ERICA HESKETH is a poet and editor, originally from Japan and Denmark and now based in London. As a poet she experiments with form and voice, including traditional forms from Japan. Widely published in magazines and journals, she was longlisted for the 2024 National Poetry Competition. Her poetry has been commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall, Spread the Word and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2016 to 2024 she was the Director of the Poetry Translation Centre. She is the author of In the Lily Room (poetry), and editor of Living in Language: International reflections for the practising poet (essays).



LAURA SAMPSON is a British-Caribbean storyteller, noh practitioner and writer based in London. She has practised noh (a 700-year-old Japanese theatre form) since 2011 and performs with Theatre Nohgaku in the UK and internationally. Her unique storytelling style incorporates elements of noh. She has worked with the Young V&A, the National Trust, Conductive Music CIC, and leading UK storytelling organisations the Crick Crack Club and Story Jam. Her first story collection, Enchanted Tales (Templar Books), was published in October 2023 with a second, Mythical Tales, due in Autumn 2025. Laura also holds an MA in Japanese Studies from SOAS.