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
Tour Dates 2024
4 April – CREWE, Lyceum Theatre
5 April – OXFORD, Burton Taylor Studio
18 April – CLEVEDON, Theatre Shop
19 April – OUNDLE, Stahl Theatre
26 April – PRESTEIGNE, Border Arts
27 April – STAMFORD Arts Centre
2 May – MANCHESTER, Edge Arts Centre
9 May – FELIXSTOWE, Two Sisters
10 May – SUDBURY Arts Centre
15 May – SCARBOROUGH, Stephen Joseph Theatre
16 May – HARROGATE Theatre
22 May – LIVERPOOL, Leaf (WOW Fest)
23 May – GRIMSBY, Dock’s Academy,
24 May – NORWICH, Norfolk & Norwich Festival
5 June – CHELMSFORD, Theatre Studio
6 June – POOLE, Lighthouse
7 June – CARDIFF, Sherman Theatre
12 June – NOTTINGHAM Poetry Festival
13 June – STOCKTON-ON-TEES, ARC
20 June – IPSWICH, Wolsey Theatre
Past dates 2023
22 July – Latitude
25 July – Ventnor Fringe
2-15 August – The Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh
7 September – Front Room, Weston-super-Mare
15 September – Corn Hall, Diss
16 September – Out There Festival, Great Yaymouth
17 September – Big Town Festival, Ashburton
22 September – North Cornwall Book Festival
4 October – Victoria Vaults, York
5 October – Jersey Arts Centre, Jersey
14 October – Winchester Poetry Festival
15 October – Get A Word In Edgeways Festival, Much Wenlock
18 October – Colchester Arts Centre
19 October – Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate
26 October – The Needle & Pin, Loughborough
27 October – Bridport Arts Centre
28 October – The Pound, Corsham
2 November – The Pleasance, London
8 November – The Ferret, Preston
9 November – Square Chapel, Halifax
11 November – The Junction, Cambridge
24 November – Storyhouse, Chester
25 November – Chesterfield Labour Club
29 November – WORCESTER, The Studio of the Hive Library, Uni of Worcester
15 December – BUNGAY, Fisher Theatre (+ John Osborne, all profits to charity)
Tour Dates 2024
24 January – BURWASH, Lakedown Brewing
25 January – BRIGHTON, Komedia
1 February – SHIPTON GORGE, Village Hall
2 February – PIDDLETRENTHIDE, Memorial Hall
3 February – BLANDFORD, Royal British Legion
7 February – BURY ST EDMUNDS, Theatre, Royal
14-15 February – BRISTOL, Wardrobe Theatre
16 February – IRONBRIDGE, Embers
24 February – BIRMINGHAM, Verve Poetry Festival
28 February – NEWPORT, LLyfrgell Maindee Library
29 February – PONTARDAWE Arts Centre
1 March – BODMIN, Old Library
2 March – CONSTANTINE, Tolmen Centre
6 March – NEWCASTLE, Northern Stage