This June, House of Books & Friends invites you to a special evening of storytelling, conversation, and connection during Loneliness Awareness Week 2025.
On Wednesday 11th June at 6:30pm, audiences will gather for a live listening event of The Autumn of My Years, a heartfelt radio play that celebrates friendships formed across generations.
Written by Rutland-based actor and writer Henry Dawe, the play is inspired by real-life encounters that left a deep mark on him, an unexpected bond with a woman he met in a theatre queue, and a meaningful relationship with his elderly neighbour, a former Bletchley Park codebreaker. These stories intertwine in a narrative that champions empathy, companionship, and the belief that age is no barrier to connection.
“This play is about how a simple act of kindness or curiosity can shift someone’s entire world,” says Dawe, who also stars as the young man in the production. “It’s a reminder that older people still have so much to give, and that younger generations have so much to gain from listening.”
Professionally recorded in London and already aired on multiple Midland’s radio stations, the play now takes centre stage at this one-off Manchester event. Following the listening session, attendees are invited to join a thought-provoking discussion on the themes of loneliness, ageing, and the healing potential of human connection.
The event is a collaboration between The Campaign to End Loneliness (based at Sheffield Hallam University), Henry Dawe, and House of Books & Friends, a Community Interest Company bookshop founded to help nurture community and conversation around social isolation.
Event: Radio Play Listening & Panel Discussion – The Autumn of My Years
Location: House of Books & Friends, Manchester
Date & Time: Wednesday 11th June, 6:30pm
Tickets: Available here
