https://www.justincoe.co.uk/news daily 0.75 2025-05-27 https://www.justincoe.co.uk/about-me-1 daily 0.75 2022-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1568107156273-Z73TF1VQ00KJ1WQLDLUI/are+we+being+silly.jpg About Me - About Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1510158740775-B34Q6IU4CHUKKJZRW7W8/BWpigeon.jpg About Me https://www.justincoe.co.uk/gigs-and-shows daily 0.75 2024-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/406d8b47-cec8-49bc-9c68-bcdf6fefa268/IMG-20240617-WA0000.jpg Gigs - The Jolly Lolly Sticks Story Show Perfect for libraries and schools for this summer’s Reading Challenge. TOURING THIS SUMMER! There are so many ways to write stories, create poems and tell jokes. Join writer and performance poet Justin Coe to rhyme, rap, recite, sing, draw, dance and act out your own creations. In between, Justin entertains with his own jolly japes and comic capers, and introduces you to the seven secret storytelling powers of the humble lolly stick. “A Captivating performer” The Guardian For all children 5 -11 and their families FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT ME at justincoepoet@gmail.com Image - Joss Chambers-Coe GIG LIST Tuesday July 30th - HILLLINGDON LIBRARIES 11.00am - Botwell Green Library, Hayes 2.00pm - Uxbridge Library Wednesday July 31st - BRENT LIBRARIES 11.30 am - Willesden Green Library 2.30pm - Ealing Road Library Tuesday August 6th - WANDSWORTH LIBRARIES 11am - Tooting Library 2pm - York Gardens Library Thursday August 8th - EALING LIBRARIES 12 noon - Northolt Library 3pm - Dominion Centre (Southall) Thursday August 15th - WANDSWORTH LIBRARIES 11am - Balham Library 2pm - Earlsfield Library Friday 16th August - WANDSWORTH LIBRARIES 10am - Wandsworth Town Library 12.30 - Northcote Library Tuesday 20th August - WANDSWORTH LIBRARIES 11am - Battersea Park 2pm - Southfields Library Wednesday 21st August - BEXLEY LIBRARIES 11am - Sidcup Library 2.30pm - Thamesmead Library https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1511786411107-BH7F2KPFYV2PQWLD6CHB/BWfish.jpg Gigs https://www.justincoe.co.uk/previous-touring-shows daily 0.75 2023-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582737400126-EXMZASXQG5BRLXERTQRM/Justin009-e1444733612860.jpg Previous Touring Shows - Are We Being Silly? First performed at Queens Theatre, Hornchurch. Toured 2017 -2019 A stand-up poetry show packed full of punchy jokes and playful mischief with plenty of opportunities for audience participation. Are you being silly? For goodness sake, sit up straight and pay attention! Performance Poet Justin Coe is now 37 YEARS LATE for his homework! He desperately needs your help, before his angry teacher finally catches up with him and sends him back to school for DETENTION. There’s much work to be done but no doubt Justin will still find plenty of time to show –off his ridiculous rhymes, rib-tickling tales and zany songs. Beautifully suitable for gigglers, wrigglers and scribblers, wander-abouters, shouter-outers, dads, mums and fidget-bums, Justin’s poems will prove that there’s no experience too sobering or too silly for words. ”It was a really good show. It got all of the children involved and thinking about new words” (Audience Member) *It was very funny and silly” (Audience Member - child) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/13d7107c-f42f-4597-b263-09b2cb291511/BWSWphoto+%281%29.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The Book of Record Breaking Rhymes At Southend Libraries Summer 2015 A hyperactive, interactive, rhyming celebration of record breakers. Audience Feedback: “I loved it. It was funny, silly. It was a Record Breaker” “Absolutely fantastic experience with the show today. There was something for each of my four children (ages 4-9). Justin kept a fantastic pace and kept the attention of the children, making sure everyone felt included and had a chance to participate. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.” “Fantastic, imaginative, informative, interactive fun!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735623624-HPLFDO1LALP8ZEI37FBX/thjbfalling.