‘What is there for men?’: Tim Casson’s ‘Shed Stories’ finds community beyond the pub…
“What is there for men to do?” This question, posed by choreographer Tim Casson, sits at the heart of his new touring production, Shed Stories. For men who don’t go to the pub or find their community in a football stadium, where can they connect? Casson & Friends has found a powerful answer in one of the UK’s most inspiring grassroots movements: the Men’s Sheds. This new production, a heartfelt blend of theatre, documentary, and dance, is now touring England, bringing the voices of over 1,200 community workshops to the stage in a powerful exploration of mental health, camaraderie, and the quiet joy of making something, together.
A Personal Quest: From a Father’s Garage to a National Movement
For Casson, the project began with a personal reflection. “I suppose before Shed Stories was even an idea, I had been thinking about ageing,” he shared. “Thinking about my Dad and myself as men who don’t really go to the pub, and who don’t really like sport or football – so began questioning – what is there for men to do…?”
He thought of his own father, “tremendously creative,” who, like many, fits the archetype of “a solitary man in his shed or ‘man cave’ working away on different projects.” While creative, Casson noted, “this means a lot of time on your own.”
“Thinking about my Dad and myself as men who don’t really go to the pub, and who don’t really like sport or football – so began questioning – what is there for men to do…?”
The revelation came when he stumbled upon the Men’s Sheds Association. Here was a different model: communal, creative spaces that were actively being used as “a way of tackling loneliness and isolation.”
“It really caught my imagination,” Casson said. “It felt like something important that I wanted to know more about, and that other people should know about too.”
Finding the Story: From 24 Hours of Interviews to One Stage
To understand this world, Casson immersed himself in it, starting with Shed Fest, the annual event for the UK Men’s Sheds Association. He went on to gather 24 hours of interviews with “shedders” across the country. The challenge was whittling that mountain of life experience into a 60-minute show.
“I feel like people are endlessly interesting,” Casson explained. “Sometimes someone will say something completely beautiful without realising, and in that moment you’ll go, ‘That’s it. That has to go in the show.’
For everything else, it was a process of “listening and transcribing” to find the recurring themes that felt both authentic and relatable. The result is a piece where every word is grounded in truth. “Everything in the show is real and comes from something that somebody has really said,” he affirmed.
‘Dance is great, but…’: Blending Movement with Real-Life Stories
Shed Stories isn’t a straightforward documentary. It’s a hybrid, blending text from those interviews with the signature, people-powered movement that Casson & Friends is known for. It’s a form that Casson believes unlocks a deeper, more human truth.
“Dance is great, but it’s not always the clearest way to communicate everything,” he admitted. “And text is clear, but can sometimes be very dense.”
The show’s magic lies in its ability to “switch modes.” In one moment, performers Matthew Winston and Deepraj Singh might be speaking, and in the next, dancing—sometimes both at once. “It’s really fun deciding what form each section takes,” Casson said. “It balances this real emotional content with a more poetic movement element.”
This blend is enhanced by the show’s intimate staging, which places the audience around the performance. It’s a conscious choice to break down the “fourth wall” and the idea of the “superhuman” performer. “The performers being so close, looking you in the eye, and telling these stories as if they were their own,” Casson explained, “makes everything feel so much more personal and relatable – it’s really special!”
At a Glance: Where to Find Shed Stories
Shed Stories continues its national tour with multiple dates in November.
3 Nov: Galanos House, Southam
4 Nov: Harrogate Theatre at The Wesley Centre, Harrogate
6 Nov: University of Sheffield Drama Studio, Sheffield
7 Nov: The Stock Room, Stockport
8 Nov: Touchstones, Rochdale
For full booking details, visit cassonandfriends.com/sheds. To learn more about the Men’s Sheds movement, visit menssheds.org.uk.
Beyond the Banter: Tackling Mental Health, One Biscuit at a Time
The show’s central question—”what’s the best biscuit?”—is playful, but it’s a gateway to deeper conversations. While the production explores the joy of craft and camaraderie, it doesn’t shy away from the serious issues that Men’s Sheds were created to address: loneliness, ageing, and men’s mental health.
“Overall it’s really positive, joyful and uplifting,” Casson stressed. “We cover a lot of ground in the show, and often the more emotional content is contrasted by something lighter. For example, one moment we’re talking about suddenly becoming a carer for a loved one, the next the specifics of making a table out of an old Formula One racing car tyre, or suddenly dancing with a cup of tea.”
It’s this balance, this reflection of real life, that gives the show its heartwarming punch.
A People-Powered Show with a Real-World Mission
The community-first ethos of Shed Stories is literally built into its set. Casson’s father, Alan, crafted set elements in his own shed—a first-time creative collaboration for the pair. But the project extends even further.
“We also created a blueprint for these boxes,” Casson said, “so some of the local sheds along our tour have been commissioned to build boxes for us to use in the performance… they’ll get to keep them after the show is over!”
“For example, one moment we’re talking about suddenly becoming a carer for a loved one, the next the specifics of making a table out of an old Formula One racing car tyre, or suddenly dancing with a cup of tea.”
This is the Casson & Friends mission in action. Having previously staged work in nuclear bunkers, pubs, and shopping centres, the company is dedicated to “bring performance to people where they are, rather than always asking them to come to a theatre.”
Ultimately, Casson hopes the show has two takeaways. The first is artistic: “I love dance. So I also hope that folks that are coming more for the themes of the show will leave saying, ‘Dance is great, and those performers are amazing!'”
The second is a powerful call to action. “My dream is that people will see the show and love Men’s Sheds as much as I do, and want to join up—or at least to tell a family member, a friend or a neighbour… I want more people to know about them.”
And as for that all-important biscuit question?
“I think it’s probably a dark chocolate Hobnob,” Casson concluded, after careful consideration. “It’s really sweet, there’s a bit of texture, but that dark chocolate just gives it a bit of extra depth.”
A fitting description, perhaps, for the show itself.
Featured Image: Shed Stories by Casson & Friends, credit Alisa Boanta
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