Mike Edwards

Writer and performer Mike Edwards performs poetry and character comedy regularly in the North East and beyond, having graduated from Teesside University with a degree in English and Media followed by an MA in Creative Writing at Northumbria University.

Working in arts development and as a freelance creative writing tutor and performer, Mike was poet in residence in Thornaby Library as part of Apples and Snakes’ Myplace or yours project in 2009. He has performed poetry at The Big Chill and Summer Sundae festival and also performs comedy in character as self righteous troubadour Thomas Oswald Spennymoor. His 2010 sell out show The Life and Deaths of Dominic Statton enjoyed a second show at ARC, and has also been performed at Theatre in the Mill, Bradford.

In 2011 he was selected to be one of the Verb New Voices, as part of a BBC Radio 3 development project. Mentored by Simon Munnery, Mike wrote and performed The Rise and Fall of the Poetry Bandits on Radio 3’s The Verb. His is currently working on his new show, The Trials of an Invisible Man, which he will be showcasing within ARC’s autumn. Mike was crowned champion at The Tyne Tees Derby at ARC on 16 February 2011. Curated by Radikal Words, ARC’s regular spoken word night, Articulate, saw 10 competitors from all parts of the region battling for the title.

ARC has produced all three of Mike’s shows, which have been directed by Chief Executive Annabel Turpin. In 2011, ARC supported Mike to secure Arts Council funding to create The Trials of an Invisible Man, which was also performed at Live Theatre in Newcastle as part of the Live ARCADE season in February 2013.