Profile: (From WM Chief Editor Alvin Carpio) I met Shane at the Tower Hamlets Summer University. He ran a class entitled “Urban Poetry Performance” which I was glad to participate in. Not only did he teach young people how to write poetry and deliver a powerful performance on stage, he also made them think critically about current affairs and controversial issues in a brutally honest but constructive way.

He did so by doing the “Yes,” “No” or “Undecided” exercise where one person makes a statement (e.g. homosexuals are evil) and each person walks to one side of the room (each side stands for either “Yes,” “No” or “Undecided” as a response). Next, the person who made the statement then picks one person from each side of the room who then states their case and argues for what they believe in. This game resulted in heated debate with some enlightening points which made everyone question their beliefs. I came out of the exercise feeling refreshed and hungry for more knowledge and I realised once again that simple exercises and events in life can have a big impact on the way I see things. I say, if you want an interesting evening, give it a go! It beats Twister all day long.

Once trained and ready to perform, Shane invited the best of his students to get on stage and perform in front of a hundred people. Luckily I was one of them and I got the opportunity to perform a poem I entitled “She Makes My Sperm Count Go Down.” (More on this on the blog.) Happily for me, the crowd received my performance well and I was later contacted by legendary poet Michael Horrowitz because he wanted to publish my poem in his anthology. I absolutely loved the experience and seeing other young people on stage performing poems they had written only a couple of hours before was truly inspirational.

And it was all down to this man Shane. With the help of Tower Hamlets Council, he made these opportunities possible with his love of poetry and sharing his passion with the future generation. Shane is a poet, comedian, big-time entertainer and also a World-Maker.

Enjoy his interview!

Most Interesting Answer:
6. What problem would you like to see solved before you die?
I’m going to name a few, because I believe each is possible within my lifetime;

• All people having access to clean water, a nutritious diet, and decent education;
• All plastic packaging being made from materials like corn starch, which can be composted;
• Clean power from renewable resources replacing fossil fuels as our main power source;
• A complete ban on toxic waste products being dumped in the sea;
• Dedication to conservation of biodiversity.

1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was fifteen years old, I remember recording people’s laughs in phone conversations, and editing together a mixtape using samples of these laughs. At the time, I remember thinking that I wanted to use sound to create narrative which helped others to live in a more reflective, honest and truthful way.

2. What work do you do now and why did you choose to do what you do?
I am an artist; my practise is based in music, writing, performance and film. I also work in education and community settings. I like to use my skills to encourage creativity, to stimulate change, and to facilitate conversations between groups with different belief systems.

My work has always inspired me; I guess I have ended up doing what I do by following the path of least resistance. I am never more at ease with myself than when I am engaged in the creative process. Over the years, I have learnt to trust both this process, and also my instincts.

3. When you look back at your life, what was the most significant thing that happened to you in shaping who you are today?
It’s difficult to pin down a single moment in life; every day, new teachers are met, new lessons learnt, and incremental steps are taken in shaping who we are, and what we become.

4. What three qualities do I need to be a successful WorldMaker like you?
I think we are all successful WorldMakers, in our own way. The three qualities I most aspire to in myself are humility, compassion and the capacity to listen.

5. If you were a fruit, vegetable or animal, what would you be and why?
I would be a butternut squash. Or a sweet basil plant. Any plant, really… I love plants! Each is an organic factory, and a mini power station, releasing the energy that fuels us all, with an infinite, clean power supply.

6. What problem would you like to see solved before you die?
I’m going to name a few, because I believe each is possible within my lifetime;

• All people having access to clean water, a nutritious diet, and decent education;
• All plastic packaging being made from materials like corn starch, which can be composted;
• Clean power from renewable resources replacing fossil fuels as our main power source;
• A complete ban on toxic waste products being dumped in the sea;
• Dedication to conservation of biodiversity.

7. What is the most inspirational thing somebody told you?

“All paths lead nowhere, follow the path with heart.” –  Carlos Castaneda