in partnership with The B-Bar
A Meet Me At The Sundial event
Spark & Ride Writing Workshop
Ages 16+
Come along on a bus ride with a difference, and see the city in a new light. You'll have a go at creating your own short poems, inspired by the views as they pass you by.
Chris White is a writer and spoken word performer, who loves travelling and talking to people for inspiration. He wants to share this with you and give you a chance to write your own poems themed around journeys and Plymouth’s top deck views.
Timings and Locations on Wednesday 8 February
12:15pm: the workshop will begin with a briefing at the Plymouth CityBus shop on Royal Parade (Plymouth City Centre). You'll be given a mini intro and some creative prompts to open along the route.
12:35pm: as a group we'll then board the 21A heading towards Barne Barton for a workshop that will get your cogs turning, your brains burning, and take you to some very strange places (including Kinterbury Creek!)
1:05pm: arrive at Beattie Road where we'll spend 30 mins on Kiln Bay with a writing exercise and using some of the prompts you were given at the Citybus shop.
1:42pm: catch bus at Beattie Road back to City Centre (you'll be writing your final ideas / piece on the journey) We'll then spend some time sharing our work (at Moment Cafe on New George Street) and should be finished by 2:45pm.
Chris and his colleague Shaday will be on hand to help you with your writing and there will be a few word games thrown in for good measure
Note: When we leave the bus there will be a short walk involved, with some mud, seaweed and uneven surfaces. Please bring along something to write on and with, and appropriate clothes for potential wet or windy weather
Limited spaces available.
If you have any questions please get in touch with Chris via email
This workshop is free and Plymouth Citybus have generously arrange for free bus travel during the event for all participants
More about the Meet Me At The Sundial project here
Attendee guidance / trigger warnings / safe space
Age Guidance: suitable for ages 16
Emotional / trigger warnings: non expected
Health warnings: we will be travelling by bus so there will be other members of the public travelling with us. If you'd feel more comfortable wearing a face covering you can do so.
When we leave the bus there will be a short walk involved, with some mud, seaweed and uneven surfaces. Please bring along something to write on and with, and appropriate clothes for potential wet or windy weather
Barbican Theatre is a safe space - safe to be who you are, regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender, identity, or sexual orientation.
About Your Workshop Leader
Chris White
I’m a performance poet and Producer, originally from the Midlands but I’ve lived in Exeter for about 8 years. I like making silly & surreal work and at the same time getting all kinds of people writing and engaging with poetry and spoken-word.
Chris' response to the Meet Me At The Sundial project
I plan to spend my residency writing new work on the buses, and also creating a “community poem,” taking lots of different responses from passengers, and weaving them into a crowdsourced poem. I’ll probably gather these responses in a few different ways, by talking to people, getting them to do some lowkey creative writing, anonymous responses and via Social Media. The final poems will be available to listen to online with QR codes onboard, and I’ll also perform them on the buses!
Tickets
This workshop is free (all materials provided), you just have to pay the bus fare.
Information on Plymouth Citybus fares and tickets available here
Venue / Bus Route Info
We'll meet at Barbican Theatre before heading down to catch service 25 by the Mayflower Steps.
Barbican Theatre
Castle Street
The Barbican
Plymouth
PL1 2NJ
Situated behind the Mayflower Visitor Centre just off the main Barbican road (opposite the 'Prawn' and Mayflower Steps).
info@barbicantheatre.co.uk
Your Visit FAQs (opens in a new tab) - incudes parking, access and Pay What you Decide ticket info.
Main image credit: www.plymouth.gov.uk