Poet Simon Mole and Musician Gecko are launching Your Words, Your World – a new project supporting young people to express themselves and helping them to understand that their words have the power to shape the world around them.
The duo hopes to connect with children and their families by throwing poetic parties at theatres and libraries whilst also continuing to build their creative community online.
As part of Your Words, Your World, Simon Mole and Gecko’s snack-heavy celebration of music and poetry Poetry Picnic returns this summer after its successful premiere last year. The 2022 tour dates are The Big Bristol Poetry Picnic (4 June, Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol), The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic (5 June, Exeter Phoenix), Sheffield Rivelin Co Poetry Picnic (9 July, The Pavilion, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield), The Big Booktastic Poetry Picnic (10 July, The Place, Bedford) and The Norwich Poetry Picnic (27 July, Norwich Theatre Royal).
At Poetry Picnic, with fun (and quite silly) games Simon and Gecko build kids’ confidence and skill with words to help them unlock their poetry powers. Audience members will be supported to pen a poem from their picnic blanket and hear some Beatles-meets-the-Beastie-Boys style bangers from the duo themselves. Participants will also have the chance to share the stage and perform their poems with the show’s professional performers for the grand finale. On the day, every child will receive a Your Words, Your World notebook and Simon and Gecko can’t wait to see the wonders with which they will fill them up. Poetry Picnics are ideal for ages 6yrs+. Just remember to BYOB – bring your own biscuits!
Also, as part of Your Words, Your World, Simon Mole will again partner with leading poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes, to mentor a collective of six up and coming poets, giving them the opportunity to write for – and more importantly WITH – children. Top poets Kate Wakeling and John Hegley will be the guest facilitators.
Poetry Picnic is created by Simon Mole, Gecko and Peader Kirk. It is produced by Rua Arts and funded by Arts Council England. More information can be found here.
