ON OUR RADAR

The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic

Spork! is holding an interactive family-friendly indoor poetry and music workshop on picnic blankets.

Leigh Curtis

Spork! is holding an interactive family-friendly workshop on Sunday 5 June at Exeter Phoenix.

The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic, which will take place indoors on picnic blankets, will include ice-breakers, word games and poetry and music with Simon Mole and Gecko.

Participants will be guided through the process of writing a poem and will receive an activity pack designed by Anna Bruder of A Line Art to fill in before, during or after the event.

The workshop is suitable for everyone aged six years or older.

Please note that the event is BYOB (Bring Your Own Biscuits.)

The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic Sunday 5 June 2022 Exeter Phoenix Image: Rua Arts

Spork! is a community-led producer of spoken-word works. It was founded in 2018 by Exeter poet and artist Chris White.

He said: “We put on regular gigs at Exeter Phoenix featuring local talent and line-ups from across the UK, as well a year-round programme of writing and performance workshops, online events and our artist development strand Spork Up!

“In the past three years we’ve put on over 40 events including slams competitions, haiku workshops and online gigs.

“We’ve worked with a range of partners from Newcourt Community Centre to Mothers Who Make, and have programmed drag queens, brass bands and rappers as well as some of the best spoken-word artists in the UK and beyond, including Buddy Wakefield, Vanessa Kissule and John Hegley.”

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic is at 2pm on Sunday 5 June 2022 at Exeter Phoenix.

Visit the Exeter Phoenix website for more information and to book tickets.

The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic is produced by Rua Arts and supported by The Albany, Apples and Snakes and Arts Council England.


Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer is proving that reader-funded media can deliver the independent public interest journalism our local democracy needs.

Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription to support our work and get access to exclusive premium content and more.

More stories
Average number of days taken by OPCC to complete a complaint review bar chart

Devon & Cornwall Police complaints handling “not good enough by a long way”

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez criticises force for poor performance but statutory report also finds poor commissioner’s office complaint appeals performance.

Northbrook swimming pool

City council holds sham Northbrook swimming pool closure consultation

£600,000 Exeter Leisure services budget cut signed off two weeks before pool consultation opened as St Sidwell’s Point drains other council leisure sites.

Met Office building at Exeter Science Park

Met Office to sell Exeter Science Park supercomputer and office buildings

Disposal motivated by replacement of nine year-old supercomputer with £1.2 billion government-funded off-site Microsoft facility.

St Petrock's outreach workers with a rough sleeper

Annual city council rough sleeper count “consistently underestimates” extent of Exeter rough sleeping

Homelessness charity St Petrock’s calls on council to change count methodology which identifies fewer rough sleepers than those known by outreach workers and reflected in government figures.

Grace Road Fields March 2025

Exeter Energy insists Riverside Valley Park only viable heat plant site but fails to explain Marsh Barton brownfield rejection

Company admits River Exe water source connection merely “potential” after 2036, incinerator connection only “possible” after 2030 and solar array “will not” meet plant electricity demand while statutory objections challenge Grace Road Fields plans.

Exeter Community Lottery revenue distribution FAQ

Exeter Community Lottery income spent on gambling licence fees and costs despite council marketing and point of sale claims

Materially misleading claims that 60% of ticket sales revenue goes to good causes repeatedly made on lottery website and in official council communications as Australian multinational profits from local voluntary and community sector support.