Dan Richards; Overnight (The Sherborne TWF, 11th April 2026, 3.30pm)
The Powell Theatre, Sherborne, DT9 3AP
Saturday 11th April 2026
There is something special about the night. For many, just the idea of it conjures thoughts of starlit skies, romance, refuge, of being tucked up in bed. For some, the night means fear, vulnerability, danger, sleeplessness. At night things go bump, monsters hide under beds, owls take wing and foxes prowl. For others still, nightfall signals the start of work.
Overnight is a celebration of all things nocturnal, of those who labour while the rest of us sleep: the bakers, health workers, sailors, couriers, broadcasters, drivers, fishers, the emergency services and more. And it is also a hymn to nighttime wildlife, dreams and art. We'll hang out with bats and look at the stars. We'll learn what Moomintroll has to teach us. We'll travel by ship, train, racing car and foot. There will be more than one surprise along the way. Through a series of personal journeys Dan Richards explores what the night means to a fascinating array of people, taking us from night terrors to the glow of watching the dawn break on the summer solstice. Overnight will change the way you think about the hours after dark.
Recently published by Canongate, "Dan Richards’ latest book is an immersive hybrid of investigative journalism, personal memoir and nocturnal psychogeography" (Andy Childs in Caught by The River).
This talk replaces that of Raja Shehadah and Penny Johnson who unfortunately are prevented by events in the Middle East from travelling to Sherborne.
Overnight is a celebration of all things nocturnal, of those who labour while the rest of us sleep: the bakers, health workers, sailors, couriers, broadcasters, drivers, fishers, the emergency services and more. And it is also a hymn to nighttime wildlife, dreams and art. We'll hang out with bats and look at the stars. We'll learn what Moomintroll has to teach us. We'll travel by ship, train, racing car and foot. There will be more than one surprise along the way. Through a series of personal journeys Dan Richards explores what the night means to a fascinating array of people, taking us from night terrors to the glow of watching the dawn break on the summer solstice. Overnight will change the way you think about the hours after dark.
Recently published by Canongate, "Dan Richards’ latest book is an immersive hybrid of investigative journalism, personal memoir and nocturnal psychogeography" (Andy Childs in Caught by The River).
This talk replaces that of Raja Shehadah and Penny Johnson who unfortunately are prevented by events in the Middle East from travelling to Sherborne.
