Alphabetti theatre has partnered with Ilisha Thiru Purcell, to bring a regular creative writing evening focused on sharing stories and companion writing. In this book club/writing workshop hybrid evening, Ilisha guides us through monthly themes and a curation of written pieces, that we can reflect on together and inspire us to create. Write together, share together, make room for our creative expression together. 

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Workshop themes

August – Writing The North East

September – Welcome: Writing Home and Safety

October – Writing Illness

November – Ancestry and Lineage

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All skill levels welcome. Any styles and formats of writing welcome. Any questions or enquiries please contact Audrey at community@alphabettitheatre.co.uk

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Meet the facilitator

Ilisha Thiru Purcell is an award-winning Sri Lankan-Scottish poet from Newcastle upon Tyne. She was part of the inaugural Poets of Colour Incubator Programme and has been a Young Creative Associate with New Writing North. Ilisha was shortlisted for the James Berry Prize 2024 and she was a Poet in Residence at the 2025 StAnza Poetry Festival. Her work has appeared in publications such as Bi+ Lines Anthology, Butcher’s Dog, and Under the Radar. She has performed at events such as the Newcastle Poetry Festival and the Newcastle Fringe Festival. Her debut pamphlet What She Said was published in 2025 by Verve Poetry Press. @ilishadoespoetry

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“My writing explores place, liminality, violence. I write whenever inspiration comes and time and health allows. Carving out intentional time to write and connect with others is key to my creative practice.”