Poet, playwright and broadcaster Lemn Sissay comes to the Unity Theatre, Liverpool on Saturday 9th February for a very special one-off fundraising event for award-wining young people’s theatre company 20 Stories High.

The night will include poetry readings, including old favourites, and there will be a Q and A hosted by a very special surprise guest.

Lemn is the patron of 20 Stories High, a company that makes theatre with and for working class and culturally diverse young people, in Liverpool, nationally and internationally.

On his patronage and the work of the company, Lemn said, “I am so pleased and proud to be the patron of 20 Stories High. I am proud of the work they make, proud of the young people who make up the company and proud that they have asked me. The stories they tell are powerful, relevant, funny and heartfelt. And with the amount of challenges that young people are facing, it is more important than ever that their voices are heard.”

Leanne Jones, 20 Stories High Executive Director says, “Lemn is a powerful voice for the empowerment of people of colour and those who have experienced growing up in the care system – his experiences resonate strongly with many of the young people we support and create work with. We’re thrilled to be hosting Lemn in Liverpool and are grateful for the support he offers to 20 Stories High.”

An Evening With Lemn is presented as part of a 20 Stories High residency at the Unity that includes: the world premiere of Big Up! – a new hip hop and puppetry show for 3 to 6 year olds and everyone that looks after them, made with award-winning children’s theatre company, Theatre-Rites, and MASH UP – a music gig like no other hosted by International Beatbox Champion, HOBBIT and Liverpool-based rising star, Dorcas Seb.

Lemn Sissay Lemn Sissay M.B.E. is a poet, playwright and broadcaster. He has read poetry all over the world and was the first poet commissioned to write for the London Olympics. His Landmark Poems can be found in public spaces from The Royal Festival Hall in London to The British Council Offices in Addis Ababa. Lemn was official poet for The FA Cup 2015 and his Desert Island Discs was pick of the year for B.B.C. Radio 4 2015.

Lemn is Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Patron of The Letterbox Club, Canterbury’s Poet Laureate and Trustee of The Foundling Museum and Manchester International Festival.

Tickets are priced at £20 and available to purchase from the Unity Theatre on line at www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk or by telephone on 0151 709 4988.