Creative, Quirky, and Friendly.

What inspires you?

The world around me, my friends and family, speaking to other creatives and seeing their amazing
work and perspectives, music, and my younger self.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve had one. I may get a little weak in the knees, and my hands may shake,
but nerves are normal and can be overcome with more practice!

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

I’ve been trying to think but I don’t think I have one… I feel like with poetry, it’s nice to just take in the words of others.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

I recently went to a show and I have to say Terrell The Artist, he was great. Not poetry related, but Matt Haig, I read one of his books and really connected with the words in the story. It actually inspired a piece I wrote not too long ago.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

To keep going, keep believing in yourself and don’t let the world around you discourage you from
trying and showing up as YOU. Everything works itself out in the end! (Sometimes slowly but always surely) Also, to share your work, girl don’t be afraid (valid even now – but I’m self aware on that).

Which two companies would you like to be sponsored by and why?

Oooo, I would definitely have to say Intax. I’m an instant camera lover ( if you know me, you know!) I take that camera EVERYWHERE, it’s the photographer in me, so it would only be right to be
sponsored by them and to be able to share amazing memories and stories.

The other company I’d love to be sponsored by is Wingstop lool I’ve just always envisioned myself
hosting an event and Wingstop sponsoring it. It will happen all in good time! Plus their ranch j’adore <3

About Kai

Kai is a multidisciplinary artist working across photography, video, mixed media, digital art,
writing, and poetry. Through visual storytelling and direct, honest writing grounded in her
perspectives, she explores thought-provoking themes and lived experiences.

Alongside her creative practices, she produces and facilitates workshops and events that bring people and communities together.

Insta: @justkyleyy

Authentic
Bubbly
Positive

What inspires you?

Cool, creative people. I take inspiration from everything and everyone but I find myself being
more inspired by the cool creatives I know, see or come across.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Hosting a corporate event with a scarce audience. It’s always difficult when you are faced with hosting a space for people in a corporate setting with low numbers and things/agenda/schedules don’t go to plan. It’s a real test to pull off something amazing in the midst of chaos and make it work as best as you can.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Performers that completely disregard open mic slot timings (e.g. A 3 minute open mic slot
turns into a 10 minute performance) as a pet peeve of mine.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Big Scoop
Rae Zoe

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Everything will work itself out. Trust and have faith and KEEP AT IT!

If you could be fluent in a language you do not know, what would it be and why?

Spanish – I’ve always admired the language and can even speak very basic but I would love to
revisit it and learn a lot more!

about Ellis Witter

I’m an Actor, Writer, Producer, Model, Author, Poet, Presenter and overall creative who has
starred in projects like ‘Amani’ ‘Sick (Mental Health Short Film, Reggie Yates’s ‘Make Me
Famous’ as well as an NCS Advert entitled ‘No We Can!’. I am also an experienced presenter with experience hosting award shows, corporate events, master of ceremonies, podcasting, talk shows, live/street Interviews & various social media clips garnering millions of views. I am also co-publishing a book and co-directing a theatre play both called ‘Stories Boys Don’t Like To Tell’ which is a collective of deep insightful stories that positively address numerous traumatic events and how we have dealt with/overcome them, premiering a 15 minute show at Theatre Peckham on October 12th for their ‘Young, Black & Gifted’ Scratch Night Showcase. Lastly, I have self-published 2 poetry books, “Deeper Insights” – A collection of expressed feelings and nurtured articulations of a young male’s feelings & “Serenading Seasons” – Lover Boy’s Don’t Die, both available to purchase worldwide on Amazon

Insta: @kingellisw

– Enthusiastic
– Curious
– Camp

What inspires you?

– Hip hop
– Community
– Eavesdropping
– Eating desserts
– Being able to have two dinners because I can
– Surprising myself with what I create
– Other people taking something from a piece I’ve work I’ve created that I hadn’t thought about.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Honestly nothing terrible has happened really apart from me getting in my own head.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

People apologising profusely before they read!

Whose words do you love at the moment?

