Essex Writers House is back!

For the month of April 2022, Metal Southend presents Essex Writers House, a popular annual programme hosted in partnership with Essex Book Festival. Across the month, we look forward to hosting a range of events, workshops and sharings for writers across our brilliant county. Essex Writers House invites anybody interested in writing to take part, including beginners, established authors, book lovers, families and storytellers of all kinds. 

Being anchored to Chalkwell Hall, the events, sharings and workshops offer views across the Thames Estuary (from the attic studio which houses our free bookable Writers Hot Desks), cosy spaces for informal sharings and access to the beautiful surrounding grounds of Chalkwell Park, with settings which offer plenty of space and inspiration to celebrate the written word.

The month-long programme launches with The Big Book Club, hosted by writer/actor Anne Odeke and Reciprocity Forest, an interactive app created by artist Joanna Sperring-Jones.

Programme highlights for Essex Writers House 2022 include supportive 1:1 All Stories mentoring sessions, Party On : A Writers Shindig hosted by Jo Overfield, Writing The Short Film with Maria Solecki and Essex Film Collective and Character LAB for families with illustrator Sarah Judd. A series of live performances take place towards the end of the month, including interactive theatre installation In Her Shoes from Blown Fuse Theatre and the debut of Rice & Peas, a three-course, three-act immersive dining experience from Mia Jerome.

We invite everyone attending the Writers House for a hot desk, event, workshop or sharing to bring along a book to swap in our big book exchange, to discover stories and titles you may have never read before!

If you are a small book club, writers group or belong to a literary collective and you would like to get together to discuss and write in the house during the month, email chalkwell@metalculture.com.

All events and opportunities are bookable via Eventbrite and take place at Chalkwell Hall, in the grounds of Chalkwell Park, Southend on Sea.

For full information, visit www.essexwritershouse.com