The Surreal Menagerie: A Poetry Writing Workshop

Join us at Farleys for a fun, inspiring poetry workshop with Derek Adams.

Whether you are new to writing poetry, or a seasoned poet looking for something to enhance and energise your writing, come explore this exciting, creative medium with Derek Adams, a highly experienced surrealist poet and instructor.

‘We’re frightened that somebody might think that we are also animals, which we are’ … Leonora Carrington

Animal imagery, imaginary animals, alter egos, chimeras, familiars, symbiotic and symbolic, the surrealist loved to use animals in their works. We will look at words and images where surrealists embrace the animal and follow their example to write our own surreal menagerie of fantastical creatures. Using a variety of magical exercises we will transform, mutate, and metamorphose linguistic fabulations that conjure into existence the animals from our imagination and lurking within ourselves!

Whether you are new to writing poetry, or a seasoned poet looking for something to enhance and energise your writing, all you need is a pen, notebook, your eyes and your imagination!

Derek Adams has an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths and his poems have appeared in magazines and anthologies in the UK and abroad.

He was BBC Wildlife Poet of the Year in 2006 and his pamphlet Postcards to Olympus won the Poetry Monthly Booklet Competition in 2004.

Tickets £65, non-refundable, no exchanges. Please be sure of your availability before booking. The workshop includes: 5 hours tuition, a complimentary cup of tea/coffee with a slice of homemade cake, and access to Farleys' galleries and garden. It does not include a House Tour. Please bring a packed lunch, or you may purchase a lunch from Farleys Cafe, to enjoy during your lunch break. The workshop runs between 11am – 4.00pm.

On the day: Please check in at Farleys Gallery, your workshop will then be held in Farleys' new Atelier, in Farleys' Yard.

Please email us at the time of booking if you have any questions.