From Page to Stage: Build and Perform a Poetry Set
About the course
Course Fee
95
Course Length
1 Day
Weekly Study
90 mins
Testimonial
“Litro Masterclasses pushed me to see my strengths and weaknesses clearly, with honest feedback and detailed critique. The experience helped me develop work I could take beyond my local scene and into international opportunities.”
Course summary
Live on Zoom: Thursday 24 September 2026, 1:00–2:30 pm ET / 6:00–7:30 pm UK | 90 mins | Seats capped at 15
From Page to Stage: Build and Perform a Poetry Set is a practical live masterclass with BBC Slam Champion Jess Green for poets and writers who want to turn individual poems into a set that can hold a room.
Bring one poem. Jess will help you choose material, open strongly, structure a five-minute set, speak naturally between pieces and manage performance nerves.
You’ll leave with: a five-minute set plan, performance notes and a clearer sense of your own stage style.
How you will learn
You’ll learn through practical teaching, performance examples, guided exercises and live experimentation.
- Set building: choose and order poems so the set has shape, momentum and contrast.
- Performance technique: work on pace, emphasis, rhythm, voice and physical presence.
- Transitions: learn how to move between poems without losing the audience.
- Guided exercise: test a short poem or section and identify what changes when it is spoken aloud.
- Live Q&A: bring questions about performance, nerves, open mics or developing a longer set.
- Optional sharing: sharing is always voluntary.
The Tutor
Jess Green
BBC Slam Champion Jess Green is a performance poet and script writer. She has performed at Glastonbury, Latitude, Bestival and BBC 6 Music Festival.
Her solo shows, Burning Books and A Self Help Guide To Being In Love With Jeremy Corbyn, received five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and on their national tours. She has three collections published with Burning Eye Books and in 2023 was commissioned by the BBC to write the Liverpool Eurovision spoken word piece on behalf of Ukraine.