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The House That Jackson Built A spoken word theatre show for children aged 4 - 11 - with Half Moon Presents - toured March 2020 and Summer 2021. Jackson’s dad is building a new house out of weird and wacky bits and bobs that people have thrown away. The last few years have been hard for young Jackson, living without his mum. Now his dad wants to make a new start, but Jackson isn’t ready to move on. Not until he blows the dust off mum’s favourite old book and conjures up the Story Fairy. But can stories really help Jackson to believe in himself and to be happy in a new home? Celebrating books and the joy of reading, The House That Jackson Built features a larger than life pop-up book and thrilling adventures, including a giant who cannot say “fee-fi-fo-fum”, an Elephant Professor and the Wordy Wordy Birdie. This magical spoken word theatre show delights in family, recycling and the power of imagination. Music - Johnny Tomlinson Design - Adam Nee Image - Stephen Beeney Direction- Chris Elwell “All in all, it is superb children’s theatre that draws you into “the land of stories”.” A Younger Theatre, FIVE STARS. “Coe’s story fizzes with energy as a range of characters of the fantastical type parade before us, helped by an oversized pop-up book. There’s a message, about being more careful about what we throw away, and a moral about understanding each other, but the show is never preachy and is very funny.” My Theatre Mates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1605094213452-YZ5GZNGV380D0XBZUBYK/danny0008.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The Dictionary of Dads First performed as Danny’s Dictionary of Dads (scratch showing) at The Albany Theatre in 2011 and then as a stand-up poetry show at the Southend Children’s Book Festival 2012. Future versions including Mums, Dads and Little Monsters for a Halloween tour in 2018. Images - Ed Boxall music - Pete Coates “Justin’s performance was slick and professional, magical and inspirational. The children and dads enjoyed the interactive elements and joined in with great spirit. The poems, raps and songs were diverse and engaging and appealed to a wide age group. Poetry has never been more popular!” Reviewed by Katharine Pond and Anne Bonham, Bookstart and Children’s Managers, Southend Libraries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/e6ce8fca-fbd9-415b-95f3-b9e58f50962d/IMG-20220605-WA0045.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The Gift Of The Gadget A newly invented spoken word family show touring libraries this summer and autumn From the wheel to the world wide web, via the toilet flush that made Queen Elizabeth the First blush, Justin Coe’s brand new show celebrates the weirdest, wackiest and most wondrous inventions ever. Join Justin as he experiments with comedy, rhyme and a ridiculous pair of balloon shoes, helping you channel your inner-genius to conjure up some crazy innovations of your own. All good fun for everyone, aged 5- 11 and their families. “It was lots of fun and the children had a wonderful time!” audience member, Southend Library shows “Excellent! Educational! Enjoyable!” audience member, Southend Library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1580725479177-DK5RI5J2HGYFA9HYUW96/YHboatflag.jpeg.jpg Previous Touring Shows - Young Herbert’s Horrors With Half Moon Presents. Toured 2018-2019 Young Herbert is a little horror. Living on a boat should be the ideal life for a wannabe pirate, but the boat’s grounded until Herbert can learn to tidy his cabin, eat his greens and be more polite. A big storm brews when Herbert is sent home from school and Mum calls on Great Uncle Albatross – navy captain and scourge of all pirates – to warn him of the dangers of rebellion. But who is Great Uncle Albatross and do his cautionary tales really have the power to make Young Herbert behave? Or will they just give Young Herbert the horrors? Featuring swashbuckling verse, jaunty music, gallows humour and the obligatory parrot. Music - Greg Hall Music Design - Adam Nee Image - Stephen Beeney Direction - Chris Elwell “If your kids love the high seas and pirate-adventures this is the show for you… A one-man show packed with poetry, jokes and a real feast for the imagination – we had a great family outing courtesy of Herbert!” (Kidadl, 2018) “Bravo! Fabulous, funny and the children were mesmerised” (Audience Member) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1603122574526-RPCK1FLFI5TX9CDAJ0US/jumble+final.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The Jumble Book Brighton Fringe and toured 2010 written and performed by Justin Coe illustrations - Ed Boxall music - Pete Coates direction - Juliet Chambers “****…Lovely things include the splendid projected illustrations of Ed Boxall, recreated live as well by the multi-talented Justin Coe who tells us a tale of Jumble, a boy with dyslexia who discovers that stories do not need written words to light up an audience. As the illustrations appear, they become the cue for Justin to act out the characters, and soon we are quaking before the stern Mrs Fog, the stuck-up Claire Cloggs, and, my favourite of them all, the wonderfully rounded (in many different ways) Dr. Jigsaw. This is a show of poetry, picture, music and story, of comedy and audience interaction, and there's a message here too. Most of all, as theatre, its a fun show of jumbled words, and putting things on back to front. Adorned with just a guitar and a generous dose of Charisma, Justin had us clapping and smiling…. The poetry is often beautiful, loaded with a sense of high craft, the delivery plays with mood, rhythm. Peter Coates' music is a perfect addition to the piece...all in all an inventive show, rich and heartful” Paul Levy, Fringe Review https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1619088717603-H85JZ2HWVAJ27N1J1554/falling+out+of+tree.