A Magical Night in the Rain: Celebrating Robert Louis Stevenson’s 175th Birthday at Skerryvore Gardens

Approximately 100 people gathered in Skerryvore Gardens for a truly atmospheric celebration of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 175th birthday on 13th November 2025 - and the weather played its part beautifully.

Set in the very grounds where Stevenson lived during his most prolific years, and where he wrote Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the evening unfolded beneath softly glowing marquees as the rain fell gently around us, adding a gothic shimmer to the performances and conversations.

A Performance That Ignited the Night - Literally

Actor Mark Freestone delivered a spellbinding performance as Stevenson, drawing the crowd into the author’s world with intensity, humour and tenderness. In one unforgettable moment - echoing an episode from Stevenson’s own life - Freestone dramatically hurled a manuscript into the fire, sending up coloured sparks. It was a theatrical flourish that perfectly matched the wild, creative spirit of Skerryvore.

Insight, History and Hidden Stories

The evening also featured a rich programme of talks and readings:

• Andrew Emery, local historian and author, transported the audience back to Stevenson’s time in Bournemouth, revealing how Westbourne shaped his writing and personal life.

• Mark Steeds, from the Long John Silver Trust and Robert Louis Stevenson Club, shared the story of the European Cultural Route, In the Footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson, highlighting the author’s global legacy.

• Ali Bacon, novelist and fellow RLS Club member, gave a fascinating talk exploring Stevenson’s relationships with Frances Sitwell and Fanny Osbourne - “the weevil, his wife and the other woman” - offering a fresh and nuanced perspective on the women who influenced his world.

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Community, Creativity and Connection

Despite the rain - or perhaps because of it - the evening felt intimate, atmospheric and wonderfully alive. After the final talks, guests stayed on for informal networking, mingling beneath the marquees and sharing stories in the very gardens that inspired some of Stevenson’s greatest works, including Kidnapped.

Local illustrator Mike Preen sold wonderful calendars and greetings cards inspired by A Child's Garden of Verses - written in the very place they were written. A student journalist from Bournemouth University interviewed attendees and speakers for an article for his assignment.

The Bournemouth Writing Festival was proud to host this memorable celebration of one of literature’s most enduring authors - a night of creativity, history and community in the place where Stevenson’s imagination once burned brightest.

All photos courtesy of Solid Imagery.