The Border Readers is an association of regionally based professional actors with a wealth of performing experience in all media. Since 2018 we have been presenting themed audio narratives in libraries, art centres, galleries, hostelries, village halls, theatres, pubs and historic houses across the English border counties and occasionally into Scotland.
Some audience comments from library venues: ‘I was surprised just how lovely it was, as an adult, to be read to.” ” Wonderful – A great choice of stories and such a pleasure to be read to.’…Excellent – readers were clear (I’m hard of hearing). ‘Thoroughly enjoyed the evening. thank you!’…’Great – loved the ‘stage’ set too!…Very enjoyable – a different experience.’ ….’Exceptional actors. Great stories with a strong connection to the area.’ ‘Enthralled by the storylines and a sense of being in the action.’ …’A wonderful evening in a lovely venue.’…’Atmospheric set. Great stories, well read.’ ‘I love listening to a story. I like the intimate setting, the sense of place in the stories and the voices of the storytellers’. ‘Magic – what a pleasure listening’
2026 AUTUMN TOUR
We’re excited to be back on the road this autumn with Words of Love; superb short stories from great writers about people in and out of love. Touring from Friday 25th September to Thursday 3rd December to sixteen venues across the Borderlands. If you’re a booker or represent an interested venue it’s not yet too late to be included, so do get in touch!
A live audio event suitable for anyone 11-100 * Lasts approx. 1hr 50’, inclusive of interval.
The Row by Penelope Lively. A brilliant piece of comic writing on the ups and downs of married life from the much loved Booker prize winning author. Taking Flight by Helen Hutchinson is the poignant story of would be lovers in Victorian Perthshire and the unusual role of a rural library in shaping their destinies. This award winning piece of new writing is our contribution to the national ‘Year of Reading’ initiative. In Plastic Heart by Jeremy Page, Jamie dumps Helen so Helen dumps the clothes he bought her…or tries to. A painfully funny take on the unexpected perils of starting over. To Belong To by Kerry Andrew was shortlisted for the 2018 BBC national short story award. A heart-warming tale of loss, redemption and healing through the power of nature and community on a remote Scottish island.
Watch this space or follow us on Facebook for more details of stories and writers, venues and readers.
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
The readers toured Haunted, classic and contemporary ghost story readings, on and around Halloween in 2018 and again in 2019. During the Covid crisis of 2020/2021 more classic ghost stories were recorded for listening on You Tube. The Border Readers returned to live touring in Spring 2022 with a different theme – Many Deadly Returns, celebrating 21 years of Murder Squad, the north of England’s leading association of crime writers. They continued in 2023 with Murder They Write, more gripping crime stories by Murder Squad co-founders Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards and Cath Staincliffe. In autumn 2024 & spring of 2025 the readers were back on the road with Land Lines, short stories with a contemporary countryside setting, from Helen Dunmore, Deborah Moggach, Tim Pears, Adam Thorpe & Jo Scott. Our most extensive overall tour to date it played a total of 19 venues across the wider region.
Shore Lines toured in 2025 and again in the spring of 2026. It proved a successful entertaining line up of stories from our brilliant writer friends Ann Cleeves, Linda Cracknell, Tony Glover and Jo Scott. Ann’s haunting crime story Mud is set in her home county of Devon in the land of the two rivers, while Linda’s poignant narrative Crossing the Bar, inspired by Tennyson’s classic poem, reflects her own family’s maritime history and was originally commissioned by and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. We were particularly proud to have commissioned the other two stories, both set on the Northumberland coast. Tony Glover’s The Weather Gleam follows a young couple’s relationship during a visit to Holy Island as seen through the eyes of Charlie, the heroine’s faithful Bedlington terrier. Anchored in Amble, will Jenny ever set sail?Jo Scott’s romantic comedyTouch and Go draws on her own background as an experienced yachtswoman.
Programmes 2018 – 2022 toured contemporary and classic short stories by: Chez Brenchley, Elizabeth Bowen, Amelia B Edwards, Elizabeth Gaskell, Muriel Gray, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Edith Nesbit, Christine Poulson, Muriel Spark and Oscar Wilde.
Short stories by Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy and Cath Staincliffe toured in 2022
We are always open to play new venues and also welcome private bookings to suit particular requirements. Use the Contact page and Stephen will get back to you ASAP
STEPHEN TOMLIN 