Little Green Pig's Young Writers Takeover
Play with words, create powerful poetry, challenge your imagination, and hear young people’s voices amplified. A weekend celebrating the creativity, imagination and hopes of local children and young people through workshops, performances and writing activities.
Sat 21 May & Sun 22 May | 11am-5pm | Full Programme below | Free, no need to book, turn up on the day
The Riwaq is located on the lawn next to King Alfred Car Park along Hove Seafront
From a tasty poetry takeaway to open mic opportunities, a riddle treasure hunt and author interviews, there’ll be plenty of ways to join in as Little Green Pig and Young Writers Collective take over the Riwaq on Hove seafront.
Join us on the Saturday, where children and young people can learn how to be a poetry chef sitting in the famous Poetry Takeaway van delivering poems to order, hear authors share secrets on how they create their fictional worlds, and in the afternoon step up and share your own work on stage if you are aged 7-18 at our Open Mic event hosted by AFLO. There’ll also be drop in word games and activities to join in with.
Sunday is all about young people and raising the voices of those aged 11 to 18. Start the day with a dynamic workshop with award winning poet Roy McFarlane, and in the afternoon join the audience for our main event of the weekend, Amplified. Hear local young people share their personal and powerful stories on the outdoor stage in front of the sea, followed by a wrap party with music and a chance to celebrate.
All events are free and drop in activities/performances will be available from 11am to 5pm each day. Some workshops have limited capacity and spaces will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.
For events on the outdoor stage do bring suitable clothing for sitting outdoors, plus blankets/picnics if you’d like to!
Across the weekend, children and young people from Little Green Pig and Young Writers Collective take centre stage as well as supporting behind the scenes, with roles from stage management to stewarding and taking over social media. This is a Youth Takeover, showcasing what this local creative writing and mentoring charity are all about.
Details and timings, full programme details for the weekend:
Sat 21 May
11am - 12pm: The Poetry Takeaway: Poet Chef Training Workshop for 8 to 13 year olds
12pm-3pm: The Poetry Takeaway: The World’s First Mobile Poetry Emporium
1pm-2pm: Ask an Author: Emma Shevah
3-5pm: Little Green Pig’s Open Mic hosted by AFLO. the poet
11am-5pm: Letters to the Earth: Artwork and writing on display
The Poetry Takeaway: Poet Chef Training Workshop
11am - 12pm | A free workshop with up to 20 spaces, first come, first serve | Age: 8 to 13 year olds
Children are invited to take part in a workshop, led by experienced poets, to become ‘Poet Chefs’ for a day! Poets including Brighton’s David Attree will train up children to then take their turn taking over The Poetry Takeaway - the world’s first mobile poetry emporium! Once trained up after the workshop, children will take turns to cook up words and freshly written poems for visitors!
The Poetry Takeaway: The World’s First Mobile Poetry Emporium
12pm-3pm, drop in between these times | Free | Interactive, participatory activity open to all ages
Visit the World’s first mobile poetry emporium and take away unique poems written to order! The Poetry Takeaway will be staffed by freshly trained young poet chefs aged 8 to 13, alongside local adult poets such as David Attree. Our talented team of poet chefs will carefully craft a free personalised poem for you, perform it and wrap it up to takeaway.
Ask an Author: Emma Shevah
1-2pm, on The Riwaq stage | Ages 7+ | Free
Ever wondered how authors build their worlds? How do writers create characters and dream up with their unique stories? Children and young people are invited to interview Brighton-based author Emma Shevah as she shares secrets and tips on how she creates her books. Emma has written six books for Chicken House and Bloomsbury which include eco-adventure How to Save the World with a Chicken and an Egg, Dream On Amber and Dara Palmer’s Major Drama.
This lively discussion event will be hosted by young people from Little Green Pig’s Youth Board and the audience will have the chance to ask questions. A fantastic event for children curious how to become the authors of the future!
Little Green Pig’s Open Mic hosted by AFLO. the poet
3-5pm | Free | on The Riwaq stage | All Ages
3–3.45pm: Open Mic for ages 7–11 year olds
4pm–5pm: Open Mic for ages 11–18 year olds
Calling all young people with something to share! Whether poetry, spoken word, comedy or something else, Little Green Pig present an open mic opportunity for anyone aged 7–18 who wants to perform on The Riwaq’s seafront stage to a Brighton Festival audience. We invite you to be brave, take pride and take to the mic! Little Green Pig’s mentors and our host AFLO. the poet will be cheering you on. Everyone is invited to come and join the audience to hear children and young people perform.
Performers can sign up on the day from 2pm or email info@littlegreenpig.org.uk to reserve a spot in advance and register too.
Letters to the Earth: Environmental Art and Writing
11am-5pm | Free
What would you write in a letter to the Earth? What would you say in a postcard to the moon or a note to the ocean? Children aged 7 to 11 from across Little Green Pig’s after school clubs have written poetic and powerful messages to the planet. Their letters have joined thousands of Letters to the Earth written across the globe, from indigenous community activists to famous artists. Come and read what these young writers from Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb and central Brighton have to say about the climate and nature emergency. The letters have been beautifully printed and illustrated by the children onto banners decorating The Riwaq, with support from artists from East Side Print, and funded thanks to East Brighton Trust at Sussex Community Foundation.
Sun 22 May
11.30am - 12.30pm: Poetry Workshop for 11-18 year olds: Roots and Routes with Roy McFarlane
12.30-1pm: Roots and Routes: Poetry Performance on stage
2.30pm-3.30pm: Amplified
3.30pm-5pm: Young Writers Collective: Takeover Closing Celebration
11am - 5pm: Letters to the Earth: Artwork and Letters on display
Poetry Workshop for 11-18 year olds: Roots and Routes with Roy McFarlane
11.30am–12.30pm | Free | Ages 11–18 | First come, first served
In a moment where images and stories are pumped into our veins 24/7, how do we make sense who we are? What are our stories, the route and roots of who we are? Former Birmingham Poet Laureate Roy McFarlane invites young people aged 11–18 to join a joyful and fun writing workshop to find ways to express how we’re feeling and capture the moments around us. Using myths, folk tales and local stories, we’ll unlock our imaginations and own individuals stories.
Roots and Route: Poetry Performance on stage
12.30-1pm | Free | on The Riwaq stage | All Ages
Young people who have taken part in a workshop share the poetry and short stories they have freshly created, inspired by themes of folk tales and identity. Join the audience to hear what they have been writing and support them as they take to the mic to share.
Whether you’re a first timer or you love performing, we’ll give you the tools and the confidence to read off the page on the stage. Discover the “5 P’s of Performing”: Pause, Presence, Pace, Practice & Perform. Hosted by Roy McFarlane.
Amplified
2.30pm - 3.30pm | Live on The Riwaq stage | Free | Ages 7+
A personal expression of creativity and confidence from young people in the local area. Following intensive workshops and mentoring with professional writers, a group of young people aged 13–18 from diverse backgrounds in Brighton and Hove will take to the stage to share their own unique and deeply personal stories from overcoming challenges to sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. Discover what this unique group of young people are brave enough to say. Hosted by Kat Francois.
Young Writers Collective: Takeover Closing Celebration
3.30pm–5pm | Free
Following Amplified, join us to celebrate Little Green Pig's Young Writers Takeover Weekend at our closing party. Everyone is welcome to enjoy some tunes and relax at The Riwaq with music played by local young DJs. Featuring Brighton DJs OffTheCuff (X-CITE), Erin James (Platform B) and DJ Cool playing an eclectic mix of house, garage, reggae, pop, world music and Afrobeat to end the weekend on a high!