Award-winning poet, playwright and performer, Inua Ellams has been announced as an Ambassador for First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. He joins the celebrated novelists Patrice Lawrence MBE and Tracy Chevalier FRSL, in the role, to help champion First Story’s work with young people and promote the pleasure and power of creative writing.
Born in Nigeria, Inua Ellams MBE FRSL FRSA, is an award-winning poet, playwright and curator. Identity, Displacement and Destiny are reocurring themes in his work in which he mixes the old with the new, traditional with the contemporary. His books are published by Flipped Eye, Akashic, Nine Arches, Penned In The Margins, Oberon and Methuen. Alongside his own practice, Ellams, facilitates workshops in creative writing for participants of all ages and backgrounds.
I’m very excited to be announced as an Ambassador of First Story. It’s viscerally important for young people to write freely in their own voice and get a chance to share their ideas with peers. Creativity is invaluable when you are young, and First Story are experts at fostering Youth creativity. I’m delighted to join Patrice Lawrence and Tracy Chevalier – also ambassadors – to help amplify First Story’s important and necessary work in empowering students in underserved communities with the confidence and skills to tell their own stories.
Inua Ellams
I am thrilled that Inua has agreed to be an Ambassador for First Story, he is a perfect role model for many of our young writers and endlessly creative and full of interesting ideas himself. I know he will be a delight to work with. He is a great match with Tracy and Patrice – their work covers children’s literature, literary fiction, poetry and playwriting – we could not wish for three more committed and passionate writers to champion what we do at First Story.
Antonia Byatt, CEO of First Story