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The Wild Wild Word Show Based on the Summer Reading Challenge theme - Wild World Heroes - performing at libraries, on-line and outdoor settings in London and Southend, summer 2021 Performance Poet Justin Coe is taking his words for a walk on the wild side! Inspired by our collective experiences of lockdown, The Wild Wild Word Show explored the outdoors with some unruly rhymes, excitable rambles and rowdy sing-a-long songs, encouraging children to create some playful poetry of their own along the way. Audience Feedback: “Justin was so engaging and put everyone at ease. He included everyone. A lot of fun for kids and parents.” “Thoroughly engaging and entertaining. Fun for all the family!” “We had a really good time - very entertaining.” “Fun and interactive, well loved by all of us.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1607532336275-ABMPXRJMBNEN38UR2LWD/creepy+crawly++make+2+edit.jpg Previous Touring Shows - The Creepy-Crawly Storyhouse Southend Libraries and toured regionally, summer and autumn 2013. Justin moves to the countryside and his house in the middle of the woods is invaded by armies of insects…but as it turns out the best party is a pest party! “Any parent will understand when I say that I was apprehensive at the prospect of taking my (rather naughty) 3 year old to a show at Diss Corn Hall. But her five year old brother was keen and the show sounded great so I bit the bullet and packed them in the car. Just walking in I felt myself relax. The atmosphere was very chilled out with a rug at the front of the seats for the kids to sit on. Before the show the kids were invited to sit at tables overflowing with craft materials to make their very own Creepy-Crawly. My two were in their element - what a great idea! But soon it was time to take to our seats as Justin Coe took to the stage with his guitar and rucksack full of props. For the next hour the children and I sat engrossed in his unique mixture of raps, poems and songs about a whole series of undesirable bugs that had invaded his house in the woods. Justin's clever use of repetition meant that even my daughter got into the swing of things and they both really enjoyed it.” Reviewed by Sarah Veness of Arts East Magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735919487-PA27UR7NPXIN85TK7QWN/big+wow.jpg Previous Touring Shows - Big Wow Small Wonder Half Moon Presents - toured nationally 2016- 2017 Justin is the smallest boy in the whole town. So small that he can swim with goldfish. So small his sister takes him to school in her lunchbox. So small the class bully, Bother Boots Bradley, wants to catch him and keep him as his new pet. Justin just wants to be like his giant Dad, but when he finds out his Dad is not the Big Wow, he sets off on a journey to find who – or what – the Big Wow really is! Can the Big Wow help Justin to be tall in time, before Bradley puts him in a cage ready for the school show and tell in assembly? With the help of a pigeon, the mountain and the World Ant Weightlifting Champion, Justin soon realises that being big might not be all its bigged up to be. Told with huge helpings of humour, poignant poetry and original music, this was a tall story about the wonders of being small. Music - Pete Coates. Design - Verity Quinn. Direction - Chris Elwell “Justin’s belief in his audience’s patience for performance poetry pays off” Children’s Theatre Reviews “It really helped my daughter see that it is OK to be small” (Parent) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/ea6112c3-5059-46bf-8989-4aa177bd4095/Justin-Coe-Sophie-Rose-at-Three-Sisters-Tobacco-Dock.