After delivering a hat-trick of sold-out poetry masterclasses, we’re excited to present the second in our new series of poetry workshops. It’ll take place on Wednesday 28 July, featuring guest tutor Matt Abbott.

As with the previous sessions, it’ll take place over Zoom from 18.30-20.00 BST. This workshop will focus specifically on using poetry to explore and express your identity. It’s limited to 20 participants, and tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. They’re priced at £9 (Discount), £12 (Standard) and £15 (Solidarity). You can also find the event on Facebook.

We’re targeting these workshops at poets who are in the earlier stages of their writing journeys and keen to try out new ideas and techniques. We also deliver more advanced masterclasses with some of the UK’s leading poets, which has so far included Rachel Long, Caroline Bird and Anthony Anaxagorou.

Nurturing the development of poets at all levels has always been a core aim for Write Out Loud and we feel like these online masterclasses and workshops are key to that.

Matt Abbott is a poet, educator and activist from Wakefield. His debut solo show 'Two Little Ducks' explored the working-class Leave vote against the backdrop of the Calais Jungle refugee camp. It received a string of 5* reviews at Edinburgh Fringe 2017 and on a 2018 UK theatre tour, and the show's poems were published as his debut collection by Verve Poetry Press in 2018.

Matt's debut kids' poetry collection A Hurricane in my Head was published by Bloomsbury in 2019. It was a National Poetry Day recommended title. Matt was a patron for the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award in 2020 and was highlighted by the Guardian as a 'rising star of poetry'.

He's also earned acclaim for his lyrics in Skint & Demoralised and founded spoken word record label Nymphs & Thugs in 2015.

The event will take place over Zoom – so you need a free Zoom account and a reliable internet connection to be able to take part.

You’ll also need something to write on – whether that’s pen and paper or a separate digital device. If you have any questions or concerns before booking a ticket, please contact Matt on eyup@mattabbottpoet.com and he’ll happily assist.

If you do decide to register for this workshop, we hope that you enjoy it, and we can’t wait to bring you more in the series!