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 LEMN SISSAY / Photographer: Toby Madden

LEMN SISSAY

New writing|Performance|Performance poetry

SIZE OF COMPANY
4–5 on the road

SCALE OF VENUE
Small to medium

PERMANENT STAFF
Poet/ Writer/Performer
Lemn Sissay
Producer (for Artsadmin)
Gill Lloyd

ARTISTIC POLICY
Lemn Sissay is a poet, playwright, writer, maker of poems as landmarks, performer, broadcaster, workshop artist, artist in residence, TV presenter, and wordsmith from the streets of Manchester.
Funny and serious, truthful and mischievous – his work is both profoundly political and intensely personal – his poems are songs of the street.

REVIEW EXTRACTS
We are aware of being in the grip of a master of the spoken word and a highly charismatic performer.  
Metro North
A big hearted pleasure.
Time Out (critics choice)
His poems are the songs of the street, declamatory, imaginative, hard-hitting.
The Independent on Sunday

CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
Something Dark
A journey through Lemn’s incredible life, from a harrowing beginning through the search for his family revealing the poet on stage. Originally produced by Apples and Snakes.
90 minutes (inc 15 minute interval), 2–3 people on the road

FUTURE PRODUCTIONS
Why I Don’t Hate White People
A new solo performance on the subject of race from the unique perspective of a black man who did not know another black person until he was eighteen years of age.
3–5 people on the road. Available from spring 2009.

WRAP-AROUND
Lemn is always available for after show talks and discussions and also undertakes residencies which can include performances of current works and poetry readings.
Please contact for details of other activities.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2008
USA, Botswana: Residency, British Council Tour
2007 Sweden, India: Something dark, Poetry readings and workshops
2006 Canada, Arizona USA, Melbourne Australia: Something Dark and poetry readings

TOURING AVAILABILITY
March 2009 onwards. Please contact for availability.