Lemn Sissay

Master of the spoken word, BAFTA-nominated author, activist, performer and Sunday Times number one bestseller, Lemn Sissay OBE will allow us into his morning poetry practice and show us all how he lets the light pour in.

‘How do you do it?’ said night
‘How do you wake up and shine?’
‘I keep it simple,’ said light
‘One day at a time’

Every morning for 10 years Lemn has written four lines and shared them on his socials with no explanation and no title. After catching the public’s attention, they have been transformed into murals, quoted in books, made into songs and even tattoos. He chose the best of them for Let the Light Pour In which became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller. With live readings from his book, Lemn will unravel some of the original stories behind the poems, and how they have been used in people’s lives and his own.

Life-affirming, witty and full of wonder, these poems chronicle Lemn’s own battle with the dark and are fuelled by resilience and defiant joy. Lemn will be in conversation with journalist, broadcaster and Festival Patron Afua Hirsch.

‘Lemn Sissay is a passionate and powerful voice whose performances are humbling and exhilarating.’
Kae Tempest