Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee
May 15, 2024
7:45 pm
Scarborough
Stephen Joseph Theatre

Crack out the bunting! It’s Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee.

Over twenty-five years, Luke Wright has built up a reputation for being one of Britain’s most popular live poets. He has won an unprecedented four Saboteur Awards (national awards for spoken word), a Stage Award, and a Fringe First. He’s sold out shows across the world and regularly tours with John Cooper Clarke and The Libertines.

This show debuted to a packed arena at Latitude Festival before a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe where it was the toast of the critics.

“This is the best thing that poet Luke Wright has done, which is saying something.” ★★★★★ The Telegraph

This year, thwarted in his attempts to hold a street party by the philistines on the council and unable to shift the over-ordered commemorative plates, Wright does what a poet does best, and takes a deep dive into himself. What follows is his most confessional show to date.

“Breathtaking … with a sharpness and wisdom that lifts the soul, and soothes the battered heart.” ★★★★ The Scotsman

Wright was adopted as a baby and grew up believing that his adoption “wasn’t a big thing.” But one night he idly stumbled across his birth mother on Facebook. This window to a world that might have been his has thrown up deep questions about privilege, familial love, and destiny.

“Luke is on fire! A poetic interrogation of himself, who he is and where he is from that leaves you tenderised and bruised and with a little something in your eye.” Mark Thomas

This show is an excavation of lives lived and not lived. Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the directness and pathos that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England. With some wild experiments in form, a nervous kitten called Sir John Betjeman and a healthy smattering of drum n bass, Wright manages to navigate some heart-wrenching material and keep the laughs coming.

“A winning combination of honesty, humour, ire and wonder. He is at the peak of his powers.” ★★★★★ The Stage

“The best exploration of love, family and belonging I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.” ★★★★★ The Student

“On the basis of the stellar quality of this show – here’s to another twenty-five.” ★★★★★ The Wee Review

“Britain’s finest performance poet.” ★★★★★ Life As Theatre

“Wright is entrenched in the sound and feel of words, a love he leans into with a mix of boisterous energy, and gentle pathos” ★★★★ The QR

“Luke Wright is a gifted performer, a talented poet and a definite favourite of ours. Treat yourself to an hour in his company.” ★★★★ Darkchat

The Stage “best 15 shows of the fringe”

The Telegraph “best 13 shows of the fringe”

The Crush Bar “top ten shows of the fringe”

Written & performed by Luke Wright

Supported by Norwich Arts Centre and Arts Council, England