Two of Britain’s fastest-rising poetic talents Luke Wright and Ross Sutherland will be visiting Colchester Campus this month as part of this year’s Essex Book Festival.

Before an evening performance of rabble-rousing poetics and literary talent, the two poets will run a free poetry workshop, revealing top tips and techniques for engaging audiences with live poetry. The workshop also encourages the audience to bring their own work-in-progress and explore exciting new performance methods that focus on body language and the power of adding musical rhythm to words.

Described as ‘the best young performance poet around’ by The Observer, 4Talent award-winner Luke Wright has programmed and hosted Latitude’s poetry arena and has become a poet-in-residence on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live.

 Ross Sutherland was included in The Times’ list of Top Ten Literary Stars. He has written three poetry collections and a one-man show, titled The Three Stigmata of Pacman, and is a member, along with Luke, of poetry collective Aisle 16.

This year, the Essex Book Festival has taken a new direction thanks to major support from Arts Council England, the University and local partners, and is now operated by an independent trust, overseen by a board of voluntary trustees, all with a shared love of literature.

Luke and Ross will be performing at the University on March 10, 7.30pm at the Lakeside Theatre, Colchester Campus. The workshop will also take place in the Lakeside Theatre at 4.30pm.

Tickets for the event cost £7/£5 concessions, and £3 for UoE students, please call 01206 573948. For more information about the Festival, pick up a copy of the Essex Book Festival brochure at your local library or visit www.essexbookfestival.org.uk.

 Notes to editors

1. The Essex Book Festival is a month-long annual celebration of literature which takes place across the county during March. Operated by an independent trust, the Festival is supported by the Arts Council England, England, Essex County Council and the University of Essex.

2. For more information on the Festival contact the University of Essex Communications Office, telephone 01206 874471, e-mail slong@essex.ac.uk. A full list of all Festival events and writers taking part can be found at www.essexbookfestival.org.uk.