1 July 2026

Tom Kelly

David Mark Williams writes: The following quote from Jon Fosse, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023, is pertinent to an appreciation of Tom Kelly's work: “Theatre is really a large act of listening...and the act of writing is to me to listen.” Like Fosse, Tom Kelly is a writer who enjoys success across three genres: poetry, fiction and drama. What distinguishes his practice is a highly developed capacity to listen which informs his work throughout, especially in the rhythms of everyday speech.

Tom Kelly is a well known and extremely talented, and popular, writer and poet. He has recently published his 14th publication with Red Squirrel Press.
'These Are My Bounds' includes both poetry and prose. Some of the writing is autobiographical - which is fascinating for the audience at Rothbury (as we are all nosy and love to hear of others lives!).

The Morning Star describes 'These Are My Bounds' as 'another consummate, heart-warming collection from the talented Tom Kelly'.

David Mark Williams, writing for The Lake, says: Although Kelly's work is very much embedded within an oral tradition and the performing arts, what we have here is writing that is not meant to be declaimed but to be spoken and spoken moreover from the heart. It is intended to bear witness and it does that unerringly. Kelly, like Fosse, transcends genre. He is a writer, pure and simple

Read more about Tom at Red Squirrel Press

Andy Craig

Andy is a photographer and singer-songwriter. He is based in Northumberland, loves the coast. He writes beautiful songs, and takes glorious photographs. 'A professional photographer by day, Andy transfers the skills of capturing exceptional images to his music' (Blues in Britain).

Andy will be presenting the five songs in his Bamburgh Tales Song Cycle.

'Andy's combination of playing/singing evoked the story of each chapter in Bamburgh Castle's history and was quite moving as well as lyrical and hauntingly beautiful. The presentation portrayed real human emotions in each chapter of music then followed up with a really interesting narrative explaining the history or each era. For an audience who wouldn't know the history of the Castle as well as Andy clearly does it was a fascinating and creatively original way to introduce the centuries'
North Sunderland & Seahouses Local History Society (Oct 2025)