Family stories, eccentric relatives, a little laughter and the occasional unexpected turn. My first solo storytelling performance is now available to watch!
Hello again, everyone! Well, I’ve done it!
After all the writing, rewriting, rehearsing, wondering whether anyone would laugh in the right places (or indeed laugh at all!), my one-man storytelling show, Families – We All Have an Uncle Ted, finally made it onto the stage!
And now, I’m delighted to be able to share a recording of that very first performance with you.
On Sunday 26 July 2026, I took to the stage at the Royal Station Hotel in Carnforth, as part of the Morecambe Bay Fringe Festival. Just me, an audience and a collection of family characters who have been taking up residence in my imagination for rather a long time… Oh, and Uncle Ted, of course.
Every Family Has Its Characters!
We’ve all got them, haven’t we?
That relative who turns an ordinary family gathering into something quite extraordinary. The one whose stories become family legends, whose behaviour raises the occasional eyebrow, and whose name alone can provoke laughter around the dinner table.
In my show, that character is Uncle Ted. But Families – We All Have an Uncle Ted is about more than one eccentric relative. It’s a journey through the peculiarities of family life, beginning with an unplanned conception and following the strange, funny and sometimes touching events surrounding one rather unusual family. There’s humour, a little sadness, some decidedly bizarre happenings and, I hope, a good deal of recognition… Because although every family is different, perhaps we’re not all quite as different as we think!
Taking a New Show Onto the Stage
I’ve performed poetry and spoken word at a variety of events over the years, but putting together a full one-man storytelling show is a rather different proposition. For a start, there’s an awful lot to remember! And when you’re the only performer, there’s nobody else to blame if you forget what comes next. But that’s part of the excitement of live performance.
You can write something sitting quietly at home, read it through countless times and convince yourself you know exactly how it will work. Then you stand in front of an audience, and suddenly those words take on a life of their own. A pause becomes important. A line gets a laugh you weren’t expecting. Something that seemed amusing on paper feels completely different when spoken aloud. That’s what makes storytelling such a pleasure. And recording that first performance means I can now share the experience with people who couldn’t be there on the day.
Watch the First Performance!
I’m delighted to share the recording of Families – We All Have an Uncle Ted, filmed at the Royal Station Hotel on Sunday 26 July 2026.
🎬 WATCH THE FULL PERFORMANCE BELOW
This was the show’s first outing, so you’re seeing it as it happened, rather than a polished studio production. That’s part of the charm of live storytelling, I think. It’s a real performance, with all the spontaneity that comes with it. So put your feet up, make yourself comfortable, and come and meet Uncle Ted and the rest of this rather extraordinary family.
Did You Have an Uncle Ted?
Now, here’s something I’d love to know.
Did your family have an Uncle Ted? Not necessarily someone actually called Ted, of course!
Perhaps it was an aunt with a remarkable talent for causing chaos. A grandfather who could turn the simplest incident into a magnificent story. Or that mysterious relative whose exploits were discussed for years afterwards. Families have an extraordinary way of producing characters who stay with us long after the events themselves have faded. And sometimes those are the people who give us our very best stories.
If you watch the video, do leave a comment and tell me what you think. And if it reminds you of someone in your own family, I’d love to hear about them too!
More Stories, Poetry and Writing
For anyone discovering my work for the first time, I’m an author, poet, storyteller and enthusiastic long-distance walker.
My writing ranges from walking adventures such as A Pennine Way Odyssey, Show Me the Way to Santiago and A Very Alternative Coast to Coast, to children’s stories including The Owl and the Mole and The Heavy-Footed Spider and Other Stories.
I’ve also published poetry, including my pamphlet Imprints, and regularly enjoy sharing my work at readings, poetry evenings and other live events.
You can explore my books, poetry, videos and upcoming appearances right here at Peter Kay Word Space.
One Last Thing…
If you enjoy the recording, please consider giving it a thumbs-up on YouTube, leaving a comment or sharing it with someone who might appreciate a good family story. After all, storytelling is meant to be shared. And Uncle Ted would probably have something to say if I kept all the attention to myself!
Happy watching, and thank you for your continued encouragement and support.
Peter Kay
Author | Poet | Performer
Read the original show announcement:
https://peterkaywordspace.co.uk/new-solo-show-families-we-all-have-an-uncle-ted-at-the-bay-fringe-2026/