Craig Bradley
BIOGRAPHY
’Craig recently helped with a hectic event promoting reading and sport at Lancashire County Cricket Club, Old Trafford. Craig’s seemingly effortless humour quickly captivated the audience of adults and children who were clamouring to join in with him. Craig is a brilliant performer who can enthuse an audience of all ages and abilities about books, words, poetry and wit.’
Jane Mathieson, Regional Reader Development Co-Ordinator, Time to Read, North West Libraries
’Craig is a poet of immense talent, whose workshops had the students in the palm of his hand, eating out of it and begging for more.’
Cheryl Latham, English Co-Ordinator, Campsmount Technology College, Doncaster
Craig Bradley is a freelance writer and BBC RaW Consultant. He has published poetry, children’s poetry, novels and non-fiction. Craig has led hundreds of extremely popular and well-received workshops in schools, libraries, football clubs, hospitals and prisons.
Craig has his own unique style, which is a lively and entertaining mixture of performance poetry, imagination and comedy. Craig is passionate about bringing reading, writing and books to life.
Craig is currently Writer in Residence with Calderdale Youth Offending Team and has held residencies at the Bradford Book Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, Calderdale Libraries, Westborough High School in Dewsbury and HMYOI Northallerton.
Craig is much in demand as an event host and reader/performer of his own work, especially in schools. He appears regularly on radio and television.
WEBSITE
GENRE
Performance Poetry, Football Writing, Travel Writing, Life Writing, Workshops, Residences
PUBLICATIONS | PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Dancin George (2003)
Humbugs (2003)
Bump (2004)
Yorkshire in a Crombie (2005)
I Like to Rhyme It, Rhyme It (2006)
As Editor:
Shepherd’s Pie Smells Different Now (2004) Calderdale YOT
Caught in a Story (2005) Calderdale YOT
Chasing the Shadows (2005) Calderdale Education
Writing the Wrongs (2006) Calderdale YOT
Ride It (2006) HMYOI Northallerton Prison Magazine
Gallery of Voices (2006) Tonic Arts @ LGI Leeds
The Doomsday Kid (2006) Westborough High School
Anthologies:
White Shirts, Red Bricks and Little Black Books (2001)
Jokers and Chin Strokers (2001)
Never Mind the Canon (2001)
Ink Wave (2001)
Holme Office (2001)
The Beautiful Game (2001)
Poetry on the Rocks
Centre Stage
Forewords
Miracle and Clockwork
Other Poetry
Barefoot
Iota
Pennine Platform
Red Passion
Spotlight Poets
Busted Flat
WORKSHOP | READINGS EXPERIENCE","REFERENCE/S
’Craig’s workshops are an excellent mix of wit, skill and imagination which cannot fail to engage even the most reluctant of writers. A fantastic experience for all ages.’
Liz Claxton, Head of English, Brinsworth Comprehensive School, Rotherham
Craig has held workshops in a variety of settings - from primary schools to care homes, from prisons to hospitals, from cricket grounds to football grounds, from literary festivals to cafes.
Craig has held many residencies including the prestigious Ilkley Literature Festival where he was Poet in Residence in 2003.
Craig has held hundreds of workshops in schools across the country and worked with literally thousands of pupils. He also works with adults and has lectured in creative writing at the University of Leeds and University of Huddersfield. He holds a BA (Hons) English Studies and an MA in Contemporary Literature.
REFERENCE/S
Jane Mathieson, Regional Reader Development Co-Ordinator, Time to Read, Northwest Libraries:nwreader@libraries.gov.uk
Rachel Feldberg, Director, Ilkley Literature Festival feldberg@arthouse.demon.co.uk
GROUP SIZE PREFERENCE
W/shops - upto 30
GROUP AGE PREFERENCE
Workshops from 7 up
WORKING LANGUAGE/S
English
AREA/S PREPARED TO TRAVEL
Anywhere
OTHER INFORMATION
Craig considers himself to be a performance poet at heart who can deliver original and innovative writing workshops to anybody in any setting. For further information please check the website: www.craigbradley.com
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.