Tom Hiddleston leads the all-star lineup at London charity poetry night

Friday night’s event was attended by famous faces including sex education star Asa Butterfield and raised funds for the Disaster Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Humanitarian Appeal.

The British actors read poems from Allie Esiri’s Poetry For Every Day Of The Year collections on the London venue’s famous Olivier Stage.

Gangs Of London star Sope Dirisu, King Lear actress Kate Fleetwood and Ukrainian actress Daria Plahtiy from Battle For Sevastopol completed the line-up.

Throughout the event, illustrator Chris Riddell drew the performances live on stage.

Poetry advocate Esiri led through the evening, which traveled through the calendar year, reflecting the changing seasons and linking them to events on important dates throughout the year.

Speaking ahead of the event, she said: “Poetry can stop and make us think and feel, about love, loss, hope – and our shared experiences as human beings.

“That is the aim of this Poetry For Every Day Of The Year event, which I am honored to host; Solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine through the beauty of words brought to life on the stage of our beloved National Theater by an extraordinary cast of actors.

“I hope the evening will be filled with laughter as much as tears and that you will leave with hope for the people of this war-torn nation.

“In return, we ask that you donate as generously as possible to the appeal in Ukraine, so that our words can at least in some way become deeds in the fight against oppression.”