About this episode

John Osborne and Lewis Buxton discuss their poetry and the influence of Norwich on their work.

In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, writers and performers John Osborne and Lewis Buxton share insights on writing poetry for page and performance, and reflect on their lives as poets living and working in Norwich City of Literature. John Osborne is a poet, scriptwriter, broadcaster and theatre-maker. He began writing whilst studying at the University of East Anglia and has never stopped, producing an eclectic mix of poetry, storytelling theatre shows, non-fictional explorations of everything from radio to the charms of the seaside and even a Sky One sitcom, After Hours. His latest collection of poems To Make People Happy was published in June 2025, and looks at happiness. Lewis Buxton is a writer and theatre maker. His work has appeared in The Independent, Poetry Review, The Rialto, Ambit and Magma amongst others. He has won the Winchester Poetry Prize, received the UEA Literary Festival Bursary and is the Co-Director of TOAST. His first collection Boy in Various Poses was published by Nine Arches Press in 2021. His second collection Mate Arias was published in July 2025, and is a unique celebration of the tenderness and love that can be communicated by men. Together…

People in this episode

Guests: John Osborne, Lewis Buxton

Topics covered

• poetry
• performance
• humour
• connection
• happiness
• Norwich

Keywords

• poetry
• performance
• John Osborne
• Lewis Buxton
• happiness
• Norwich
• humour

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of East Anglia

Books & works: To Make People Happy, Boy in Various Poses, Mate Arias

Places: Norwich City of Literature

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