Name: WORD: The Maker Poet Takeover
Start: 2026-04-18T19:00:00+01:00
Location: Patchwork Studios

We are thrilled to have been granted funding from Plymouth Poetry Festival to be a part of the week long poetry events across the city and beyond.
On April 18th between 4-6pm renowned poet and MC Jason Butler and former journalist and WORD coordinator Charlotte Turner will host a poetry and spoken word writing and performance workshop, delving into rhyme, rhythm and how to translate from the page into spoken word.
Everyone is welcome, no prior poetry writing necessary. Following the workshop, WORD's open mic poetry and spoken word evening will take place, where we encourage those who have written a piece to take to the stage to perform.
Home to WORD, poetry and spoken word nights for the past 6 years, Patchwork has become a thriving, safe space for poets to take to the stage and perform in what we're often told is ‘one of nicest spaces to speak in with the most attentive crowd’.
Plymouth Poetry Festival was founded by Mimi Jones, Poppy-Jayne Jones and Jonah Corren. All three individuals are poets themselves, and were running regular spaces in the city for local poets to share their work. The idea of the festival was conceived with the aim of bringing together and shining a light on the thriving poetry scene that exists in Plymouth.
With a grant from POP's collectives fund, Mimi, Poppy and Jonah distributed funding to local poetry organisers to run their own events over a designated week in April 2024. Events and organisations that featured in the festival included The Providence Poets, Wonderzoo, Word of Plymouth, Jawbone Press, Spork, Pyre, Queer Out Loud and Poetry at the PPL. Alongside these were an exciting programme of writing workshops, advice surgeries run by Literature Works, poetry for children at the Box and a 'Walking Through Poetry' exhibition at RAAY Gallery alongside the festival poetry bookshop.
For 2026, Mimi, Poppy and Jonah sought out extra funding and support to grow the festival. Literature Works stepped in as a partner to offer experience and expertise on running larger-scale literature programmes, and Plymouth City Council offered to give us the resources we need to take the festival to the next level. That, alongside another successful grant application from POP, set the stage of 2026 to be more expansive and more ambitious, all without losing the grassroots connection that makes Plymouth's poetry scene so special.
Between 6-7pm there will be a break for participants to grab some food (there is catering on site or shops in the next village) as well as a cocktail bar next door which will be open from 7pm.
Many thanks to POP, Literature Works and Plymouth City Council for funding the festival and supporting the arts.
Patchwork Studios operate a diverse and inclusive programme of creative events. From firm festival circuit favourites, undiscovered local acts fresh on the scene, and underground DJs from across the region, to some of the most exciting acts smashing into the national limelight; you’ll find it all up at Maker Heights. These events vitally support our rural community offerings, helping us to improve social integration, while also celebrating culture and inspiring creativity.
Between April and October, camping is available separately via Maker Camp website. Our Tavern within the venue is open until late during show nights, dishing out all the finest local tipples to keep you hydrated, plus Garrison Gallery are often serving up a storm of cocktails within their magical art-adorned walls next door. Lil Pizza Heaven are usually parked up on site on a Saturday evening too to keep you fuelled.
Why not make a weekend of it while you’re here? The Canteen opens at 9:30am the next morning for coffee and breakfast, and during the camping season, you'll find delicious homemade scran to keep your bellies full into the evening, over by the campsite entrance. The twin fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand are only a short walk away, as are their lovely beaches, and the Southwest Coast Path runs straight past too.