Midlands-based theatre company Stan’s Cafe are on the hunt for stories and memories of life along the banks of the River Avon for a new project.

River Tours: The Avon is the latest instalment of Stan’s Cafe’s ongoing River Tours project, which has previously visited The Thames, The Lune, The Indus, The Severn and the Volga.

Working closely with communities and groups across Warwickshire and Worcestershire, the project team is currently collecting stories which will inform a series of performances of River Tours: The Avon in August 2026 along the river - from Stratford-upon-Avon, south west towards Evesham and beyond. The project is supported by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the community groups they work with. It's also supported by Live & Local.

Rivers hold an important place in our lives. They’re sources of life and growth, offer peaceful sanctuary in troubled times, stimulate stories, fuel industry and employment, and more.

Craig Stephens, Associate Director, Stan’s Cafe, said: “River Tours: The Avon explores the importance of the River Avon to the people who live alongside it, walk its banks, boat or fish on it or simply enjoy sitting by it.

“In a 50 minute long poetic performance, illustrated by a beautiful textile map, the show takes you on a journey - which explores how the river and its history has not only shaped the landscape, but also the lives of the people around it. It has inspired writers and artists from William Shakespeare to JMW Turner. Great battles have been fought along its length, its water has powered mills and turbines and its floods have caused devastation.

“But the Avon is also a river of beauty and tranquillity, home to a host of wildlife and a space for people to take a moment to breathe and relax.  

“While some stretches have seen huge changes over the years, reflecting innovations in industry and farming, many parts appear much as they have for centuries, offering views that would have been seen by our ancestors.

“If you have a personal story about the Avon you’d like to share, we would love to hear it. Perhaps you worked in a town or village along its route, or swam in its waters or visited on a day out?”

Anyone with a story to tell about the river is encouraged to email the River Tours: Avon team (before Sunday 29 March 2026) via: rivers@stanscafe.co.uk

Stan’s Cafe River Tours: The Avon visits Warwickshire and Worcestershire during August 2026, in partnership with the RSC and Live & Local. Dates and venues to be announced soon.