The last book I read was Strange Beach by Oluwaseun Olayiwola & ‘my mother raised a normal man‘ I think is a perfect poem!

Shearlings debut album Motherfucker: I am both Amen and hallelujah I think sits at a very cool intersection of poetry, music and theatre and I think the lyrics are great! Saw them live recently and wen through every human emotion.

I recently went to a talk about the history of camp trans by a trans butch woman called Sadie Crabtree. I really enjoyed her talking about how activism has shifted in the age of social media and how we can use how our actions and language in more intentional ways. I also just think its rare to hear about the history of something like that in person amongst people who all share the same identity. Was neat and cool!

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

You were right all along, congratulations you’re a boy, go be one it’s gonna be okay!

Beach or mountains?

Mountains! My mums side are all hiking enthusiasts which meant I’d be dragged along to 3-5 hour hikes when I was like ten.

Also sand is terrible! So small!

raY VINCENT-MILLS

Ray is a poet, performer, (paper)maker and facilitator based in Birmingham.

BLACK, trans, queer & grateful Ray writes out of compulsion and opportunity to reframe his experiences in abstract ways. 

He has performed internationally and finds it funny and pretty cool that words are his job.

Insta: @raymondowrote

Calm, Honest, Determined

What inspires you?

Going to the theatre, particularly going to watch new-writing. I feel inspired by shows that
push boundaries when it comes to story-telling. Particularly companies who mix different
art forms and find new ways to connect to audiences.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

This is a hard question because even the bad ones can be memorable for the right reasons.
The first time I played Glastonbury I forgot a verse of a poem I have that’s got a count down
in it. I got to ‘6’ and just sort of breathed heavily into the mic until I found my way back for
‘5’. It strangely sort of worked in the end.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

When I know the rhythm of the line but I can’t find the right words to fit. Seems so basic but
it’s definitely a pet peeve for me, my inner critic gets loud when I cant find the right words
to say what I want to say, because it seems so simple.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Loyle Carner. I’ve had his new album on loop since it was released this summer. He’s an
artist who I keep coming back to at different stages of my life. Also Olivia Dean, I’m enjoying
the Art of Loving.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Chill out baby Moll! You can’t control the outcome of everything you throw yourself into.
Breathe deeper and just slow down a bit, there’s no need to rush.

If you invented an ice cream flavour, what ingredients would it have, and what would it be called?

Pluff: Nougat, malt and a tiny bit of salt.

Molly walker

Molly Walker is a poet, actor and theatre maker from East London. Her passion for storytelling and performance has led her to share her poetry with audiences all across the world.  Her writing uses a comedic lens to explore themes of queerness, class, identity and self-discovery.

Molly has performed her work at The Barbican, The Roundhouse, Glastonbury Festival, Fridaze, Homemade, Kendal Calling and toured with The National Theatre. She was recently listed as a ‘Rising Star of 2024’ by The Media Eye and has been a headline artist for poetry nights with Process Productions, Small Sharing’s and The National Youth Theatre. She has also created 2 short films of her work which can be found via her social media.

Insta: @mol.walker
Company: @commonground_ldn
Website: www.mollypoet.com

Loyal, passionate, conscientious – as described by my sister (after a little convincing)

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by women who turn challenge into strength, by those who choose grace
over resentment, and by the quiet resilience that endures without applause. I find
beauty in growth that unfolds softly, in ideas that bring light to others, and in the
strength it takes to stay kind in a hurried world. I’m moved by those who carry grace
through heaviness, by art that whispers yet lingers, and by kindness that asks for no
witness.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I have not had a bad gig yet (luckily)

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

The number one poetry pet peeve for me is when authenticity is traded for relatability.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

I have recently been reading Dorainne Laux work, she writes about ordinary life with
such tenderness and precision. Her poems feel lived-in and very human.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

To slow down, enjoy the process, you will get there – this advice is still applicable

What would you title your biography?

The Kurdish Girl – I can’t think of a more fitting title

Nigeen Dara

Nigeen Dara is an NHS doctor and writer based in the North of England. She is
currently working on her debut collection of poetry and prose. Nigeen’s creative work
draws on her Kurdish heritage to explore the themes of identity, war, immigration,
and womanhood.

