‘Mark’s performances and workshops are animated… an enthusiastic outburst of creativity and co-operation’ (John Gill, St. Benedict’s School, Derby).

I run a variety of workshops, often as part of extended projects, but I also make day visits to schools.

My school visits often begin with a performance given to a year group or even the whole school. Depending on what’s required the show will last between 20 and 60 mins, and will include stories and poems to amuse, amaze and inspire young people to find their own creative selves. Following which I can offer 3x one hour workshops. So, alongwith the show – a maximum of four sessions.

The workshops are a lively and interactive exploration of poetry and performance and aim to get young people writing with a love for creative language. It’s all about having fun with words and ideas. Workshops are given to class-sized groups and last for one hour. It is helpful if the class’ teacher is present as follow-up work is required. Typically workshops explore:

• the sounds of words
• how and why we think in pictures
• how to create pictures with words
• how to use rhyme and not be a slave to it
• how to express emotions and ideas convincingly
• how to listen and how to be heard
• fun games to unlock the imagination

Other workshops include: ‘Poetry and Performance’; ‘Poetry and Place’ (exploring landscapes & environments through poetry);  ‘The Secret Life of Objects’ and, ‘How to make your poems fly!’.

My new collection for young readers, Wordworms! is all about how words are alive and how the words we think and speak shape the way we feel and behave. The workshops too, are designed to inspire a love for creative language and a recognition of how powerful our words can be.

If your interested in getting me to your school please contact me via the Bookings page.