Caf 2026: Diaries Of Note: Live On Stage

In this special event, Shaun Usher – bestselling author of Letters of Note and founder of the live series, and cultural phenomenon, Letters Live – brings Diaries of Note to the stage.

A cast of acclaimed performers will read from a remarkable collection of diary entries, spanning centuries and offering windows into lives both extraordinary and everyday.Few things offer a more intimate glimpse into a life than a diary.

Across time and place, people have turned to the page to record fleeting moments, and to capture personal thoughts, feelings and comments from their inner world, not intended for public consumption.From the private reflections of figures such as Nelson Mandela and Frida Kahlo, to lesser-known voices whose words are no less affecting, these fragments of lived experience reveal moments of vulnerability, humour and quiet revelation.Thoughtful, moving and often unexpectedly funny, the evening offers a rare opportunity to encounter the written self – and to reflect on the value of recording our own lives.Recommended age: 16+This event is part of the 2026 Chelsea Arts Festival.