-Photo-Richard-Matthews-1024x1702.jpg Previous Touring Shows - One Way Ticket Papertale Productions in association with Half Moon Theatre and Apples and Snakes. By Rosemary Harris, Justin Coe and Sophie Rose. Toured 2014-2015. A powerful, poetic true story of stolen childhood. Have you ever felt like you wanted to run away, far away where no one can find you? Be careful what you wish for… Drawing on real-life stories, One Way Ticket was a gripping show presented by three poetry performers which was both funny and moving. The audience followed Jeannie, Ronnie and other children of the 1950s as they were sent by ship from children’s homes in the UK to tough new lives in Australia. One Way Ticket offered a dramatic insight into the British Child Migrants’ scandal in the years following World War II, and the children’s continued search to be re-united with families today. “The poetry is phenomenal, full of puns and personality. The rhyme becomes increasingly necessary, keeping emotion tightly packed together, buoying everyone along with the bobbing of the rhythm and the sea, and forcing the story on as it gets sadder and sadder. Through language, it struck a chord with something that cannot be put into words, and that’s why everyone should buy a (one way) ticket and go.” Children’s Theatre Reviews. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/36da9e10-e511-4dd9-aa4a-bd5800ca57d2/IMG_7521-300x316.jpg Previous Touring Shows - Boys Don’t Papertale Productions. In partnership with Half Moon Theatre, and Apples and Snakes (South East).Toured nationally 2017-18. by Rosemary Harris with Justin Coe, Hadiru Mahdi, Tanaka Mhishi and Steve Tasane Nominated for Off West End Awards for Best Production for Young People 8+, 2017. What’s a boy to do? From the playground to the classroom, from home to the uncharted waters of online, boys learn that displaying their feelings is a no-no. But what happens to emotion that can’t be let out? Boys Don’t explored through spoken word what happened when boys show their feelings, and was written from real-life experiences of the male cast. Through a series of funny, familiar and sometimes heart-breaking stories of boys in the emotional spotlight, the show delivered insights into male experiences of growing up, and offered the possibility of more open communication for us all. “Has the power to reach those who fill alienated from the arts’ scene” Live Theatre UK “A powerful and compelling piece of acting” Sardines Magazine (Justin’s piece was called “Elmo The Big Strong Man” - photo by Stephen Beeney) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1568201033425-Y02HSZISVXCYIATQ36CG/YH+animate.jpg Previous Touring Shows - Touring Shows https://www.justincoe.co.uk/the-dictionary-of-dads daily 0.75 2022-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582808769538-OX2KYPQ8W0I5G0HLQ1EO/mums+book.jpg Books - The Magic of Mums The Magic of Mums is my second collection with Otter-Barry Books, following The Dictionary of Dads, and illustrated once more by Steve Wells. OUT NOW! Reviews “With Mother’s Day coming up, this is the ideal time to grab a copy of this super compilation celebrating The Magic of Mums, another terrific read aloud, and I’m pretty sure young readers will find their own particular special mother figure lurking somewhere within its covers: and to make life easier, Justin has penned a poem (or two or even three) for every letter of the alphabet….Altogether a super celebration of motherhood in all its shapes and forms for individual reading, or even better, reading aloud to that certain awesome mum…” Red Reading Hub “The book moves through well-judged shades of humour, light and sadness….Throughout, Steve Wells' sparky illustrations emphasise the inclusive nature of this book, one that is charged with humour and love.” Alison Kelly, Reading Zone “We all know that mums come in all shapes and sizes – well there’s a poem for every one of them here. Mums who work hard, mums who are famous, mums who are gentle, mums who come in pairs and, sadly, mums who are no longer at home or those Windrush mums who are not wanted now by the Mother Country. Interesting and moving, this book is a companion to Coe’s earlier Dictionary of Dads.” PoetryZone “Mums to admire, mums to entrance, mums who fuss and some football-mum chants – every type of mum, even a dad who’s a part-time mum, is within these poems from Justin Coe. Children will enjoy finding the poetry version of their own mum in these pages, and schools will certainly never be without a great poem for Mothers’ Day – there’s a good range of styles, personalities and aspects of motherhood covered!” Liz Brownlee, Poetry Roundabout. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1512373562425-XE77HQJQAK38XZ4AGXYG/dictionary_.jpg Books - The Dictionary of Dads The Dictionary of Dads. