5x15 Special: Poetry & Sleep with Allie Esiri, Paterson Joseph & others

As the clocks go back and the evenings draw in, join us for an evening of insightful poetry, perfectly suited to the slumber of the colder months.

To mark the publication of Sleep, editor Allie Esiri — described by The Sunday Times as a "poetry powerhouse" — is joined by a host of actors including Paterson Joseph, with more to be announced, who will bring these texts to life. The readings will be drawn from poems spanning centuries and traditions, moving from dusk through insomnia to dawn.

Expect verses from Mary Oliver, Sylvia Plath, Rumi, Philip Larkin, Margaret Atwood and more — verses for switching off the lights, for the wide-awake 3am mind, and for the first grey light of morning.

Join us for an evening of comfort, humour and inspiration, and share the company of these heart-warming poems.

Paterson Joseph trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He’s worked extensively on screen, television and in the theatre. Paterson's previous scren credits include Inside No. 9, Peep Show, Green Wing and Grantchester. He is currently filming Tomb Raider for Amazon alongside Sophie Turner. As an established author Paterson's work includes Sancho - An Act of Remembrance (play), The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho (novel) and Ten: Children Who Changed the World (historical biography.)