In 2023, she was named a BBC Words First finalist, and she has contributed to BBC Radio’s Between the Ears programme. In 2025, she was selected as a New Northern Poet, joining a cohort of emerging writers to lead workshops, record a poetry podcast, and perform at the Ilkley Literature Festival. In addition to her creative work, Nigeen designs and leads creative writing workshops for students and health professionals.

Insta: @Nigeeenn
Twitter: @Nigeendara

Curious, bold, imaginative.

What inspires you?

God. The world. Other people; other artists, and their art. Good questions. 

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

The audience were quiet, but the background noise in the venue was quite loud. I felt tense and so silly because it was a headline I was really looking forward to. I wore a big fluffy hat and I just felt like sinking into it. It was quite late and so everybody was pretty tired. Sometimes they’re just not feeling it!

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Dramatic pauses for the sake of it.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Warsan Shire. Ismatu Gwendolyn. My dear friend, Arifah. 

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Believe in yourself every step of the way!

If you could live in any fictional world, which one would it be?

It’s between Earthsea and the Dr Seuss universe. Earth kingdom gets a shoutout too.

Chloe Tenesha Giles

Chloe Tenesha Giles aka TENÉSHAS is a poet and spoken word artist originally from Bristol, based in London, and of Caribbean descent. Her work has taken her across the UK to facilitate and perform, and in 2025 she reached the finals of the Roundhouse Poetry Slam. Her work explores the bridge between inner and outer worlds. She believes in the Baldwinian idea that “the intangible dreams of people have a tangible effect on the world” and uses her poetry to question the worlds within and around us. Chloe is just getting started in her journey; she aims to take her work to big stages and new pages as she continues to develop her craft. 

Insta: @chloe.tenesha

Curious, Honest, Unpredictable.

What inspires you?

As cliché as it sounds, my experiences in life really do inspire me. Also, there are these times
in the day when the red leaves sparkle under the sunlight or when it rains and the skies are
grey, it reminds me of home. So, nostalgia also inspires me quite a lot and movies as well! I
love watching movies especially slice of life films because it helps captures the mundane and
I love exploring the mundane moments in life and writing about it.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

My worst gig was at this competition, and I was testing out this new piece by heart. I forgot
the lines midway and froze for a minute or two, but it honestly felt like the longest minute of
my life, and I just kept going. From that moment onwards, I have always read out from a
paper but now I am trying to get back my confidence on not relying on the paper as much.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Hmmmm, I think when the poet uses too much complicated words or the way the sentence is
done. For example, if the flow of the piece is too fast, I can’t understand the meaning of the
piece and I zone out because it goes too fast in my mind. Personally, I like poems with
structure and story, so sometimes I also struggle to understand very conceptual pieces.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Right now, I am bit out of touch with poetry, but I am liking Fariha Roisin and Sophie
Chauhan’s works right now. I have gotten back into reading fiction lately because for the past
few years, I have been reading nonfiction. So, right now I am loving fictional works which I
am taking inspiration from. Right now, I am hooked on Katabasis by R.F. Kuang and loved
reading The Clothesline Swing by Ahmad Danny Ramdan.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

The piece of advice I would give is never stop grabbing for the mic on the stage. Whatever
opportunity you get, always grab the mic and make your voice heard because your voice
matters and people like your work, if not all, even some will like it. Do it for yourself.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

When I was young, I always imagined Emma Stone playing me if there were ever a movie to be made about my life but now, the answer if Nazriya Nazim. She is one of my favourite Malayalam actors in the Malayalam film industry and ever since I saw her in Bangalore Days, one of my favourite movies of all time, I knew she would be the one I want to play me.

Roshni Marath Jairaj

Roshni Marath Jairaj is a writer of prose, prose poetry, and creative non-fiction. Her work explores the everyday rhythms of life, paying attention to the small, fleeting moments that often go unnoticed. She is drawn to writing that lingers on the mundane, finding meaning in ordinary gestures and encounters. Alongside this, her work engages with themes of identity, migration, and belonging, reflecting the layered experiences of moving across places and cultures. Roshni’s writing moves between intimacy and reflection, capturing both the delicacy of personal memory and the wider emotional landscapes of diasporic life.

