Award-winning poet Lemn Sissay to lead celebration of poetry at University

The University of Suffolk is welcoming best-selling poet Lemn Sissay to its Waterfront campus for an evening of readings and discussion on Monday 23 March.

The event is a celebration of Lemn’s latest collection; Let the Light Pour In, a compilation of poems composed as part of his decade-long morning practice to write a short poem every day at dawn.

Life-affirming, witty and full of wonder, each short poem chronicles his battle with the dark while demonstrating resilience and defiant joy.    

Lemn, who is British and Ethiopian, has authored numerous collections of poetry and plays for both the theatre and radio.

His memoir My Name Is Why was a number one Sunday Times bestseller and explores his childhood and experiences within the care system.

In 1994, he launched the Landmark Poems which are visible on buildings in global cities including London and Addis Ababa.  

He is an Honorary Graduate at the universities of Manchester, Kent, Essex, Huddersfield and Brunel, and in 2019 he was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize. He received an MBE in 2010 and an OBE in 2021 for services to literature and charity.  

The Lemn Sissay event will follow Poetry for Life; An Afternoon of Poetry Workshops, open to all and hosted by the University’s Suffolk Centre for Culture and Heritage in partnership with Poetry in Aldeburgh.

The inspirational afternoon offers a series of workshops led by award-winning poets and writers and includes a free exhibition of photographer and artist Eliza Stephens’ work which examines the imaginative ways love and loss connect in our everyday lives.  

Workshop topics range from reimagining sonnets for the contemporary voice, the hidden world of parents and children, exploring the idea of home and homeliness and how we understand family through memories, using Eliza Stephens’ work as a writing prompt.

Dr Amanda Hodgkinson, Director of the Centre for Culture and Heritage at the University of Suffolk said: “We are thrilled to host a really special afternoon of creativity at the University of Suffolk.

“These workshops are open to everyone, and all are welcome, whether you have previously written poetry or not. They will be followed by an evening of poetry with Lemn Sissay who will share works from his new collection in what is bound to be an inspirational evening of poetry readings and conversation.”  

Tickets for both events must be purchased in advanced via the University of Suffolk website. Please note, tickets must be obtained separately for Lemn Sissay; Let the Light Pour In event and the Poetry for Life: an afternoon of workshops events.

Let the Light Pour In with Lemn Sissay, An evening of poetry and conversation will be held on Monday 23 March from 5.30pm at the University of Suffolk’s Waterfront Building. Tickets are £20 and can be booked by visiting the website here.

The Poetry For Life: An Afternoon of Workshops, takes place on Monday 23 March between 1.30-4.45pm at the University of Suffolk’s Waterfront Building. Tickets are £15 for one workshop or £25 for two – with a maximum of 20 people per workshop. Further details and ticket information can be found by visiting the link here.