Inua Ellams

Born in Nigeria, Inua Ellams is a poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist and designer. He is a Complete Works poet alumnus and facilitates accessible, enjoyable creative writing for participants of all ages and backgrounds. 

His awards include the Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2009, The Liberty Human Rights Award, The Live Canon International Poetry Prize, The Kent & Sussex Poetry Competition, Magma Poetry Competition, Winchester Poetry Prize, a Black British Theatre Award, The Hay Festival Medal for Poetry, Dora Awards for Outstanding Ensemble Performance and Production, and The Alfred Fagon Award 2024. 

He has been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Tate Modern, Louis Vuitton and BBC Radio & Television. His poetry books include Candy Coated Unicorn and Converse All Stars (Flipped Eye), The Wire-Headed Heathen (Akashic Books), The Half God of Rainfall (4th Estate) and The Actual (Penned in the Margins). His plays include Black T-shirt Collection (Fuel/Warwick Arts Centre), The 14th Tale (Fuel/Battersea Arts Centre), Barber Shop Chronicles (Fuel/National Theatre/Oxford Playhouse/Bristol Old Vic/BAM/A.R.T./Kennedy Center/The Grand Theatre), Three Sisters (National Theatre/Soulpepper/Obsidian Theatre) and The Half God of Rainfall (Fuel/Kiln/New York Theatre Workshop). 

He founded The Midnight Run, The Rhythm and Poetry Party, Poetry + Film / Hack, Anonyms, Redacted and 05Fest.