Insta: @its.poetcat
Website: https://itsroshni.substack.com

– Succinct
–

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by this idea that one day, my future grandchildren could be digging through a
cobweb-filled attic, long after I’ve passed, and find an old box labeled ‘Why I Was Put on
This Earth’. And after blowing off the dust, they search through the box and find the work I
have published, and recordings of my performances. They would barely be able to tell it was
me.
“God, she looked so pretty back then.”
“I guess we know where I get my good looks…”
Then after an afternoon of discovering this life I had lived long ago, they could come back
down the stairs and after a moment their kids would come running up to them and ask “You
were up there for ages! Did you find any old and cherished memories of great grandma Astrid?”And my grandkids would share a glance, and then laugh, and whisper to each other “Honestly I can’t imagine anything more embarrassing than being a poet, let’s just keep this whole thing to ourselves, shall we?”

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Not exactly a gig but recently I was in an uber and the driver asked me what I do for a living
so I said “oh I’m a comedy poet” so he says “ok hit me, give me a poem, make me laugh.”
My mind went completely blank so I just tried to explain the plot of Robots (2005) and pass
it off as my own material. I was able to pass off the weird names by just insisting that my
“friends” (the characters of the hit movie Robots (2005)) were all nonbinary and chose
obscure names so people wouldn’t assign them a gender based of off their names alone.
Anyway, all was going well until we got to the scene in the boarding house and when I insist
to this uber driver that I know someone called “Aunt Fanny.” Uber driver goes crazy, starts
laughing his head off. He turns around to me and says “you ain’t half bad, y’know that
Astrid?” and I say “shouldn’t you be keeping your eyes on the road?” And that’s the story of
the second time my poetry got me into a car crash. Sorry, what was the question again?

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

(This one isn’t a joke answer)
People not giving trigger warnings when covering sensitive topics. Yeah, I know I have blue hair & I look like the kind of person who gets annoyed by this kind of thing but come on. You as a performer may have gone through a traumatic experience. And you may find that you get a lot out of writing and performing poetry about said traumatic experience, so the least the audience can do is sit through you talking about something when you’re the one who had to go through it, right? No! This opinion is bad and self-centered and does not anticipate the possibility that someone who you are performing to may have JUST gone through a similar experience, and might not necessarily want to be confronted with that right this second. Or maybe they do, but give them the option ahead of time to decide that for themselves. Trigger warning your work. No it isn’t “spoilers”

Whose words do you love at the moment?

For poetry I keep coming back to my good friend & cohost (big up @PrettyPrivilegePoetry)
Memory Bhunu. Before reading their pamphlet Memory Flowers I had little appreciation for
poetic form, but as it increasingly becomes of interest to me, their work is something I just
keep on coming back to.

For comedy, Tim Key’s Chapters is the thing that has really helped me figure out exactly how
absurd I want to and am allowed to be in my own comedic writing.
For life, I really love Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen). It’s a song that
would come on in the car a lot growing up that I had somewhat forgotten about until
recently, but in the past few weeks its done that thing where something that you used to
think about just keeps coming up in conversations seemingly out of nowhere? I love that.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

I suppose it depends on how much younger? If she’s 18 or below then I’d probably just say
“hey you’re actually a girl, go use your parent’s credit card to buy oestrogen on the dark
web”. If she’s between 19 and 22 then id say “hey you have ADHD, go use your flatmate’s
credit card to buy Adderall on the dark web”. Any older than that and I’d probably tell her
that eating breakfast is good actually – and maybe slow down on stealing other people’s
credit cards.

What three items would you bring with you on a deserted island?

