cooking up connection and community through literature and spoken word
Word Kitchen develops events, courses and networks to grow connection, confidence and wellbeing through literature, story-sharing and storytelling.
“We believe that whatever your age, background and story everyone is capable of finding their voice on the page.”
Word Kitchen nurtures current and emerging writers at different stages of their writing journeys. Our aim is to create environments which allow writers to share work, support each other, connect and create. We want to attract a diverse range of writers and voices both in terms of material and backgrounds.
“By shaping and sharing our stories, we come to see ourselves as empowered authors who can change our points of view and write our future narratives. Through sharing stories we learn that we are not alone, that we belong, and in the process we not only become more human, but more humane.”
Open Mic events at Brook Kitchen, Budleigh Salterton
Word Kitchen hosts one prose and one poetry event each quarter in the Brook Kitchen cafe with delicious food and drink on offer. We attract an impressive and inspirational array of writers from near and far, some reading from published novels and poetry collections, some sharing work in progress, some stepping up to the mic for the first time. These are our upcoming events. For more information, and to book a place as audience and/or readers, get in touch.
Upcoming Events
Poetry Open Mic - Brook Kitchen
Ceri Baker – F**CK IT… PASS THE SALT PLEASE
June 5th (doors 5.30) 6.15 start
this is a ticketed event featuring Bard of Exeter and multi-slam winner Ceri Baker, with open mic slots also available. It’s going to be a cracking evening!
Join us at Brook Kitchen Cafe, Budleigh Salterton for an uplifting evening of open mic poetry headlined by acclaimed multi-slam winning poet and Bard of Exeter, Ceri Baker. Tickets £5. Book at wegottickets.com; info - sidmouthdavid@outlook.com
There is a great YES inside Ceri Baker, her writing tackles the edgier side of adulting, without being weighed down by it - Liv Torc
A bold and beautiful poet. This courageous collection is evocative and unflinching, generous in spirit and glorious Salena Godden
Word Kitchen @ the Exeter Phoenix
June 11th , doors open 6.00 for a 6.30pm start
Exciting News! Our next prose night is in Exeter, and offers the chance to network amongst an array of wonderful writers and readers including YOU! Email David to secure a reading slot (5 mins). We are delighted that Elizabeth Delo (Becoming Liz Taylor), Orlando Murrin (Knife Skills for Beginners) and the inimitable Julian Isaacs (AKA Auntie Pus) are already on the bill.
Tickets £5 at https://www.wegottickets.com/event/618737
Creative Writing Sessions
All of us are made of stories
Word Kitchen offers a range of one-off sessions and courses (both face-to-face and online). There we get words down on paper and, maybe, share them with each other. No writing experience is necessary, and everyone is welcome.
Pippa Marriott has taught for over thirty years, and runs creative writing workshops in schools, colleges, prisons and communities. She also writes and directs for the theatre.
“Pippa provides a supportive, non-judgmental, non-competitive environment in which to practise writing and develop skills irrespective of one’s level of experience or ability.”
“It’s the highlight of my week!”
“It lifted my spirits up and encouraged me to carry on learning new skills”
“Pippa always holds us together so lovingly and beautifully.”
Dunkeswell Youth Club Project
A series of drop-in sessions with a range of wonderfully imaginative young people in this thriving youth club.
We developed characters, we created settings and understood how important a sense of place is. We wrote dialogues. We thought about different genre. We ate pizza, and we chatted about stories and books and ones that we love and what we enjoy about reading.
