Dan Simpson is a writer, performer, producer, and educator. He makes highly engaging and contemporary work that is popular, smart, and funny. His subjects include science and technology; history and place; art and geek culture; people and poetry. 

Dan has performed around the world including at Glastonbury Festival, Chicago’s Uptown Poetry Slam, Sofar Sounds Auckland, and on BBC Radio. He has created five stand-up poetry shows for Edinburgh Fringe, is one half of Anti-Slam-producing partnership Varjack & Simpson, and hosts and co-produces comedy vs. poetry gig Stand Up & Slam. 

A former Canterbury Laureate, Dan’s first collection of poetry is Applied Mathematics, published by Burning Eye Books – with second collection Totally Cultured due in 2019. He has had work commissioned by Southbank Centre, Free Word Centre, and Corinium Museum, and is a regular chef at The Poetry Takeaway. He was Poet-in-Residence at Waterloo Station for TfL, at Knole House for the National Trust, and Canterbury Roman Museum for the University of Kent.

As an educator, Dan is an enthusiastic and adaptable workshop leader. He is the course convenor on ‘Writing for the Spoken Word’ at Canterbury Christ Church University, was a Poet Coach on Apples and Snakes’ youth slam Spoke ‘n’ Word, and is a regular facilitator in primary and secondary schools. He also runs creative writing and professional development workshops for adults.