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1512382728671-6XW32UAIQWYD7G6NGPZV/GRRRR%21.jpg Books Caveman Dad illustrated by Steve Wells https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1512575552379-HIKTVJ9TCQEZV366I783/snoozing.jpg Books Sportsman Dad illustrated by Steve Wells https://www.justincoe.co.uk/school-visits daily 0.75 2021-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1511963338452-13YOIRONPLTDVIQHFHJK/GC81059-1+%282%29.JPG School Visits "I just wanted to write to say thank you so much for coming to visit us this week and for all the hard work that you put into the workshops – the girls absolutely loved them! Your time with us was a real success, sparking an enthusiasm for poetry in the pupils! It has been so lovely to see them so excited and eager to learn more and many have been inspired by your passion for poetry, so thank you" Hannah Goligher, Teacher, Surbiton Girls’ Prep School “The most talented, funny, original and obliging of performance poets.” Hastings Education Action Zone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1568200011528-YJP82E1U7K40ULH555DI/linton.jpg School Visits - School Visits https://www.justincoe.co.uk/community-projects daily 0.75 2022-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1512388076291-3CR3SIAM8F39NL2F2E4U/horse.jpg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/8b86a368-fe2a-4ef9-9da7-528b525967af/poemsgrow.jpg Community - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1511965031336-0XBB12MG9OW3A4D2KHCI/southend+our+friend+image.jpg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1568276116158-MPFEKJSDJ6XE14PPATDB/a+and+s+2.jpg Community - Community Projects (photo by Suzi Corker ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1580746642419-8HAGUR0T7ILQZGRWZXQA/fcww.jpg Community https://www.justincoe.co.uk/poems daily 0.75 2022-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/2213c4e4-1376-4c17-a933-0536a414954f/mums+book.jpg Poems - Proud Mum Hey, Mum, look at me. I’m on top of the world I’ve climbed up so high and I hope that you’re proud I can walk, I can talk, I can skip, I can bounce I can draw, I can read, I can write, I can count I can swim, I can swing, I can sing, I can smile I’m the boss, I can floss. Oh, look at my style I’m one smart, happy-hearted, cool cartwheeling kid Hey, Mum! Look at me. See what you did! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582736098194-32OTBK1D01M43WTYPNMG/9781910959169.jpg Poems - Daddy Disaster He lives in a house that's all lopsided Where the chores aren't done and the drawers aren't tidied His car is wrecked and his driving's reckless His favourite outfit is his breakfast How did he get to become a father? Ladies and Gentlemen, it's Daddy Disaster The hand he lends is crammed with thumbs One job to do's too much at once Who broke the bath? Do you have to ask? Can he fix it? No, he can't! If you want to make a mess then meet the master Welcome to the world of Daddy Disaster Who cut himself on a pencil sharpener? Coloured his face in florescent marker? Set his hair on fire with a harmless sparkler? Sat his bottom down on a wet banana? Yes, you must've guessed the answer Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s Daddy Disaster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1512830595639-MC8EX3LLPL854LEX0UCZ/pexels-photo-316466.jpeg Poems https://www.justincoe.co.uk/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2017-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1512827434770-0SW6HGZWZHWIB0T1YWGF/marketing-man-person-communication.jpg Contact Me https://www.justincoe.co.uk/home-page daily 1.0 2022-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1568104257440-56EDQ162M8HPKXGV6NUG/youngherbertflags.jpeg.jpg Home - Justin Coe Performance Poet and Spoken Word Theatre Maker https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735623624-HPLFDO1LALP8ZEI37FBX/thjbfalling.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735738631-JSS3JEUOCIXAHKI6RJ9X/thtjb+book.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735771805-41NOMADFB27WFIMBNSSR/magic+of+mums.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735862111-WMWEDNFJJEC4RS167X4D/YH+animate.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582735919487-PA27UR7NPXIN85TK7QWN/big+wow.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582736098194-32OTBK1D01M43WTYPNMG/9781910959169.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1619088717603-H85JZ2HWVAJ27N1J1554/falling+out+of+tree.jpg Home https://www.justincoe.co.uk/new-page daily 0.75 2024-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/31dddee0-44f5-42aa-a881-19d060e7a489/MrJones.jpeg What I Do https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/1582736624609-YSRH3Q112WX7VW4PAHGL/thjbfloating.jpg What I Do https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59945abf4c0dbf55050cdd16/bb03b198-ba14-49e5-8384-1f895fdd86ec/IMG_20210419_103400+%281%29.jpg What I Do