Back Row, left to right: Richard Wilson  Sophie Okenedo Yang Lian Lemn Sissay Obi Obili Joseph Mydell, George Alagiah,, Dan Stevens, Antony Sher.  Middle Row, left to right: Patrick Stewart, Julie Christie, Claire Bloom Joanna Lumley, Insert name Rageh Omar Chartwell Dutiro Chartwell , Rageh Omar Insert name John Hurt Simon Callow, Oona Chaplin  Sir Ian McKellen

Front Row Jackson Smith  Miranda Richardson and Patti Smith. Cries From The Heart, June 8th

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Welcome to My Webpage. Residency News: After one year at Southbank Centre I have been asked to stay as artist in residence. In the light of creative expression and infinite possibility It's an offer I have accepted.

Competition news: It's a good month cause there's more sun. On June   10th  The George Devine Award for which I am one selector was won by Hassan Abdulrazzak for the astounding play  Baghdad Wedding. Hassan was presented with the prize, £10,000 ($20,000). I shall now begin selecting for The Forward Poetry Prize for an award £15,000 ($30,000). The highest for poetry in Britain. Is it wrong to say I love giving money to writers.

Music News: The poem has been written for The Alban Berg Quartet and will be presented at their last concert at The Queen Elizabeth Hall on such and 25th June. More music?   A piece of music has been inspired by my poem Everything Is Still and written by Andy Scott. The piece of music is commissioned to mark the retirement of  The Royal Northern College of Music Principal, Eddie Gregson.It is to be premiered on 22nd June at The Royal College of Music in Manchester. Final Music News, on 28th June I'll be on at Glastonbury as a guest of Shlomo in his event Music Through Unconventional Means.

Event highlights:  June 26th I’ll be at The Arts Theatre in Soho talking on the influence of The Mersey Sound as part of a series of events called Under The Influence . There’s more events listed on the readings page. Take a look.