What’s On

Join former Australian Poetry Slam Champion and experienced workshop facilitator, Luka Lesson, for an exciting, single-day workshop directed towards the generation of new work. This workshop leans on a tried and true practice that focuses on ‘getting out of our own way’, relying on the undeniable truth that we all have a story to tell.

Drawing on his own Greek heritage, Luka will discuss Ancient forms of poetry and how they influence the poetic movements of today. As a self-defined ‘Oral Traditionalist’ Luka’s work focuses on the fact that poetry has lived on the stage for thousands of years longer than it has been on the page. Luka says: ‘within all of us, in our ancestry and our DNA there lives a poet – all they need is a little nudge to be awakened to the present moment and be allowed o to speak’. Using a combination of prompts, exercises and personal anecdotes Luka will lead the dormant poet inside of those in attendance out onto the blank page.

The poets will then be taken on a journey from page to stage as their poems come to life with Luka’s careful tutelage.

Detailed outline including structure and learning outcomes:

• Short Performance by Luka Lesson
• Writing workshop
• Performance workshop
• Sharing of work between the poets in a safe and respectful environment
• Each poet will leave with the first iterations of a new poem and the skills required to replicate process of creating new work, memorising and performing the work in public.
• Who is it for: Any level. Bravery is more important than experience.

Workshop Details

When: Saturday 4 May, 10am – 4pm

Where: In-person at the Byron Writers Festival office

Cost: $155 members/$200 non-members inc. GST

Group size: 10 participants max.

About Luka Lesson

Luka Lesson is a poet, rapper and artist of Greek heritage born in Meanjin, Brisbane. His work crosses between the history of his family homeland, the fiercely political and the vulnerably self-reflective. A former Australian Poetry Slam Champion (2011), Luka has featured at the mecca for slam poetry: the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe (NYC), performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and toured with respected UK rappers Akala & Lowkey. Luka has released two collections of poetry independently: The Future Ancients (2013) & Antidote (2015) and two poetic rap albums: Please Resist Me (2012) & EXIT (2014).

Luka’s work has also been featured in publications such as: Southern Sun: Aegean Light (2011, ASP), Poems From A Green And Blue Planet (2019, Hachette UK), and Solid Air (2019, UQP). Luka has been a poet-in-residence at the Scottish Poetry Library and has always used poetry and rap writing workshops as a form of activism, helping young people to articulate and perform their work for the past 15 years in education centres worldwide, amplifying countless marginalised voices in the process. Luka’s poems and rap verses are being studied on official school curriculums throughout Australia, and unofficially by rebellious educators worldwide.

Luka’s latest project: Agapi & Other Kinds of Love, inspired by the Ancient Greek words for love, is touring nationally in 2024.