From Page to Stage: Storytelling and Performance Poetry

Page to Stage is a series of 5 workshops designed to help writers or aspiring writers take their poetry off the page and onto the stage using a variety of performance skills and confidence-boosting activities. Each session will be run by a different trained performer who will focus on the key elements you’ll need to take your performance to the next level.

Sessions will take place at The Community Works (21 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1HU), at 1pm-3.30pm on the last Saturday of the month from April – August. Participants must book each session individually and are invited to book for all five sessions, or just the one or ones which are of interest to them.

After the workshop series has ended, all participants will have the chance to show off their finely honed performance skills and perform alongside the workshop leaders in our September showcase event! Further details and dates to follow.

Tickets are sold on three tiers, based on means: £10 is the general admission price, with a £15 tickets for those wishing to pay a bit more, but there are a limited numbers of tickets sold for £5 for those on a lower income. We emphasize that there are a limited number of these lower-cost tickets, so please only register for this lower-cost option if you need it. There is also one free ticket per session available for anyone who would benefit from these sessions, but for whom the ticket price is prohibitive. Please email us at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com if you would like to request this free ticket.

The building is accessible, but if you have any specific access needs, please drop us an email at oxfordpoetrylibrary@gmail.com beforehand.

The theme for this session is…

Storytelling and Performance Poetry with Lorna Burchell

At the heart of storytelling is the idea that you are co-creating the performance with the audience. Like a pilot, you are taking them on a journey with you. In this workshop you will learn how to captain this journey skillfully and safely. Lorna will help you incorporate a variety of techniques used by trained storytellers to bring your performance poetry to life on stage.

We’ll cover how to begin and end your performance with confidence, use the senses in your work; explore and perform different characters; use ‘the 4 elements’ in your voice and language to vary mood and tone; use silence, pace and stress to create variety and strengthen imagery. There will also be time for you to get on our stage for some ‘live coaching’ and feedback on the techniques we have learned.

Please bring a poem of your own to perform if you have one, but one will be provided if you don’t.

Lorna Burchell is a trained storyteller, performance poet and Oxford-based aspiring comedian who has graced stages both locally and afar. Her work combines her love of the narrative arts with the playfulness and rhythm of spoken word. She has trained at the International School of Storytelling in East Sussex and with various talented mentors along the way.