Join international, national and local poets and wordsmiths of Caribbean heritage for a dynamic and unforgettable evening of poetry, discussion and community togetherness**** at Bristol Old Vic.
Calypsonian Tobago Crusoe performs a special nature and connection themed performance of music and song in celebration of Earth Day. This is part of a free, family-friendly afternoon of activities delivered by Urban Forest Tribe in collaboration with London National Park City. Come and join an intergenerational audience and celebrate nature and creativity.
A Caribbean Story: Love Finds Us Eventually.
Ol' Man Swanny with Renaissance One and supported by Leeds Playhouse presents WINDRUSH BY SONG, a Dance meets Music and Theatre show about togetherness and community: two hearts that mix up an’ mek somting sweet. After discovering an old photo, a brother and sister are transported to 1940’s Nevis, the Home of Sorel and Ginger, their Grandparents.
Through a Caribbean lens, we see Sorel and Ginger’s journey first apart and then together; leaving Home, arriving on cold shores, finding each other in love and forming a family, all while enduring racist Britain.
John Agard and Philip Nanton – Caribbean Sensations
An evening of poetry, musicality and entertainment by acclaimed poets John Agard (recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry) and Philip Nanton who is visiting the UK from Barbados, to showcase Caribbean culture. Produced by Renaissance One and hosted by arts curator Melanie Abrahams.
In 2020, writer and academic Corinne Fowler co-authored a report investigating the colonial histories of National Trust properties. Colonial Countryside, co-edited by Corinne, is an anthology of creative work by ten global majority writers, accompanied by historical commentaries, exploring National Trust houses with significant colonial histories.
This event brings together author, academic and creator of the Colonial Countryside project Corinne Fowler, author and academic Malachi McIntosh, playwright Casey Bailey and historian Miranda Kaufmann, with chair Jonathan Davidson and offers readings from Colonial Countryside, a panel discussion and Q & A with the audience.
The Colonial Countryside project is produced by Renaissance One and Peepal Tree Press and supported through funding by Arts Council England.
Join us in an event celebrating performance, oratory and rhythm with two of the UK's most sought after poets, John Agard and Mark Gwynne Jones, with guest pianist and songwriter Rob Dimbleby. The show will feature Mark Gwynne Jones performing with Rob Dimbleby, a solo performance by John Agard of new poems and classic favourites and, a finale of an improvised collaboration between all three artists to round up the evening.
The event is produced by Renaissance One and Wirksworth Town Hall and is supported through funding from Arts Council England.
Poetry phenomenon and British cult legend Dr John Cooper Clarke announces his new UK tour: In Celebration of World Poetry Day.
John Agard supports an evening of Dr John Cooper Clark
Fans can expect a one-of-a-kind journey through poetry by one of the world’s most important and entertaining spoken word artists. Performing classic numbers including Chickentown and Beasley Street as well as brand new material from the new collection “WHAT”, John will bring his unique perspective and incredible work to his biggest audiences yet – with plenty of laughs along the way. John will also be joined by special guest John Agard.
The acclaimed Guyanese poet John Agard will be returning to the Literary Leicester festival, for a special lunchtime event of poetry, conversation and liming to showcase the Caribbean culture that has helped to transform Britain. The festival runs annually, featuring lectures, talks and readings, completely free, running from the 19th - 22nd March 2025.
The event will be hosted by Melanie Abrahams.
Renaissance One presents an afternoon of poetry, music and liming at Lewes Library to showcase the Caribbean culture that has helped to transform Britain. Featuring the acclaimed John Agard, Grace Nichols and special guests, with hosting by Melanie Abrahams, it offers fun for all the family.
John Agard is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. An internationally renowned Guyanese poet, playwright and writer for both adults and children, he has lived in Lewes since the late 70s. He is a recipient of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry and also BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. Acclaimed Guyanese poet Grace Nichols has published nine adult collections including the ever popular ‘The Fat Black Woman’s Poems’ and ‘I is a Long-Memoried Woman’ which won the 1983 Commonwealth Poetry Prize. She is a fellow and Vice-President of the Royal Society of Literature. As one of the poets studied on the GCSE syllabus, she was awarded The Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry by Her Majesty, the Queen in 2021.
This event is free but booking is essential. Suitable for 4 years and ove
An afternoon of spoken word, art, conversation and music that marks and showcases the power and creativity of Caribbean women in the UK arts scene, inspired by the powerful poem ‘Caribbean Woman’ by the late Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze MBE.
