Barbican Young Poets 2026 cohort, led by Jacob Sam-La Rose organised an immersive, theoretical & live poetry event on 20th June 2026. Workshops explored either practical, theoretical or philosophical approaches & methods to enable others to write, think & reflect creatively and expressively.

Despite attendees being spoilt for choice due having to choose one out of nine other workshops, the right workshop did eventually find you. I first attended ‘Beyond the poem: The Poetics of loose ends – poetry & Archiving’, facilitated by Taylor Beidler.

Taylor’s workshop was extremely interactive, she discussed her interesting works as a poetry archivist; as well as her PHD research into archives as a tool for storytelling. Taylor’s workshop explored different poetic narratives from political responses to content such as ‘Huey P Newton’ (Black party movement activist leader) which encouraged conscious cultural depths to the poetry we read, birthed in response to anti-black racially inflicted rally’s in the 60s.

Taylor’s workshop was educational, conversations sparked from the hand picked postcards she brought into her workshop, which encouraged groups to inevitably discuss colonialism, loss, family generations, holiday’s & the importance of how we stay connected, restore experiences and document fond or historic moments during and throughout our personal lives.

The Second workshop I participated in was facilitated by Jess Senanayake. This workshop was ‘Body Instrument: Embodying the word’. Allowing attendees to bring their bodies into writing practice’, which explored the different ways in how the body moves and shapes what we write. The workshop was profound, individuals were encouraged to dance to feel alive through wild expression in hope that in pairs we found the passion, motivation & energy to write meaningful poetry with rhythmic and sensual influence.

Later into the afternoon, Barbican’s Young Poets graced the stage with sensational, sensitive & sensory Spoken word performances. Themes explored were on Discrimination, Love, Nature, cultural home-cooked food, Identity, & more. A packed day, with a refreshingly vibrant circulation of talent and new insights expressed through the power of words.