Stephen sits in his wheelchair in front of some buildings. He is wearing a blue checked shirt. He is smiling towards the middle distance

Wknd 1: Stephen Lightbown – Poet in Residence

This activity is included in your ticket price.

Stephen Lightbown is a Blackburn born, Bristol based poet. Stephen was paralysed following an accident when he was 16 and he writes extensively but not exclusively about life as a wheelchair user. His first collection, Only Air, came out last year through Burning Eye Books and his second collection, The Last Custodian, was published in June 2021.

We’re so excited to have Stephen as Camp Kin’s first Poet in Residence. He’ll be joining us on Weekend 1. Here’s what he’ll be up to…

Friday

We’ll get to hear Camp Kin’s Poet in Residence perform some of his poetry live. For a little taster of what’s to come, why not check out Stephen’s performance he did for us over lockdown for our telly show “Live at the Jam Jar.”

Saturday 

Mapping the Body Through Poetry

Through his poetry Stephen talks openly about living with a disability and he uses his writing to reconnect with his body. In this workshop you will celebrate your bodies through poetry. There will be a chance to read some poems about the body, write your own poems and discuss what makes our bodies special. 

Poems from the End of the World.

Come gather round the campfire for some poetry for the end of times as the day draws to a close. Join Camp Kin Poet in Residence for apocalypse themed poems for a fitting twist on twilight ghost stories.

Sunday

Childrens’ Poetry Workshop.

Suitable for all ages, in this fun and interactive poetry workshop children we’ll be making poems inspired from the Camp Kin site. There’ll be plenty of sticking and cutting things up, sharing of poems and seeing if anyone can make up a word that rhymes with orange.