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Nathan Parker

@parkerwords

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Author | Poet | Speaker | Dad
Blackpool 🍊
I tell stories and help other people tell theirs.
👇 Workshops. Talks. Books. 👇

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How my writing/creativity/performer journey began… 💭

Thank you for the support along the way! 💛🙏

#indiewriter #creativejourney #ukpoet by @parkerwords

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3 months ago

Shithole part 2 🗣️

I wanted to remake the video to showcase exactly what I meant with the words of this poem. Thank you so much for all the positive comments and seaside camaraderie over the last week, it’s been so great to connect and champion the value in our little seaside town!

I have had some negative comments but that’s to be expected, that’s the whole point of the poem. Yes, there are difficult moments, but there are far more amazing people and places than we ever dare give ourselves credit for! This is for those trying to make a difference 🧡

Thank you to all the people who sent me videos of Blackpool to make this montage… our little seaside cosmos 🙌

Big love, Nathan 🧡 by @parkerwords

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6 months ago

DEADLINE 30TH SEPTEMBER!

To celebrate @nationalpoetryday on 1 October, Litfest is delighted to launch The Litfest ‘Wonder’ Poetry Mosaic. We invite everyone to contribute, before our deadline at midnight on 30 September! Submit: https://geni.us/LFA26NPD

The theme for National Poetry Day this year is ‘Wonder’. Litfest invites you to explore this idea in all its aspects, including:
• doubt • scepticism
• amazement • confusion
• suspicion • joy

You can submit up to three poems of max. 40 lines each to our Digital Poetry Mosaic. You may also be chosen to read at our gala reading on 16 October with poet Nathan Parker. @parkerwords

All poems submitted and accepted will remain on the Litfest website after the festival is over as a permanent resource.

Except for school entries and children under eighteen, there is an entry fee of £3 per poem to support the administrative costs of this project.

Nathan Parker will select 15 poems from those submitted by midnight on 30 September for the gala reading on 16 October. Litfest will contact the selected poets by 9 October to invite them to read their work either in person or online at the event. Three places will be reserved for children. by @parkerwords

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a day ago

Next week is Organ Donation Week 2026 🩷

I was extremely honoured to be part of a campaign to raise awareness about the powerful impact of organ donation and transplants, as well as the importance of having those difficult conversations with loved ones early, to avoid confusion and uncertainty at the most difficult of times.

Together with @mort_pal on the filming and editing, @kims2ndchance , @beatrixheartjourney , Jackie and Dr Jason Cupitt of @blackpoolteachinghospitals we created this video to promote the message 💫

I’ve also signed up to the donor register which can be done in seconds by googling “organ donation” 🙌

Please share. Please talk to each other. Lives can be changed and saved. Love rises from tragedy 🩷

#organdonation #bloodandtransplant by @parkerwords

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12 days ago

On Saturday 17th October at 7pm we have a very special one man stage show from @parkerwords and @leftcoastuk ! Tickets £6 https://geni.us/TLBOF/

One man, one garden, one final day. On his last day in Blackpool before the waves take it away, Ted, an old-timer with a big heart, recalls the stories and people who made his beloved community garden so special. This new play, written and performed by acclaimed poet Nathan Parker, is full of love, hope and heartbreak as it celebrates community and shines a light on the reality of climate change for seaside towns. This evocative story will leave you feeling inspired, moved and ready to change the world!

‘In a remarkably fluent performance, Nathan Parker convincingly becomes five characters, switching hats and style of speaking to indicate the changes taking place. Each begins speaking in a conversational style that often shifts very effectively into poetry… At times both moving and amusing, this gentle entertaining wake-up call to the terrible dangers of climate change facing communities really grabbed the audience, who deservedly gave it a standing ovation at the end.’
British Theatre Guide, reviewing Nathan’s Edinburgh Fringe performance

Nathan Parker is an independent author and spoken word artist from Blackpool. His novels include The Crossover and the ‘Granville’ series, and his two poetry collections are Poems for Whenever and Poems for Whatever.

#performance #stageshow #onemanshow #nathanparker #leftcoast #spokenword by @parkerwords

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15 days ago

Incredibly moving day filming with @mort_pal , Dr Jason Cupitt and a team of beautiful people, all with varying experiences of organ and body transplants, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and the surrounding areas 🎥🌳

Little Beatrix is 5 years old and is an absolute bundle of life after having a heart transplant a couple of years ago 🩵

Jackie’s hero is her daughter, Georgie, who passed away at 33, yet her legacy has saved and changed 4 separate lives through choosing to donate her organs and limbs 🩵

One of the beneficiaries of Georgie’s limbs, was Kim, who can now hold hands with her grandchild, amongst many other moments of comfort and joy 🩵

Have you spoken to your loved one about organ donation? It might be awkward, might not bear thinking about, but communication can create clarity and the ripple effect of a donation is truly remarkable 🥹

It was an honour to write the piece for this project and I can’t wait to see the final edit of the short film to highlight the importance of talking about this tricky subject, hopefully encouraging people to sign up to the register to change and save more lives 🩷

#organdonation #transplantawareness taken in Blackpool by @parkerwords

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a month ago

River’s first match today 🍊

What a performance. What an atmosphere. What a result! I think Gangy Lew and Uncle Solly would have enjoyed this one 🧡🫶

#UTMP taken in Blackpool FC by @parkerwords

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a month ago

Wonderful morning with the @streetdoctorsmanchester Young Leaders at Manchester Central Library - what a team! ❤️

Amazing stories of courage and commitment, of passion and perseverance… a pleasure to help reflect upon their epic journey, both individually and as a collective, and to get creative with it! 💫

Thanks for having me, guys 🫶 taken in Manchester Central Library by @parkerwords

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a month ago

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers Barry, Leon, Maggie, Tracey, and Karen who came to @edfringe with us to promote The Land Beneath Our Feet.

