An evening of poetry at Riverside Studios

Our Communications & Patrons Officer wrote about Voices from Prison 2026, an event celebrating poetry by people in, or with experience of, the criminal justice system.

Before joining Koestler Arts, I’d been excited to discover the annual poetry anthology and outstanding writers – Benjamin Zephaniah, Joelle Taylor – who had worked with Koestler in the past. Once in my role, I was moved by the visual work arriving at our offices (at a staggering pace after the Awards deadline, as I’d been warned) but found myself equally moved by the written work. Poetry, stage plays, essays, articles, reviews, short stories – it was hard not to be reminded of how accessible and powerful writing could be, requiring only pen and paper.

A month out from my first anniversary at Koestler, I was excited to be heading to Riverside Studios for Voices from Prison 2026.

The host opens the evening

The event was hosted by Lady Unchained, whom I’d first met when we were crowdfunding to publish Koestler Voices Vol. 5, which she edited. She opened with poems of her own and commentary on why the evening mattered, moving between humour and solemnity without leaning too heavily into either – a fitting introduction to an evening of poetry that was bound to be sad and uplifting in equal measure.

Four performers, four distinct voices

The first performer to take the stage was Tom, who had won a Platinum Award for a spoken-word piece, Cell Reflective Thoughts. His delivery was strikingly well-paced and captivating – I could feel the room draw closer with anticipation each time he paused before his next line.

Every performer who followed had their own distinct voice and character, reflected in their original work and the pieces they chose from previous Koestler Award winners.

Alex’s readings had quiet, emotional depth, and weaved in stories of personal growth and understanding: ‘Separate broken hearts stuck in the same glue’ was an outstanding line from one of my favourite poems from the evening.

Josiah’s poetry was confrontational and direct: So Much Injustice moved through polluted water ways, the cost-of-living crisis, and political failure, building step by step like a crescendo to a finale that drew loud, enthusiastic applause.

Her original works, which she performed after, were anything but inaccessible – they were honest, immediate, and closed the evening off on a strong note.

If only one thing you said could be truly heard

When Alex was asked what she would like to do with her voice, she said she’d like to help others find theirs. When Josiah was asked the same, he said he’d use it to tell others to shut up and listen. Somehow, both held the same weight; both were needed.

Voices from Prison is an annual event celebrating poetry and spoken word written by people within, or with experience of, the criminal justice system. Find out more about the Awards, and how to support our work, here. Voices from Prison 2026 was generously supported by AtkinsRéalis.