Rhyme & Rebellion: Poetry Workshop

About

Poetry is a profoundly political act because it involves speaking the truth, holding a mirror up to reality and putting things into perspective. This course will help writers to find their voice, discover the issues that are important to them, and learn how to shape their writing to reflect and celebrate their beliefs while speaking confidently about how to change the world. Using examples from well-known contemporary spoken word poets, we’ll explore what it means to persuade with your writing, and find out whether poetry is powerful enough to change the world (hint: it is).

This course will give writers the tools to write about political, social and cultural issues in new and interesting ways. Participants will learn to use poetic and performance techniques (including rhetorical methods, movement and voice) to express their thoughts and opinions, and to get things off their chest.

Join our team at Nottingham Writers’ Studio for this exciting one-off event and find out the role poetry plays in protest.

You'll learn...
How writers shape their work to inform, entertain and persuade
How writers use facts in their writing to create an impact
How to write about topics that are important to you
How different rhetorical techniques can improve your writing
How to convey a message in your writing
How to write poems that keep their reader’s or listener’s interest
How poetry can be used as a form of protest.

About Leanne
Leanne is a writer from Nottingham. She’s performed at UK festivals including Bestival, WOMAD and the Edinburgh Fringe, and has been a national finalist in poetry competitions including the BBC Edinburgh Fringe Slam. Her poetry has been published at an international level, and she has led writing workshops for Writing East Midlands, Arts Alive in Libraries, ADeC, the University of Nottingham, the University of Cambridge, Nottingham City Council and Prima Vista Festival in Estonia. Leanne was Fenland Poet Laureate in 2013, and she is currently working on her first full-length show, and a collection which will be published in 2020.

About Manjit
Manjit Sahota is the founder of Poets against Racism and a local Nottingham poet who has performed in a number of venues in Nottingham and around the country since 2016.

Manjit formed PAR in 2016 to rally poets, spoken word artist and rapper to use their poetry to challenge the rise in racism and spread the word of unity, humanity and Love.

Manjit’s poetry has always been historical, political and reflects his rebellious nature, he enjoys spreading the message of resistance to a mixed audience of all ages and backgrounds.

He has performed at the following events and festivals:

Central London University/ Nottingham Poetry Festival, Wolverhampton Literature festival, South Asian heritage Festival, East London ‘Beautiful Resistance’/ Nottingham NAE/ Chesterfield Labour group

‘Poetry for me is the memory of our history, struggle and resistance’ Manjit

Book your place
The price of this session is £8 for NWS members and £10 for general admission. Book your place via the link, or to find out about joining NWS, head to our membership page.