It was important for us to bring Blackpool residents to Edinburgh, particularly those who have a connection to green spaces. Some of their stories helped shape the script when we commissioned Nathan Parker to explore growing and access to green space as part of our Right to Grow residency.

It meant so much to have them there – cheering Nathan on, talking to audiences, sharing the story behind the play, and experiencing the Fringe together.

Here’s what they had to say about their week:

Barry: “The Edinburgh Fringe is a fantastic experience and I am grateful to LeftCoast for inviting me to be involved. In particular, it has been a real privilege to be there for Nathan's moment and the terrific feedback we got from audience members. We are all proud of his success.”

Leon: “It was a joy volunteering and I was amazed how much effort goes in behind the scenes to put on great shows like The Land Beneath Our Feet. I have many fond memories of all involved in Edinburgh. Many thanks to LeftCoast.”

Maggie: “It was good to see Edinburgh, it’s an absolutely amazing city with an amazing atmosphere. I would just like to say a big thank you to LeftCoast for letting me be part of this.”

Tracey: “The play is magnificent and it gets my heart every time, so I could sell it because it was true, and poignant, and thought provoking – I believed in it, which is why I could go on the mile.

“When we saw the queue of people for the opening show, I was like, ‘Yes! Oh, it worked!’ Even as a volunteer, you’re scared, you want it to work – that was amazing."

Karen: “I had a brilliant time in Edinburgh working with and meeting all the volunteers. It was great fun being a part of it and being able to soak in the atmosphere and some of the fantastic shows. I was very proud to be able to promote such a well received play with such an important message written and performed by the amazingly talented Nathan Parker from my hometown of Blackpool."

We're so proud of you all, we couldn't have done it without you!

Photo 8: @dominosmemories taken in Edinburgh by @parkerwords

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a month ago

Cracking few days over in Yorkshire 🤍

Nice little reset after a crazy couple of months. Absolutely buzzed off how much the boys enjoyed reading books and taking photographs. Lots of food and fun times!

Back to the grind tomorrow 🤩 by @parkerwords

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a month ago

We’re so proud to receive four stars from British Theatre Guide for The Land Beneath Our Feet @edfringe.

We work creatively with people and place, and this project is the epitome of that.

Informed by conversations our producers had with residents about growing and access to green space, we commissioned @parkerwords two years ago to capture these stories as we began to consider the Right to Grow.

Nathan spoke to locals who use Blackpool’s allotments and community gardens as well as those who don’t.

He heard stories of joy and community, easing grief and supporting recovery, which inspired a series of poems highlighting how important these places are, and how often they're overlooked.

We knew we wanted to give these stories a platform, so when Nathan said he wanted to write a play, we commissioned him to turn these conversations into one, with poems scattered throughout. Little did he know he’d be the leading man.

Director and producer @karenmet82 came on board to help shape the script and direct the production. We tested it at our 2025 Symposium and toured it across Blackpool where each community created their own welcome.

People kept telling us: “You should take this to Edinburgh!”

So we did.

Artist @josephdoubtfire created the visuals. Graphic designer @thomisom transformed them into the programme, posters, and leaflets.

We didn’t want Edinburgh to mean leaving Blackpool behind.

So, we took a coach of residents to Edinburgh to experience the Fringe and support the play. Five Right to Grow volunteers came too – Tracey, Leon, Barry, Maggie and Karen were incredible, helping with the set up, gathering feedback, flyering and getting people to the show – with a sell out performance! We also gave out thousands of seed parcels tied to Mereside’s Field of Dreams.

Then came the review. Four stars from the British Theatre Guide.

A play written from conversations with Blackpool residents, created through our long-term relationships with artists – now worth four stars on an international stage.

Congratulations to Nathan, Karen, Joseph, Thom, our volunteers, and everyone who helped make this happen.

📷:
@cjgriffithsphoto
@dominosmemories
@rebeccalattinphoto taken in Blackpool by @parkerwords

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a month ago

Edinburgh Fringe 2026 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💫

From community conversations to an international stage… The Land Beneath Our Feet is more than a piece of theatre. Whilst I might be the face of the play, its magic comes from something so much deeper 🌱

Every line and movement in the play has been carved out with people from my community in mind; the characters are real, the emotion is real, the struggle is real - the joy is real. And what better way to keep that energy alive than having some of those people right by my side all week.

To Leon, Barry, Tracey, Maggie and Karen. I have had the BEST week with you. The pride and positivity for our town and our project radiates from your souls and it has been absolutely infectious. It has eased my nerves, it has boosted my confidence, it has picked me up when tired, it has made me laugh and reflect upon how important this moment was. I am so thankful for your hard work and effort in making the whole experience bloody brilliant!

To all at LeftCoast, thank you for the belief and the opportunity in taking these important stories from our little seaside town and sharing them with the world. Everything about this week has been amazing and I am so grateful for your hard work, passion and organisation!

To Karen… crikey, what can I say? I have learned so much about storytelling, about characterisation, about physicality, about vulnerability and about just how much goes into a piece of theatre behind the scenes. Your hard work and commitment has been inspiring and I cant quite express how thankful I am for you and your wisdom.

To the audiences at Fringe - wow! First Fringe. First show… 82% of seats filled over 5 days. I have been blown away by the reception. From the UK, Canada, Australia, USA and across Europe - so much emotion in the room. I am thrilled that our story landed with you! And to my friends and family who made it - you absolute LEGENDS! ❤️

To everybody here in Blackpool who have sent such warm wishes up the road this week with messages of positivity - I am so proud to represent us 🧡

Big love, Nathan 🫶

#EdFringe #EdinburghFringe taken in Edinburgh, Scotland by @parkerwords

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a month ago