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Colin McGuire

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Contact: colmcguire@hotmail.com
Local authority: Edinburgh City
Languages: English
Colin McGuire's headshot

Colin McGuire is a poet who has written and performed for years, building a reputation as a dynamic, engaging performer. He is also an ESOL teacher and is currently working with refugees.

He is the author of three collections: Everybody lie down and no one gets hurt (Red Squirrel Press, 2013), As I sit quietly, I begin to smell burning (Red Squirrel Press, 2014), and Enhanced fool disclosure (Speculative Books, 2018). He has performed in countless poetry cabarets and slam performances across Scotland and the UK, winning the Shore Poets Quiet Slam in 2014, and the Luminate Slam 2015. He also reached the semi-final in the BBC Fringe Slam in 2013. He has facilitated the Artcore: Writers Inc Group at Edinburgh Central Library in 2016.

He won the Out:Spoken award for the film poetry category, and best poetry overall in 2018. McGuire has also created a long-form spoken word theatre piece The Wake-up call, which has been performed at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Lyceum and at the Hidden Door festival in Edinburgh 2018.

He is currently studying for an MSc in Mindfulness at Aberdeen University. He also teaches and guides mindfulness sessions and workshops as part of his poetry and performance. (Photo credit: Chris Scott)

Local authorities can visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events can deliver

Bibliotherapy; Mentoring; Panel event; Performance; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD; Chairing events

Audience can work with

Adult learners; English as an additional language (EAL); Adults with additional support needs; People experiencing mental health problems; Vulnerable young people (under 18); Vulnerable adults; Vulnerable older people; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts); Young people with additional support needs (under 18) (ASN/SEN)

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Adolescence; Ageing; Biography & memoir; Class & society; Comedy, humour & funny books; Contemporary fiction; Death, grief & bereavement; Discrimination & prejudice; Drug addiction, alcoholism & substance abuse; Environment & climate; Food; Friendship; Health including mental health & wellbeing; LGBTQIA+ characters; Loneliness & isolation; Performance training; Politics; Religion & beliefs; Self-publishing & independent publishing; Travel writing

Age groups published for

Teens; Adults

Age groups can work with

6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 500+