You may have come across Lemn’s landmark poem ‘Spark Catchers’ within the Olympic site, have walked on one of his poems etched into the paving stones of Manchester’s streets or even caught his words flying across the surface of the Turner Contemporary building in Margate during a project he did with Wise Words a few years back. In fact, he hardly needs an introduction, since beating former politician Lord Peter Mandelson in the election for the chancellorship of the University of Manchester, you can hardly open a national paper, turn on the radio or even the television with there being a feature on Lemn Sissay.

If you’ve listened to Leftfield’s multi-award winning album, Leftism, you’ll know Lemn’s 21^st Century Poem which overlays their electronic riffs and ripples. His own works and personal story have prompted orchestra concertos at the BBC, TED talks in the Houses of Parliament and the BBC television documentary, ‘Internal Flight’, and radio documentary, ‘Child of the State’, were both broadcast about his life.

In December Lemn found himself a castaway on Desert Island Discs where he shares the story of his search for his birth parents. Born to a young Ethiopian woman who wanted him temporarily fostered while she completed her studies, he was with a family until he was 12. He would spend the next five years in a number of children’s homes where he began to write. On leaving care at 17, he self-published his first book of poetry while on the dole.

He is associate artist at the Southbank Centre, author of five poetry collections and an award winning play. He is ambassador for The Children’s Reading Fund, trustee of Forward Arts Foundation and World Book Night, and founder of Cultureword. His work with young people has changed the lives of thousands, guiding ‘Superheros’ out from dark corners and supporting care leavers across the UK. He was awarded an MBE for his impact on literature, and is an honorary doctor of letters at the University of Huddersfield, where he has also set up The Sissay Scholarship for care leavers.

There is only one Lemn Sissay in the world (google it, its true!) and we are thrilled that he will be headlining this year’s Wise Words Festival, giving a performance through which he will explore themes of identity, belonging and the resilience of young people brought up within the care system.

TICKETS: The gardens really are a haven away from modern technology - once we are onsite we can’t sell tickets online. So from the moment the festival starts, all tickets have to be bought at our Ticket Office in the Secret Garden (Cash only please)