Poet & broadcaster Luke Wright chronicles the UK’s Brexit Toll on 2017 tour

‘The most relevant poet of his generation’ Exeunt ‘Cool poems!’ Patti Smith

Following the unprecedented multi award winning success of his first stage play, What I Learned From Johnny Bevan, one of the UK’s favourite and most accessible poets, Luke Wright, returns to his roots in the first half of 2017 with 25 nationwide dates performing poems from his new book The Toll. The tour visits Manchester’s The Edge on 10 March.

The poems in The Toll visit the flat-roofed pubs and half bought couches of Brexit Britain as it struggles with doubt, duty and half-cut nights spent shouting impotently at Question Time on TV. Wright’s poetry ranges from the laugh out loud funny to the tear-inducingly poignant and back again, as he effortlessly takes his audience with him on the ride switching emotional gears without missing a beat. Wright makes poetry accessible, normal even.

‘A rip-roaring raconteur, evoking a Larkin-esque sense of commuter belt ennui’ Metro

‘I wrote these poems over the last three years’ says Luke. ‘There’s a range of subject matter including lots of stuff about family, about England, and about heartache. It's about The Toll that life takes on you, but also about duty and trying to do the right thing. As ever in my work, politics and social issues lurk in the background ready to pounce …’

‘seething, dynamic poetry’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Spend an evening with a gifted and compelling raconteur at the top of his game, as he spits out visceral, inventive verse that sweats, bleeds and sings. See a video sample of The Toll here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1yWEfUyq9w

‘Quite simply, this is the future of popular poetry’ The Skinny

The Toll follows Luke’s 2013 debut collection Mondeo Man, of which Huffinton Post noted ‘If any contemporary collection is going to convince the unbeliever that poetry can be a riot of cheek, giggles, boobs, tears and Facebook – while keeping its artistic integrity firmly intact – Mondeo Man is it.’ «««««

Luke Wright, poet, theatre maker and broadcaster, has written and starred in 8 solo shows of his poetry as well as ‘What I Learned from Johnny Bevan’, the play that sold out a three week run at London’s Soho Theatre and toured extensively. It won a Fringe First for new writing, The Stage Award For Acting Excellence, The Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show and is currently nominated for an Off West End Award. It was published in both hardback and paperback.

‘Timely, patriotic, touching and consistently funny’ Scotsman

He tours the world each year (as far afield as China and Australia) with his unique brand of poetry and can often be seen opening for John Cooper Clarke. His verse documentaries on Channel 4 have been enjoyed by millions of viewers and his poems can often be heard on BBC Radios 3 & 4 and sometimes further afield. He has been a regular contributor to Sony Award-winning Saturday Live and has numerous main channel TV appearances under his belt. Luke curates the spoken word line-ups at The Latitude Festival, Festival Number 6 and The Edinburgh International Book Festival.

‘Sit-up-and-listen good, a zestful relish for pump-action wordplay with a thoughtful and deeply felt understanding of just how messed up Britain is’ Dominic Cavendish Daily Telegraph

Luke Wright - The Toll

Leading British poet turns his gaze onto the trials and tolls facing Brexit Britain with poems that range from the genuinely laugh out loud funny to heartbreakingly poignant - linked with patter that rivals the very best stand up comedians

10 March 7.30pm Manchester The Edge, Theatre & Arts Centre Manchester Road Chorlton M21 9JG

£12/£10 0161 282 9776 www.edgetheatre.co.uk <http://www.edgetheatre.co.uk>