Following the smash hit success of his Silver Jubilee show (“the best thing he’s done and that’s saying something.” ★★★★★ Telegraph) Luke Wright returns with a new set poems that get to grips with the idea of JOY. Is it possible, as a 42 year old to feel pure unbridled happiness, and what does it look like?

The French novelist Henry de Montherlant said that “happiness writes white” but Wright’s not exactly starting with a blank page. With a mix of the of the comic and the wistful, JOY takes in consumerism, boozing, cancer scares, abseiling vicars, and the joy of language itself. We might have to go down to come up, but we’ll get there in the end. Come let a little joy into your life with a raconteur and wordsmith at the top of his game.

“Breathtaking … with a sharpness and wisdom that lifts the soul, and soothes the battered heart.” ★★★★ The Scotsman

“A winning combination of honesty, humour, ire and wonder. He is at the peak of his powers.” ★★★★★ The Stage

“Britain’s finest performance poet.” ★★★★★ Life As Theatre 

Supported by Colchester Arts Centre

On Tour

 

11 September – Shoreham, Ropetackle

14 September – St Helier, Jersey Arts Centre

18 September – Plymouth, Theatre Royal

19 September – Ventnor, Ventnor Exchange

20 September – Diss, Diss Corn Hall

28 September – Chesterfield, Chesterfield Labour Club

16 October – Colchester, Colchester Arts Centre

24 October – Weston-super-Mare, Front Room

25 October – Bridport, Bridport Arts Centre

26 October – London, Pleasance

2 November – Cambridge, The Junction

7 November – Chester, Storyhouse

8 November – Loughborough, Needle & Pin

9 November – Laxfield, Laxfield Village Hall

14 November – Southampton, Pampillon

22 November – Crewkerne, The Crooked Swan

23 November – Langport, Langport Town Hall

24 November – Chard, Town Hall

2025

9 January – Oxford, Burton Taylor Studio

22 January – Burwash, Lake Down Brewing

23 January – Brighton, Komedia

5 February – Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal

12 February – Bristol, Wardrobe Theatre

13 February – Bristol, Wardrobe Theatre

14 February – Manchester, Edge Arts Centre

15 February – Kendal, Brewery Arts Centre

27 February – Pontardawe, Pontardawe Arts Centre

28 February – Bodmin, The Beat

1 March – Constantine, Tolmen Centre

6 March – Hebden Bridge, Trades Club

14 March – Corsham, The Pound

15 March – St Leonards, Kino Teatr

19 March – York, The Crescent

3 April – Chelmsford, Chelmsford Theatre Studio

9 April – Milton Keynes, The Stables

10 April – Harrogate, Harrogate Theatre

11 April – Stamford, Stamford Arts Centre

12 April – Stockton-on-tees, ARC

17 April – Salisbury, Salisbury Arts Centre

22 April – Ipswich, Wolsey Theatre

24 April – Clevedon, Theatre Shop

25 April – Norwich, Playhouse

1 May – Newcastle, Northern Stage

2 May – Oundle, Stahl Theatre

8 May – Felixstowe, Two Sisters Arts Centre

9 May – Sudbury, Sudbury Arts Centre

15 May – Poole, Lighthouse

Previous Shows

16 March – Laugharne Weekend

13 April – HALESWORTH, Ink

22 June – LOWESTOFT, First Light

5 July – LEDBURY, Poetry Festival

24 July – PETWORTH, Petworth Festival

27 July – LATITUDE Festival

31 July – 13 August – EDINBURGH, Pleasance Dome