Bring your poems to life with power, presence and authenticity in this engaging hands-on workshop designed to help poets achieve the optimal performance of their work. Your poems may work beautifully on the page, but delivering your work verbally with a sense of command and emotional resonance is what truly connects with an audience. Based on David Stones’s 20+ years of poetry stage shows and recitations, coupled with his tried and tested “Ten Steps to Your Best Poetry Performance,” this session will explore key techniques such as vocal variation, pacing, breath control, articulation, and volume, as well as expressive use of body language, eye contact, and physical presence. Participants will be encouraged to inhabit and explore the emotional core of their work, learning to convey tone and mood with clarity and intention. Through hands-on poetry performance and supportive group feedback, poets will gain insight into the tools and techniques to engage audiences and register a lasting impression on stage.

All levels are welcome. Poets need only bring a poem or two of their choosing for performance purposes, along with the wisdom to view constructive critique as the pathway to enlightenment.

David Stones is a multi-award winning, best selling poet and performer with some 500 poems in print throughout Canada and internationally. Major poetry collections include Infinite Sequels, sfumato, and Essays of Light, the first of which he transformed into a one-man show of the same name (“brilliant and beautiful theatre” – London Free Press). Celebrated for his powerful   performances and compelling stage presence, David’s show credits featuring his poetry and musical adaptations of his work include Infinite Sequels, Expressions of Love, WordSong, and Essays of Light. David is a proud member of the League of Canadian Poets, The Ontario Poetry Society, New Generation Beat Poets Canada, and Poetry Stratford. In 2025 David was appointed Stratford’s first-ever Poet Laureate for the 2025-2028 term.