Featuring poetry by Valda Jackson MBE RWA (award-winning poet, sculptor, fine artist & designer of the Royal Mint 50p coin commemorating 75 years of Windrush), music and song by award-winning calypsonian Tobago Crusoe (Calypso Monarch and featured in Paddington movies) and multidisciplinary word & sound artist, Mellow Baku (“A must for all’ Courtney Pine OBE). With co-hosting performances by Melanie Abrahams FRSA Hon FRSL and Kamisha Hawkins. Co-curated by Lydia Towsey and Melanie Abrahams – the event features outstanding British Caribbean artists who elevate ideas and encourage us to unwind and to respond.
To sign up for a PWYF workshop running 1-2.30pm and/or to share something as part of an open mic email hello@wordpoetry.co.uk. Work exploring black history and culture and/or by people of African and Caribbean origin is particularly invited.
Experience a night full of headliners including renowned Guyanese poet and playwright John Agard, Ted Hughes award winner and online sensation Hollie McNish, Bristol City Poet and UK Poetry Slam Champion Vanessa Kisuule, writer, performer and one half of chart-topping duo Rizzle Kicks Jordan Stephens, T. S. Eliot Prize and Griffin Prize winning poet Alice Oswald, and Muneera Pilgrim, Disraeli and more. An unmissable event showcasing the very best in contemporary UK poetry and spoken word. Raise the Bar is a poetry night like you’ve never seen before. Expect poets, storytellers, lyricists, and wordsmiths of all kinds. Hosted by poet, rapper and Raise the Bar founder Danny Carlo Pandolfi. Presented by Bristol Beacon and Raise The Bar.
Join us to celebrate the publication of The Leap Cycle tetralogy of middle grade novels by Patience Agbabi, with a special-guest appearance from Ellah Wakatama, Editor-at-Large at publisher Canongate.
Hear Patience read from her books and be in conversation with Ellah and put your questions to her in this lively online event. We are particularly delighted to be marking the publication of the fourth and last novel of the series, The Past Master, which was published in February.With time travel, friendship, and the fate of the world at stake, these adventurous books following neurodivergent time-traveller Elle Bíbi-Imbelé Ifíè have won multiple awards and found a special place on countless children’s bookshelves.
The event will be hosted by literature curator Melanie Abrahams, is produced by Renaissance One with Canongate Books and is developed through funding by Arts Council England.
Come on down for our great big spoken word summer salon – celebrating and marking multicultural Britain and showcasing some of the lived experiences and historical moments that have shaped it as it is today. Have supper on us as we swap experiences, bond over poetry and build on our previous and successful salon in July 2022.
Share your work as part of a rich and inclusive open mic and experience the acclaimed, Renaissance One’s Unknown Soldier – a one-woman performance and multi-media installation bringing to life the hidden family narrative of poet-artist Seni Seneviratne and her father’s experiences as a Royal Signalman in the North African Desert War. Based on the Peepal Tree published poetry collection, the show explores Seni’s father’s return to England from the war, his marriage and life growing up as a mixed race family in the 1950s in Leeds.
If you would like to share something as part of the open mic, email hello@wordpoetry.co.uk – work connecting with themes of togetherness, home and belonging are particularly invited.
The evening is produced as a partnership between WORD!, Renaissance One and BrightSparks.
Leeds Lit Fest presents an event offering unmissable readings by and an in-conversation between poets Emily Zobel Marshall and Adam Lowe, both of whom have debut collections with powerhouse publisher Peepal Tree Press.
Marshall’s Bath of Herbs explores the complexity of mixed-race, hybrid identities and relationships to the English and Welsh mountains, fells, rivers and shorelines from an ‘othered’, unmappable, positionality. As well as an exploration of having and negotiating multiple identities, it is also a love letter to family and the importance of making and shaping your own creative path through language, reflection and action.
Lowe’s Patterflash is a PBS Recommendation, receiving acclaim from The Big Issue and featuring on BBC radio and as a collection of poems, it displays a variety of language registers, ' high' and ' low' in tone and sometimes making use of Polari, the gay street language that simultaneously reveals and conceals, excludes and invites, estranges and makes familiar.
Both authors explore their mixed and Caribbean heritages and the reflections and conversation will include reflections on race, intersectionality, the transformation of LGBTQ+ and mixed race identities over time, the value of wordplay for autonomy and navigating spaces, and art and poetry as resistance.
Experience Poetry as a family from Raymond Antrobus, Nikita Gill and Stephen Lightbown as part of Lyra festival 2024. Raymond Antrobus will be reading from his brand new picture book Terrible Horses.
