An afternoon with Sir Andrew Motion, John Siddique and Xanthe Gresham | £15

Thursday 12th September | 14:00 - 17:30 | £15

This events is aimed at teachers, artists, poets, authors and anyone else who thinks they might enjoy it….

Through Wise Words we are offering an afternoon with a difference – a chance to re-affirm the value of creativity and imagination and to provide a space to refresh your ideas through working with contemporary poets and storytellers skilled in sharing the purpose and process of committing poetry to memory and bringing stories to life.

John Siddique | Poetry Out Loud!

John Siddique will share his passion for language and for reading poetry out loud. He will take you through fun and engaging activities that will offer opportunities to discover the power and potential of poetry within your everyday life.

John Siddique is the bestselling author of Full Blood, Recital – An Almanac, Poems From A Northern Soul, and The Prize. His children’s collection Don’t Wear It On Your Head is a perennial favourite with younger readers. His poems, essays and articles have featured in Granta, The Guardian, Poetry Review, The Rialto and on BBC Radio 4. John is the Royal Literary Fund Fellow at York St. John’s University and was recently awarded the title of Honorary Creative Writing Fellow by the University of Leicester in recognition of his contribution to literature.

 

Xanthe Gresham | Bringing Stories to Life

This promises to be a lively, dynamic, refreshing and nourishing event that will demonstrate and share how you can bring stories to life. We all tell stories all the time - whether it be recounting an adventure over dinner, pitching an idea at work, telling our own story in an interview or through reading to our children.

Xanthe’s workshops are huge amounts of fun and develop new skills and confidence within participants as well as offering techniques that can be directly transferred real life situations.

Xanthe has an extensive background in theatre and 17 years experience as an internationally acclaimed professional storyteller performing in venues such as the Barbican, the National and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. She has been Storyteller in Residence for Harvard University and the Chelsea Physic Garden and receives regular commissions from the Smithsonian as well as working in conjunction with the British Museum to deliver training for teachers in interpreting artefacts through story.

 

Sir Andrew Motion | Why Learn Poetry by Heart?

Sir Andrew Motion will discuss the distinction between learning poetry by heart and learning by rote “not in an arm-waving, props-supported thespian extravaganza, but as the outward and audible manifestation of an inwardly-understood and enjoyed poem”. He will share what it means to hold a poem close to your heart. Sir Andrew Motion will also read a selection of his own poems.

 

The day will finish with John Siddique, Xanthe Gresham and Sir Andrew Motion each sharing a poem that has been a powerful influence on their lives.

This will be a small and intimate event with only 30 places available. Book quickly to avoid disappointment.

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Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, CT2 7NB

For information about getting to the venue and parking>>