1. A big tarpaulin to go over the sand (I hate the feeling of sand)
2. A bunch of large blankets to go over the tarpaulin (I hate the feeling of tarpaulin)
3. A notebook to write in (which I would then immediately regret because I forgot to
   ask if I could bring a pen to write in it with)

Astrid solace

Astrid Solace is a transgender comedy performance poet from Birmingham. Her work
explores the absurd, the queer, & the lies she tells herself and others. She is the Producer &
host of the Birmingham poetry night Pretty Privilege Poetry, with which she writes & directs comedy sketches to announce event headliners. She is currently writing a one woman show titled Bye-Bye Bathrooms, and is also writing a short film highlighting the inadequacies of UK transgender healthcare. Astrid is about to commence a Masters in Creative Writing at University of Birmingham.

Insta: @astridsolacepoetry

Part-time philosopher/ full-time goof

What inspires you?

Everything really – family, friends, the people I’m in community with, the moments I witness
day by day that feel like more than what they are.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

It was an event I was invited to read at – the event wasn’t really advertising me or about
me, I mention this just to make myself feel better about what I’m about to say. Only 1 person came, so I was reading to that person and the 3 organisers. There had been quite deep conversation and it had to be cut short so I could read. I felt way too awkward to actually stand up and perform – the space also wasn’t set up to make that easy but I was being paid to read and I actually wanted to so I did so awkwardly in my chair. The funniest bit is that I brought a bunch of my pamphlets hoping to sell them and left with exactly the same amount I’d arrived with.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

People who come just to perform and then leave. I get it if you’re travelling from city to city
and have to catch the last train, but if you want people to give you their time and attention
as an audience member, you have to be willing to give it back.

What are your favourite words?

Fickle (I love this word all the time), incongruent, fleeting, juxtaposition, still, booky, MAD!

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

It all comes together in the end. You won’t be able to see how till it does, but it will and it
will keep coming together forever because nothing is fixed.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is a really mean question. I’m gonna do breakfast, dinner and dessert. Breakfast – eggs
and toast, but the eggs need to have a little something, like chilli, tomatoes, onions, seasoning etc. Dinner – OXTAIL! I love oxtail so much… Dessert – Zimbabwean mangos or just mangos from a country like that. The ones that when you bite into, the juice dribbles down your chin…

Memory Bhunu

Memory Bhunu is a Zimbabwean born poet and creative raised in the Black Country. Their
work is deeply confessional. They began their poetry career in the University of
Birmingham’s 2019 winning Unislam team. Since then, they have headlined at most of
Birmingham’s poetry nights and performed with Tell It to the Music for Birmingham Festival

They were selected to be a member of Verve Poetry Press’ Collective 23/24 cohort.
Currently, they coproduce and cohost, Pretty Privilege Poetry, a poetry open mic night in
Birmingham. Their debut pamphlet, Memory Flowers, was published by Fawn Press in
March 2025.

Insta: @memorythehumxn

Nonsensical, mythical, mega-mind

What inspires you?

Lived experiences, mainly my childhood & noticing the patterns in life and how they cause
ripple effects. I want to create a voice for those who feel unheard to feel known,
understood & nostalgic. I’m strongly motivated through social political activism and building
a community for those of us that tend to get ‘othered’. Music, Mythology & Art also inspire
me greatly, they portray unique methods of blending a creative thought together to tell
narratives, themes or just purely for a form of expression or emotional need.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Honestly, for poetry gigs have been quite nice so far besides some awkward hiccups.
Though as a performance student some of the shows we did had nightmares, worst one was
being told to do a last minute show in a bar with no idea what we were performing. And we
were all dressed up as monsters doing improv movements, at this creepy bar in Dalston that
had holes in the floors and some drunk costumers would come into our performance space
without a ticket which just made things worse….I shudder at the memory.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Not sure if this is a poetry pet peeve or more open mic one but I get annoyed at too many
hmmms and clicks during a set… is it necessary every second…

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Tongue. Therapeutic. Non-linear.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Keep doing you, fully commit to the strangeness!! Don’t be afraid to step out your comfort
zone and let’s not stay hiding in the corners masked in fear of the unknown.

A genie grants you one wish; what do you wish for?

A million more, I have a lot of dreams to be granted.

