Rowan McCabe: Hard Knocks

Part of Leeds Lit Fest 2026. See the full programme at https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/

Following the release of his new book, The 'Door-to-Door Poet', as well as a hit programme on BBC Radio 4, Rowan McCabe returns to the stage with Hard Knocks, a show of spoken word and comedy about community and connection. Rowan likes making a nuisance of himself with poetry. Over the past 10 years he's been poet in residence in a pizza takeaway, in William Wordsworth's childhood home and, once, on a miniature steam train. He's also the world's first Door-to-Door Poet and in 2019 he travelled all across England, knocking on strangers' doors and writing bespoke verses for them, for free, on any subject of their choosing. It's a project that's been featured in the Guardian and on BBC Breakfast.

Standard tickets for this event are priced at £10, but we have also included an option to buy a £12.50 ticket if you would like to support Leeds Lit Fest by giving a little more.

Rowan McCabe is a poet and professional waffler from Newcastle upon Tyne. He has written for Channel 4, BBC Radio 3's 'The Verb' and the National Trust. In September 2025, Rowan's first full-length book, The Door-to-Door Poet, was published by Eye Books. It was featured in the Guardian, on Loose Ends and on BBC Breakfast. When he's not appearing on doorsteps, Rowan likes to share words on stages. He has performed across the UK, including at Glastonbury Festival and the Royal Albert Hall. In 2023 he took his show Door-to-Door Poetry: Nationwide on a 22 date tour. It was described as a 'Must-see' in the Morning Star, 'Ingenious' by BBC Radio Scotland and as 'Absolutely riveting' by punk poet legend Attila the Stockbroker.