Henry Madd

SPOKEN WORD ARTIST • THEATRE MAKER • WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

Henry Madd is an award-winning poet, educator, and theatre maker. For the last ten years he has performed across the UK, Europe and Northern America He has won almost every major slam in England and is the reigning Hammer&Tongue Slam Champion, and Birmingham Loud Poets Slam Champion

In 2023 Madd was writer in residence for Pentabus Theatre company, sponsored by the Film 4 and Peggy Ramsay bursary. Born in the West Midlands, now operating in Margate, his work champions rural voices and small-town stories.

Past commissions include: Pentabus (Gwendol: A Giant Problem),The Marlowe Theatre (The Kit Heritage Project, A Poem For Canterbury), Canterbury Cathedral (Summer Storytelling), Half Moon Theatre (The Catastrophic Adventures Of Dollop And Crinkle), and Half A String Theatre Company (The Snowsmith).

His debut spoken word drama Land Of Lost Content toured nationally in 2024 to critical and public acclaim. This followed its 2022 debut when it premiered at Pleasance London to 4 and 5-star reviews. It then went on to a short run at Ludlow Fringe and a full run in the Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Fringe 2022. The show won Theatre Weekly’s award for Best Ensemble Cast, made it into The Stage’s Top 10 Theatre Shows of The Fringe, and was included in The Guardian’s round up of favourite shows of the year.

"Land Of Lost Content is a frustrated love letter to my hometown. It's about the messiness of old friendships that should probably end but won't because they’re the only ones who know what it was really like to grow up where you did. This show champions rural voices, it demands that people pay attention to the darker side to life in a small town whilst celebrating the beauty of it."

Henry Madd reflecting on his work.

Alongside his writing, Henry delivers successful community art projects that encourage connection with poetry, theatre and our sense of home. Previous collaborations include working with organisations such as the Public Library of San Diego and The Phiharmonia Orchestra. He was previously a member of Create: Arts Nurturing Talent Programme leading workshops with young carers.