Lena Ngoudjo

Lena is multidisciplinary artist woven by her obsession with undressing the raw beauty of the bare self through the complexities of self-expression and the merging realms intersecting culture and identity.

My craft focuses on untangling Black expression and the strangeness of humanity amongst nature, often juxtaposing the joys and pains of life. Through my passion for all things poetic, sonic, and visually striking, I stir a mixture of performance, spoken word poetry, and Multimedia art that challenges Traditional Western ideology and Contemporary
Art forms.

Insta: @cinnamoncasket
Web: https://lenasiewee.wixsite.com/lena-ngoudjo

Organised – I love to plan and be concise.
Calm – I’m so laid back.
Enigmatic – I’m hard to read as a person – takes a while to get to know me.

What inspires you?

People – They challenge me & have helped me grow.
Circumstances – I have been blessed with challenges that have helped me learn.
Film- This was the start of my love for arts.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

So many – I hate anything outside.
What I’ve learned is to: research before saying yes & know your work inside out so you can
change if needed.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Its two things:
1 an un-crafted delivery when reciting.
2 an unsuitable venue for reciting.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Aditya Narayan – this man should be studied.
Noor Iman.
Culain Wood.
Griot Gabriel.
David Okodeh – this young man is destined to be great.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

This will sound long and boring but will pay off – dedicate 50% of your spare time to reading
the best selling non fiction books on relationships, self development, health, spirituality and
money. This will demonstrate how 99% of people around you don’t know what they are
doing, therefore you must shape the life that you want. What do you want? Why? How?

If you could be a character in any movie, what character and what movie would it be?

Yoda – Star Wars,

Shakquille Millington

Shakquille is a spoken word artist and co-author of the audiobook Which Way the Words Grow. A powerful live performer, workshop facilitator, and project leader, he has worked with organisations including: Apples and Snakes, We Don’t Settle, I Am Loud, Sofar Sounds and many more. 

Insta: shaks.sw
Insta : shakquille.sw
Website: https://linktr.ee/shaks.sw

I asked a few friends this, which was an interesting exercise! The words naughty and adventurous were recurring themes. One friend said surprising which I rather liked. Think I’d have said “down to earth”.  

What inspires you?

In terms of poetry: the little things – the everyday; the commonplace; the minutiae of behaviour. In terms of life: the big things – mountains; the sea; the sky.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

There was one at Bath Spa Uni when it rained so hard on a flat roof that I literally couldn’t hear myself. It was an absolute deluge and extremely distracting! Without wanting to tempt fate, every open mic or spoken word opportunity has been a learning experience and most have been enjoyable and heartening!  This says more about the wonderfully supportive poetry community I’ve met, than me. I am so grateful to them.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

When poets give a long introduction telling you what their poem is about rather than letting the words speak for themselves.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Having recently shared a stage with Kim Moore, I am devouring “All the men I never married” with delight!

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Start writing and performing spoken word earlier (I came to all this very late and think there was a golden era in the nineties I would have enjoyed!). 

If you could explore a famous person’s home, who would you choose and why?

Totally stumped by this one, but maybe Boris Johnson (or substitute for other dubious characters) – looking for skeletons in the cupboards!

About Jo Eades

Jo performs regularly on the Bristol spoken word scene, and has been a feature poet at Milk Poetry and Raise The Bar events. In 2023, she performed on the Milk Poetry stage at Valleyfest and was selected as one of eight emerging poets from the South West to be part of Apple and Snakes Future Voices project.  In 2024 she won both the Bristol Lyra Poetry Festival Grand Slam and the Hip Yak Poetry Shack Slam at WOMAD Festival, and recently appeared at Clifton LitFest alongside Kim Moore. She has also been featured four times on BBC Radio Bristol Upload. 

Insta: @joeadespoet

Way too relaxed.

What inspires you?

