JOHN AGARD
Friday 31st October 2025 at 8pm Tickets £15
An evening with John Agard and special guest Philip Nanton
Food, with delicious flavours of the Caribbean, from 6.30pm
“What’s that fluttering in the breeze?
It’s just a piece of cloth that brings a nation to its knees.”
From Flag by John Agard
Join us for this special night celebrating wordplay, culture-crossing and the art of liming (going with the flow). Featuring the legendary poet and performer John Agard, recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and one of the most exciting and enchanting readers you’ll ever hear.
John has inspired thousands of adults, children and students across generations who study him for GCSE English each year.
He will be joined by poet and broadcaster Philip Nanton and the evening will include a Q and A hosted by arts curator and Director of Renaissance One, Melanie Abrahams.
This event is produced in partnership with Renaissance One and is suitable for those who like their words to soar and sing!
John Agard is an internationally acclaimed poet, playwright and short story writer who grew up in Guyana, where his love of language stemmed from listening to cricket commentaries on the radio as well as books.
As an admired cross-cultural voice, he is well known for his inspiring work with young people and adults, particularly his visits to schools. His poems have been studied at GCSE for decades which means that thousands of intergenerational families have grown up with his words and writing. Agard was the first Poet in Residence for the BBC and he has been featured in numerous poetry and Windrush seasons on TV and radio.
A recipient of many prizes, including the Smarties Book Prize and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, he was in 2021 awarded the prestigious BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to children’s literature. His poems have been studied at GCSE for decades which means that thousands of intergenerational families have grown up with his words and writing.
Notable Awards:
Paul Hamlyn Award for Poetry (1997)
Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry (2012)
BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)
Philip Nanton is a poet, a spoken word artist who often incorporates humour within his practice, and a broadcaster who has presented programmes for BBC Radio 3 and 4.
He was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and after spending substantial time in the UK, has been based in Barbados since 2000.
His career began in British local government policymaking and he has been an overseas consultant in many regions including Britain, the Caribbean and Africa. Nanton has taught poetry to teachers across the Caribbean countries.
He is the author of various books and cd’s including Island Voices: from St. Christopher and the Barracudas which has been widely acclaimed and has been performed at many literary festivals and shows including Miami International Book Fair, Bocas Literary Festival. In 2021, his biography of the jazz virtuoso and award winning poet Shake Keane Riff: The Shake Keane Story was published by Papillote Press.
“Humour breaks down boundaries, it topples our self-importance, it connects people, and because it engages and entertains, it ultimately enlightens”
John Agard
