Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko
announce their Your Words, Your World initiative for young people
including a 2022 tour for their Poetry Picnic show
Poet Simon Mole and Musician Gecko are launching Your Words, Your World – a new project supporting young people to express themselves and helping them to understand that their words have the power to shape the world around them. The duo hopes to connect with children and their families by throwing poetic parties at theatres and libraries whilst also continuing to build their creative community online.
As part of Your Words, Your World, Simon Mole and Gecko’s snack-heavy celebration of music and poetry Poetry Picnic returns this summer after its successful premiere last year. The 2022 tour dates are The Big Bristol Poetry Picnic (4 June, Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol), The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic (5 June, Exeter Phoenix), Sheffield Rivelin Co Poetry Picnic (9 July, The Pavilion, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield), The Big Booktastic Poetry Picnic (10 July, The Place, Bedford) and The Norwich Poetry Picnic (27 July, Norwich Theatre Royal).
At Poetry Picnic, with fun (and quite silly) games Simon and Gecko build kids’ confidence and skill with words to help them unlock their poetry powers. Audience members will be supported to pen a poem from their picnic blanket and hear some Beatles-meets-the-Beastie-Boys style bangers from the duo themselves. Participants will also have the chance to share the stage and perform their poems with the show’s professional performers for the grand finale. On the day, every child will receive a Your Words, Your World notebook and Simon and Gecko can’t wait to see the wonders with which they will fill them up. Poetry Picnics are ideal for ages 6yrs+. Just remember to BYOB – bring your own biscuits!
Also, as part of Your Words, Your World, Simon Mole will again partner with leading poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes, to mentor a collective of six up and coming poets, giving them the opportunity to write for – and more importantly WITH – children. Top poets Kate Wakeling and John Hegley will be the guest facilitators.
Simon Mole is an acclaimed children’s poet, National Poetry Day Ambassador, and sleep deprived dad. He writes books, makes shows, and runs workshops for children and families. The tutorial videos at his YouTube channel are used by hundreds of thousands of children and teachers each year (www.youtube.com/simonmole). Simon runs two live online poetry workshops a month (https://www.simonmole.com/participate).
Gecko is a Singer, Storyteller and Musician. His playful lyrics cover the big things in life; think iPhones, libraries and Guanabana fruit juice to name but a few. Gecko’s previous appearances include Glastonbury, Latitude, BBC Radio 1, Sky Arts, 6 Music and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His 2017 debut album Volcano was the Morning Star’s ‘album of the year’. In 2020, Gecko released his second album Climbing Frame crowd funded by his audience in just 48 hours. In 2021 his song Rapunzel went viral on Tik Tok (https://geckoofficial.com).
Poetry Picnic is created by Simon Mole, Gecko and Peader Kirk. It is produced by Rua Arts and funded by Arts Council England. https://www.simonmole.com/events
LISTINGS
Category: Poetry, Children’s, Family, Outdoor events
For ages: 6+
Running time: 75 mins
Check with individual venues for COVID-19 guidelines.
Show: The Big Bristol Poetry Picnic
Date/Time: 4 June, 11am and 2pm
Venue: Wardrobe Theatre, The Old Market Assembly, 25 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0DF
Tickets: £9
Box Office: https://thewardrobetheatre.com/livetheatre/the-big-bristol-poetry-picnic/
Show: The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic
Date/Time: 5 June, 2pm
Venue: Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3LS
Tickets: £10* adults | £7* under 18’s
Box Office: https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/the-big-spork-poetry-picnic/
Show: The Big Booktastic Poetry Picnic
Date/Time: Sun 10 July, 1pm
Venue: The Place, Bradgate Rd, Bedford MK40 3DE
Tickets: Adult £5 | Child £8 | Family Blanket £28 (2 adults + up to 3 children)
Box Office: on sale soon
Show: Sheffield Rivelin Co Poetry Picnic
Date/Time: Saturday 9 July, 1pm and 3pm
Venue: The Pavilion, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield S6 4HB
Tickets: £7
Box Office: www.gatheringground.uk. For more info visit www.rivelinco.org
Show: The Norwich Poetry Picnic
Date/Time: Wednesday 27 July, 1pm and 3pm
Venue: Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre St, Norwich NR2 1RL
Tickets: Family Blanket £30
Box Office: https://norwichtheatre.org/whats-on/norwichs-poetry-picnic/