Quay Words presents: writer-in-residence Chris Hoban

Chris will be joined on stage by renowned historian of Exeter’s past Professor Mark Stoyle, who will talk about the history that has inspired his songs.

About the authors

Chris Hoban is a writer, musician (songwriter/composer), performer & lyricist who has worked extensively in the UK and abroad. Also an educator, Chris specialises in projects which have a strong historical or natural aspect to them in order to explore connections between other environments and times and our own.

For 2025, Chris was made a Cultural Fellow at Exeter University’s history department, writing songs inspired by early modern wills for ‘The Material Culture of Wills, 1540-1790’.

A singer who plays guitar, piano, piano accordion, ‘cello, mandocello and guitar, he has performed and worked alongside many artists from a number of musical fields, including Billy Bragg, Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), KT Tunstall, Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Kate Rusby, Chris Difford (Squeeze), Steve Knightley, Phil Beer, Miranda Sykes and Jim Causley.

Chris has written regularly and performed occasionally with the Devonian folk roots band ‘Show of Hands’, adding songs such as Hallows’ Eve. He co-wrote the RNLI bicentennial 2024 Christmas single ‘Pull Away’ with James Studholme of ‘Police Dog Hogan’; he is also a highly regarded choral composer and arranger for amateur, community and professional choirs.

Professor Mark Stoyle FRHistS is an English historian of the Tudor and Stuart periods, specialising in the English Civil War, the history of witchcraft, and the history of the South West peninsula. He is Professor at the University of Southampton, and has published many works on the history and landscape of Exeter where he previously lived and taught. His most recent book, The Western Rising of 1549, was published by Yale University Press in paperback in 2024.

About the venue

The show will take place in historic rooms on the first floor of the building. There is step-free entry to the ground floor and a lift connects the ground and first floors. If you have particular access requirements please phone or email the Custom House Visitor Centre in advance of your visit.

There are five free disabled parking spaces for registered Blue Badge holders next to the Exeter Antiques Centre immediately in front of the Custom House. Maximum stay is three hours. Please email Quay Words on quaywords@literatureworks.org.uk with any accessibility enquiries.

We can accommodate free tickets for carers or personal assistants if needed – just email us after booking to let us know.