We are thrilled to announce Sir Derek Jacobi and Tamsin Greig, two of Britain’s most celebrated actors, join this joyful celebration of 10 years of Allie Esiri’s best-selling anthology, A Poem for Every Night of the Year, which along with her other popular poetry collections, have lit an explosion of interest in poetry in the UK. Acclaimed actors and performers fill the stage with poetry, with further cast members to be announced soon.

Allie Esiri has hosted annual performances at the National Theatre and major festivals, with poems read by some of our greatest actors – from Helena Bonham Carter to Dominic West. These live shows capture and enthrall generations of poetry lovers. Esiri read Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge, then worked as an actress for ten years in the English Shakespeare Company and on film in shows such as Sharpe, Men Behaving Badly and Poirot, before moving on to curate the first poetry apps, poetry anthologies for all ages, and live shows.

Along with Esiri’s other best-sellers A Poem for Every Night of the Year and Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year, her anthologies are regularly chosen for National Poetry Day and have been picked as best books of the year in The Observer, Guardian, Times and New Statesman.

This highly entertaining event is suitable for all ages.

This event is part of the 2026 Chelsea Arts Festival.