Are you looking for a way to inspire a group with a passion for poetry and performance?
I’ve written poems for the National Trust, Channel 4 and BBC Radio 3. My work has been featured in the Guardian, on BBC Breakfast and I’ve appeared on stages across the UK, from Glastonbury Festival to the Royal Albert Hall. I have a big passion for making poetry more accessible.
I offer poetry workshops suitable for many ages, from Key Stage 1 right up to adults. I have over a decade’s worth of experience and have ran large-scale projects on behalf of Apples and Snakes, New Writing North and Mind. As well as being a lot of fun, the sessions build on literacy, creative expression and oracy skills. Holding a first class BA in English Literature, I have an in-depth knowledge about the technical side of writing.
For more information, or to book a session, please click here.
Previous Work
Hilton Primary Academy– Culture Bridge North East (November 2022- February 2023)
Over the course of 5 sessions, I worked with 12 students aged 7-11 from Hilton Primary Academy. These students were from low economic backgrounds and the project was aimed at increasing cultural capital and engaging with local areas of cultural and historical significance.
My job was to develop descriptive writing skills and artistic expression, with an emphasis on producing poetry about place and the natural world. We visited the River Tyne, Beamish and the Angel of the North and the group wrote poetic responses based on these visits. They then performed these poems at a final event which was attended by parents and peers.
“Rowan was fantastic to work with and truly inspirational for the children. They produced some amazing work with him and grew noticeably in confidence as the project developed”– Laurie Stevens, teacher
Anne Frank Trust/Apples and Snakes (December 2022-January 2023)
I worked with a group of year 5 children from Bill Quay Primary School to help them write, edit and rehearse a group poem on the theme of prejudice. Initially working with a full class to generate material, a core group of 6 students were chosen to perform the resulting poem. The poem was performed at the Hilton Hotel in London as part of the Anne Frank Trust’s yearly rememberance event on Holocaust Memorial Day.
The young people confidently shared their work to an audience of 450 people alongside students from Birmingham and Hertfordshire. The guest speaker at the event was David Baddiel. A film of the poem was released by the Anne Frank Trust.
Groundwork– Route2Work College, Jarrow Hall (May-July 2022)
The Route2Work College caters for young people aged 16-25 with a wide range of SEND needs. I worked with a group of 16 young people over the course of 9 sessions. I was asked to boost literacy and oracy skills, as well as to increase self-confidence.
The group made a huge amount of progress in a relatively short space of time. One participant in particular performed at a folk festival and a disability awareness event in front of 100+ people. This was the first time they had ever performed poetry. A collection of the finished poems were published by local press, Talking Pen.
“The content and amount of work produced was incredible. Rowan allowed the learners to express themselves in a safe and creative environment and learners thrived”- Rebecca Ramsden, Deputy Head Teacher, Route2Work College
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Rowan McCabe 