The Lit Young Writers Festival Presents: A Creative Writing Workshop for Teenagers with John Cummins
Spoken Word Poet John Cummins has been writing for over twenty years,. “I love playing with language. I call what I do ‘pear-formance’ - spelling it that way with the underline on 'ear'. It’s a two way thing. When people share the experience with you, well it’s a very spiritual thing, for me anyway”. The workshop will encourage the participants to get on paper what you know, deliver it, say it and speak it.
From the age of 15, Cummins was writing poetry regularly. Patrick Kavanagh was a big influence. As was a teacher who awakened him to the vibrancy of language, animating every poem and text with life through her recitals.
He remembers one day being caught by a teacher one day, writing lyrics at the back of the class.
Rather than confiscating the notebook, or shaming him by making him read the words aloud, his teacher gave it back to him the following day, along with a book of poetry, and told him to keep at it.
Nowadays, Dublin writer Cummins works as a facilitator for workshops in schools on poetry, rap and lyrics.
20th November / 11.00am
St Patrick's Gateway Centre, Waterford
Entry €5 | Tickets