as watching absolutely fantastic storytelling shows by superb contemporary performance storytellers.
STEALING THUNDER 2025: BOOK NOW
Watch Nick and Emily Hennessey talk about how Stealing Thunder Storytelling Festival began…