Raymond Antrobus’s £4 memoir night in Elmbridge

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-26 18:39 3 min read

A close-up selective focus shot of a young reader absorbed in a book.

Acclaimed poet and author Raymond Antrobus MBE will discuss his memoir, The Quiet Ear, at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Elmbridge, Surrey, on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4, the event is open to the general public and the talk will be BSL interpreted.

Surrey-based anthologist Ana Sampson will chair the conversation, which forms part of the autumn Royston Pike programme. The event is likely to be of particular interest to readers of contemporary poetry and memoir, as well as people interested in deaf identity, creativity, language and belonging.

Elmbridge Borough Council’s event notice provides the confirmed event information and directs readers to find out more and book.

The Quiet Ear explores sound, identity and belonging

The conversation will focus on Antrobus’s experience of growing up deaf and finding his voice through poetry. Diagnosed as deaf at six, he uses The Quiet Ear to explore sound, identity and belonging, while reflecting on creativity, resilience and inclusion.

The memoir also considers the D/deaf artists, performers and writers whose stories helped shape his own. That gives the evening a broader focus than Antrobus’s personal history alone: the discussion is expected to connect his life and writing with the creative influences behind the book.

The central question presented by the council is how someone finds their voice in a world that does not always listen. At Riverhouse Barn, attendees will hear Antrobus address that question through a chaired conversation rather than a standard poetry reading.

Antrobus has won the Ted Hughes Award, the Somerset Maugham Award and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. The Elmbridge appearance offers an opportunity to hear him speak specifically about the experiences and artistic relationships behind his memoir.

Ana Sampson will chair the discussion

Ana Sampson, a Surrey-based anthologist, will guide the talk. Her role gives the event an interview-led structure, with the memoir, Antrobus’s development as a poet and the writers and performers who influenced him providing the main strands of the discussion.

BSL interpretation is a confirmed part of the programme. Attendees do not need to request it as an additional arrangement, although the supplied event information does not list any other accessibility provisions.

What to confirm before attending

The talk begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Elmbridge. Admission is £4, and the council’s listing directs attendees to book through its event page.

A street address, transport guidance and an end time were not included in the supplied details. Anyone planning a journey should therefore confirm the venue location and any remaining practical arrangements through the council’s booking information before setting out.

Source: Elmbridge Borough Council

Context & actions About this article

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The preview was prepared from Elmbridge Borough Council’s published event notice.

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