Are you passionate about poetry, drama and literature? Want to develop your writing skills with a creative and inspiring mentor? Join me in my engaging and dynamic classes, where I combine my experience as a published author, performance poet and playwright with a deep love for teaching. I've had the privilege of performing poetry alongside jazz musicians, blending the rhythm of words with the energy of live music, creating truly immersive and evocative experiences. My theatre productions have brought together storytelling, dance, poetry and rap to create hilarious and heartbreaking narratives that left audiences buzzing. I draw on all of this experience in my classes. My workshops are designed to help you explore your creative literary practice in innovative ways, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned writer looking to refine your craft. In addition to my performances, I've taught poetry workshops in schools and creative writing at the prestigious Leeds Playhouse. I’ve worked with diverse groups of students and writers of all ages. I specialise in creating a supportive and creative space for you to experiment with your voice, learn from classic and contemporary works, and gain practical skills to elevate your writing. Through my classes, you’ll gain: - Insight into the craft of poetry, prose and drama from a published author, poet and playwright. - The opportunity to experiment with different styles, from formal verse to free verse, prose to performance. - A deeper understanding of English literature, with a focus on both classic texts and modern works. - Techniques for writing that combine creativity with technical skill. - The chance to share your work in a safe and encouraging space. Whether you dream of publishing your first collection or simply want to enhance your love for the written word, I offer personalised guidance that caters to your individual needs and interests. Let’s explore the world of poetry and literature together, and unlock your unique voice as a writer!

This 30 minute class is learner guided/directed and designed specifically to bring out the creativity hidden inside you. Each week every learner gets the chance to write a creative piece and share it with the teachers, if they choose to; this class also suits a solo learner. There will be opportunities to produce a poem/freestyle at the end of class. The last 10-15 minutes of class will be The Freestyle Poetry Slam! You will be encourage to develop your poem and taught how to perform it for a Poetry Slam in your area. You will leave the class feeling happy and proud that you have made up your own creative piece to perform to friends and family! This is what AI said about our first 2 lessons: Lesson 1 In this meeting, we covered the basics of meter, rhythm, and poetry devices like metaphor and simile as they apply to rap and freestyle. We led a fun word game where participants quickly brainstormed related words, then challenged them to freestyle short rhymes using those words. We emphasized the importance of confidence, explaining that the key to freestyle is having a solid rhythmic framework and not worrying about perfection. We also discussed ways to build vocabulary and transition smoothly between rhyme schemes. We provided feedback on the participants' initial freestyle attempts, offering constructive suggestions for improvement. We ended by highlighting next week's focus on metaphor and simile, and asked the participant to come prepared with a list of their favorite rappers to discuss further. Lesson 2 In today's class, we focused on exploring the use of metaphors and similes, two important literary devices in poetry and rap. We watched a video that provided an overview of these concepts, discussing how they can be used to vividly convey big ideas or emotions in a concise way. We then practiced identifying metaphors and similes, and the students generated their own examples connected to the words we uncovered in a matching game. This led to a creative writing exercise where they composed rhyming couplets using those words as a starting point. The students demonstrated strong skills in bridging the words into cohesive narratives, showcasing their ability to think creatively and apply the literary techniques we covered. We also had a lively discussion about the role of memory and vocabulary in freestyle rapping, and how these foundational skills support more advanced performance abilities.