The people who haven’t lost their sense of play and have fun in their craft/day-to-day – it’s something I remind myself to go back to all the time.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

My first public poetry performance was UniSlam in 2017. I had no issue memorising my pieces in practice beforehand, but on the day, I blanked midway through the piece, and it completely threw me off for the rest of that round. We finished in last place, and it took me more than a year afterwards to attempt performance off-book (which I blanked again midway)

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

This is more of an open mic thing. I don’t mind preambles if they’re done in a way that serves the piece/the audience where the poem wouldn’t by itself. I’ve seen occasions where a preamble feels longer than the poem, or over-contextualises the poem – to the point where the impact of the piece doesn’t hit as much as it could have.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Too many poets to single out at the moment – although I read a lot of Out-Spoken Press books over the summer which I particularly enjoyed!

I find myself going back to the Inflo-produced musicians a lot, at least every other day. So Little Simz, Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, Sault, that genre of artist.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

It’s a common one, but everyone progresses at a different pace, and progression isn’t a linear timeline either. You’ll be thankful that you ended up where you did, and you won’t care how long or which route you had to take to get there.

If you could do someone else’s job for a day, who would it be?

A recent one would probably be Noah Lyles, he’s just the right level of villain – it was a special night on social media when he won the 100m this summer! Historically, I’d love to have been prime Michael Jordan for a day, including all his side hustles.

Francis-Xavier Mukiibi

Francis-Xavier Mukiibi is a poet and spoken word performer of Ugandan heritage from North London. He is an alumnus of the Barbican Young Poets, Roundhouse Poetry Collective and Obsidian Foundation.

His forthcoming debut pamphlet, Mutabani & 

[ ]ther Poems (Little Betty, 2025), received an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors. He also placed Silver in the Creative Future Writers’ Award for 2024. His poems have been widely published, including with Poetry London, Magma and Propel among others.

He produced one of 40 short poetry films as part of the Apples and Snakes Future Voices programme, and he participated in the Apples and Snakes Word’s A Stage cohort for 2024. He has featured in various festivals throughout the UK, including Festival2Funky, the Camden Inspire Festival, and the Roundhouse Last Word Festival.

Insta: fxmpoetry I X: fxmpoetry
Website: https://www.fxmpoetry.com

Determined, loyal, always crying (sorry for using four) 

What inspires you?

Bravery, I think. Anyone doing anything for the first time, I find it really energising to be around.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I actually have only ever performed once, and it was to a group of some of the best poets I know, which was possibly the deepest end I could have thrown myself in… But the experience was genuinely one of the best moments of my life. I hope I rack up enough performances to have an answer for this one day though!

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Lazy rhyming. Also, too many adjectives in one line, although that’s more a pet peeve of my own writing sometimes.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

SO late to the party but I just read (and re-read and re-read) Rachel Long’s My Darling from the Lions. She is a genius.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

You are not too much, you are just in the wrong rooms. 

The best book you’ve ever read?

This is impossible!! I’m not sure I could pick a best but the book I come back to time and time again is Mrs Dalloway. I first read it when I was 17 and it has had such a lasting impact on the way I view being a woman in the world.

Beth Kelly

Beth is a multi-disciplinary artist who explores concepts of identity, femininity, and grief in her work. Predominantly a page poet, Beth was recently part of the Apple and Snakes Words A Stage 2024 cohort and is now building a collection of work based around performance that she hopes to take to the stage next year. She will also begin studying for the MA in Writing Poetry at London’s Poetry School in 2025.

Insta: @betholiviakelly

Mindful.
Creative.
Chilled.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by my friends, music, family, myself, nature, art, and theatre. I take inspiration from the blessing of being healthy and having the privilege to create.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I was at a gig where me and my friend were called up to stage to perform but they called him up by the wrong name. They said “we’d like to invite up Liam” when his real name is Leo and a lot of the audience knew him too so there was just no focus from the beginning and it made it so hard to concentrate and give a good performance.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Personally, it’s when people go over their time limit at an open mic or try to squeeze another poem inside the last 20 seconds of their slot. If you have a time slot then try your absolute best to stick to it.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

The words of Ghetts, particularly in his spoken word performance of Double Standards. It’s powerful, clear and so important coming from such an admirable and talented person.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop looking for external validation and take the time to speak and listen to yourself. You are the driver of your own ship so be kind to yourself and those around you. There is no time in existence where you did not pull yourself from your darkest places.

