Why readings by candlelight?

Another unique feature of writing retreats at A Place to Write is the reading by candlelight on the final evening. Retreaters are often surprised by the effect of candlelight on their own mood, the mood of the group, and everyone's overall experience of the last evening's activity. When guests ask how we arrived at this idea, I explain that it's a result of several chance encounters - beginning with my life-long interest in Shakespeare, and ending with some special people on retreat....

The group from our first-ever candlelit reading

In May 2020, in the midst of the first Covid lockdown, reflecting on my life to that point (!), I decided that I wanted to invest my spare time in researching something that has always interested and fascinated me, but that I had never dedicated my full attention to: the works of William Shakespeare. As a result, I found myself researching places to apply for an MA in Shakespeare studies and planned myself a possible route from there to a subsequent PhD. As a result, in September 2020 I began studying for an MA by Research at the Shakespeare Institute, at the University of Birmingham.

After a few false starts, my supervisor, Tiffany Stern, commented on my unusual insight into the effects of candlelight as described by early modern writers. This insight came from the several decades of my younger life when I worked as a lighting designer in theatres across the UK. During that period I learned and discovered much about the way light works, the way the human eye sees, and the effects of both on the appearance of things. In my case, in particular, the appearance of actors, costumes, props, scenery, staging, and other elements of a theatrical production. Having identified this aspect of my experience, we (Tiffany and I) decided that, for my MA, I should investigate some of the effects of candlelight on the staged elements in a few of Shakespeare's plays.

Norton Facsimile of Shakespeare's First Folio

After I had compiled a written analysis of just one play - The Tempest - Tiffany suggested to me that my work was original, important and worth investing a significant amount of time and effort into. As a result I applied to upgrade from MA to PhD. After a written submission of 9000 words and an extended interview with a progress panel it was agreed that my research was potentially of PhD standard. And so began a full-time investment in exploring not only the late plays of Shakespeare, with an eye on their illumination at the candlelit Blackfriars playhouse, but also the wider sciences of light and vision that my lighting design career had brought me into contact with. Four years on and I have completed the research, completed my doctorate, and will be graduating formally in December... in accordance with my lockdown vision.

But my own knowledge of the effects of candlelight does not fully explain why readings by candlelight are important at A Place to Write. Indeed, for the first year of retreats we did not even hold readings at the ends of retreats, let alone by candlelight. For this innovation, from the beginning of 2024, we have two particular guests to thank - and thankful we are! Firstly, Bella.

Bella was on retreat with us when, over dinner on the first evening, I let slip that I was researching Shakespeare and Candlelight for a PhD. Bella was intrigued and suggested, in passing I thought, that it might be interesting to have a candlelit reading on the last night. I think I may have laughed and agreed, quickly assigning the idea to my internal trash bin. But Bella had other ideas. The next evening, at dinner, she loudly announced that she was looking forward to the candlelit reading on Thursday! Oh, I thought, maybe it's real? Maybe I need to get out my candles and candelabra?! And I did. Because by Thursday the whole group knew we were going to have a candlelit reading. And we did. Which brings us to Riaz.

A candlelit reading in our Stables Lounge

At the conclusion of the consequent reading we shared feedback: how the candlelight had made people feel and how it had contributed to a unique experience for everyone. The unexpected effect created by the unusual illumination was universally enjoyed. Before we could turn the lights on and wend our different ways once again, Riaz turned to me and declared 'you should make this part of your brand, Nic: readings by candlelight'. The agreement of the other guests confirmed the potential for this concept and, tentatively at first, encouraged by the positive response of Riaz, Bella et al, I eventually began to plan how to introduce and organise this element on future retreats. I shouldn't have worried: at the very next retreat the response was tremendous and, most importantly, several of the guests commented on the wonderful benefits of the reading that they had experienced. Since then our candlelit readings have become a valuable and much cherished part of our programme, and one which we intend to keep providing for years to come.

Our magnificent property on the edge of Corwen - A Place to Write

So there you have it! Our tutored and untutored retreats now conclude with readings by candlelight thanks to a serendipitous mix of my career as a lighting designer, Covid lockdown, a tremendous PhD supervisor, and two wonderful guests who, between them, inspired what is now a highlight of retreats at A Place to Write.

If you'd like to experience one of our retreats, and participate in an amazing reading by candlelight, check out our upcoming dates covering everything currently on offer from this autumn through to summer 2026.

Nic