Roger Robinson

Roger Robinson

Roger Robinson is a British writer, musician and performer from Hackney, United Kingdom. He is Trinidadian by background and has lived in London for many years. His work spans dub, spoken word, poetry and dub poetry, and he performs internationally. He also works as a workshop leader and lecturer on poetry and spoken word.

Writing and performance

Robinson receives commissions from the Theatre Royal Stratford East, the National Trust, London Open House and the National Portrait Gallery. He is named by Arts Council England and Decibel as one of 50 writers who influence the Black-British writing canon over a 50-year period. He co-founds the international writing collective Malika’s Kitchen and serves as programme co-coordinator of Apples & Snakes, an organisation focused on performance poetry and spoken word in England.

His published work includes a book of short fiction, Adventures in 3D (Lubin & Kleyner, 2002), and two poetry collections, Suitcase (Waterways, 2004) and Suckle (Waterways, 2009). Suckle draws on his formative years, memories and experiences in Trinidad, and wins the People’s Book Prize. He also completes another book.

Stage work

Robinson’s one-man shows include The Shadow Boxer, Letter from My Father’s Brother and Prohibition. All three premiere at the British Festival of Visual Theatre at Battersea Arts Centre in London.

Music

In 2005, Robinson releases the spoken folk album Illclectica on Altered Vibes. He is also a member of King Midas Sound, whose debut album Waiting for You appears on Hyperdub Records in 2009, followed by the remix album Without You two years later.