Ben Parker's debut pamphlet, The Escape Artists, was published by Tall-Lighthouse in 2012 and shortlisted for the 2013 Michael Marks Award. He spent a year as Poet-in-Residence at The Museum of Royal Worcester, and in 2016 was Poet-in-Residence at The Swan Theatre, Worcester. His debut collection, The Amazing Lost Man, is published by Eyewear. He is poetry editor of Critical Survey. In this collection of poems Ben Parker explores the world of the theatre through his residency with the Swan Theatre, Worcester. The Swan Theatre is a diverse arts venue that stages professional productions, amateur theatre, music, spoken word, comedy, youth performances, dance and much more, in a programme that seeks to serve the community for which it was built.