Join us for a day of performance, music, dance, words and film marking Windrush and other journeys and featuring globally-recognised Caribbeans and trailblazers from Leeds Caribbean community including Arthur France, John Agard, Khadijah Ibrahiim, Malika Booker, Adam Lowe, Emily Zobel Marshall ,Graft and more in a festival curated by Melanie Abrahams and Omari Swanston-Jeffers. Taking place at Leeds Playhouse.
Join Alexandra Palace’s North London Book Fest 2024 for a literary celebration featuring debut and iconic authors with readings, panel discussions, Q&As, workshops and book-signings across multiple stages at the Palace!
As part of this Patience Agbabi will read from her riveting time-travel adventure for readers aged 9-12 with a Black and neurodivergent protagonist. The Past Master talks about protecting our future and celebrating difference.
Watch a performance from internationally acclaimed poet and UniSlam judge John Agard. UniSlam 2024 is a poetry festival based around the UK and Ireland National Inter-University Poetry Slam. It’s your chance to see poets compete live on stage in Semi-Finals and a thrilling Grand Final.
Experience a moving one-woman performance and multi-media installation which brings to life the hidden family narrative of poet-artist Seni Seneviratne and her father's experiences as a Royal Signalman in the North African Desert War.
Winner of both the 2023 T. S. Eliot and Forward Prizes for his second collection, Self-Portrait as Othello, poet and scholar Jason Allen-Paisant presents this year’s specially commissioned lecture. Allen-Paisant considers how poetry, in its formalising of grief and its deployment in funerary rites, can bring us closer to the truth. Don’t miss this powerful exploration of one of poetry’s most fundamental social and political functions.
To close out the information-packed GSCE In Action English programme, poet John Agard will provide a reading of his poetry to students. He will discuss the meaning behind his poems and answer questions from the audience, providing students with new ideas and inspiration.
An evening with John Agard, prize winning poet, playwright and short story writer, who will read from his widely prize nominated array of works including Windrush Child and Alternative Anthem. This will be in conversation with Melanie Abrahams and will take place on Saturday 2nd March.
Jason Allen-Paisant will take the stage alongside Seán Hewitt and Alycia Pirmohamed for the Friday evening headline event at Verve Poetry Festival. Hosted by Helen Bowell.
Patience Agbabi will be visiting Waterstones Chatham to sign copies of her Leap Cycle book series including the newest installment, The Past Master. A riveting time-travel adventure for readers aged 9–12 with a Black neurodivergent protagonist.
A sought-after poet, novelist and performer, Patience Agbabi has spent 20 years celebrating the written and spoken word. A former Poet Laureate of Canterbury, Agbabi has appeared on radio and TV and she has toured festivals and events around the world.
John Agard will be reading from Windrush Child and other stories at the Southbank Centre’s Imagine Children’s Festival.
A national and internationally acclaimed poet, playwright, short story writer, and performer, John Agard, over his long career has become known and loved for his playful, witty style and charismatic performances.
Join author Agbabi for the launch of The Past Master – the final book in the Leap Cycle quartet (a thrilling time-travel adventure series with a Black neurodivergent protagonist). The event is suitable for new and existing Leaplings.
The International Black Speculative Writing Symposium and Festival is a 3 day event which includes workshops, readings, speakers panels, interviews, discussions, bookclubs, advice sessions, book launches and performances.
At Renaissance One, we're passionate about nurturing the love for literature and the power of words. Our talented roster of writers and poets, including John Agard, Grace Nichols, Patience Agbabi, Mark Gwynne Jones Adam Lowe, Seni Seneviratne and more, are ready to ignite imaginations and enrich minds in schools across the UK.
Join us online for a festive social offering readings, conversation, music, where Tony Fairweather takes us on a journey through captivating storytelling, highlighting the triumphs, challenges and experiences of the Windrush Generation.
To close out the information-packed GSCE In Action English programme, poet John Agard will provide a reading of his poetry to students. He will discuss the meaning behind his poems and answer questions from the audience, providing students with new ideas and inspiration.
John Agard’s one-man show provides an original take on the work of William Shakespeare through his poetry full of mischief and delight.
Work with professional author, Patience Agbabi to hone your writing skills and learn how to craft a short story inspired by the future.
Join The Children’s Bookshow for a morning of poetry with lyrical geniuses John Agard and Grace Nichols live on stage at The Theatre Royal in Newcastle.
This will be an exhilarating, playful, and thought provoking performance full of delight.
Every child attending this performance will receive a FREE book by either John Agard or Grace Nichols to take home and keep!
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