Would you rather be able to teleport or be able to read minds?

Read minds and use it to change the world!

David Woolcott

David Woolcott is a multi-disciplinary artist specialising in spoken word, facilitation and directing. As a working class creative he creates socially conscious art to inspire social change and hold important conversations. He is one of the founders of the Mercy Theatre Collective which is a theatre organisation who dedicates their work to unmasking social issues and creating spaces of understanding and unity through art and community.

David’s work ranges from community based projects in Essex to London West End theatrical productions all the way to online platforms such as Spotify, instagram and TikTok.

Insta: @david.woolcott
Website: https://linktr.ee/mercytheatrecollective

Playful. Curious. Warm Energy (is that two?).

What inspires you?

Music has always been a core inspiraBon for me, outside of that recently my friends and old shows me and my sister watch.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I was working all day and had to rush to the gig – got there I was TIRED.
I started performing my poem off book then somewhere mid performance I somehow started saying lines from my another poem that was supposed to be the next one in my set. I performed just the one poem in the end.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

I don’t think I have one.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Caleb Azumah Nelson and James Baldwin.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Keep being who you are because you get me to where I am now.

If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ahh I love a crepe with white chocolate, crushed peanut m&m’s and pistachio ice cream.

Jerome Scott

Jerome is a multi disciplinary artist who explores stories through writing and movement. He writes through a poetic lens exploring identity, intimacy, masculinity (not limited to). He is currently working towords a body of poetry that he is hoping to span across a number of mediums. 

Outside of this he also facilitates – he likes to create spaces of play and discovery and build work from the bodies and voices in the room. His most recent works have looked at movement direction for new writing, ‘PITCH’ with November Theatre and ‘How We Swim’ written by Tabby Lamb. He also featured in ’Thicker Than Water’, written by Temi Majekodunmi – both were performed at National Youth Theatres – StoryFest. 

He has assistant directed on a number of projects and really enjoys the knitting together of a narrative – with a key focus on collaboration that drives the work. Recently  he  has assistant directed on the Talawa Theatre – TYPT Program.

Insta: @jeromeeoo
Website: https://linktr.ee/jerome.scott

Passionate. Loud. Alive*. 

*terms and conditions apply.

What inspires you?

I want to look back at my life and be able to say that I actually ‘lived’ it, that I didn’t sit back and let it pass me by. Creating and embracing art is the best way I know how to do that. 

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I’m luckier than most in that my worst gig was very much my own fault. My lines kept poof-ing right out of my head throughout my set, and it was an intimate acoustic show with no mic or lights to hide behind. I got more and more frustrated with myself as the minutes went by, which made me mess up even more. That night was a wakeup call to the fact that when I walk up on stage, I need to be doing it for me – and not to please anyone else. It’s easy to forget sometimes that we create because we love it. Period. 

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

People reading off their phones on stage. If you have to read at all, at least get a notebook or something. I’m a bit of a boomer like that. 

Whose words do you love at the moment?

For the last few weeks, I keep coming back to a line from the song Moon River by Aquilo: “and if it breaks your heart, then it’s good, then it’s good, then it’s good.” It’s so simple but it has a hold on me lately – I try to remind myself that I’m lucky to have things in my life good enough to be heartbroken over. 

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

To not take everything so seriously. Especially other people.

If you were stuck in a lift with a stranger, what song would you suggest you sing to keep your spirits up?

I’d start singing Bohemian Rapsody – it would either go really well or terribly, either way I’ll be amused. 

Nathalia Khawand

Nathalia Khawand is a Lebanese spoken word artist and storyteller. Her work speaks widely of culture and heritage within the context of the Arab diaspora.

She has performed on stages across both the UK and the UAE, including for Sofar Sounds, Soho House, Ogilvy and more. Her work was recently commissioned by Meraas, one of Dubai’s largest real estate developers, and is currently on display in two of their biggest locations.

She is now working towards publishing her very own poetry collection, and she aspires to push the poetry movement forward in the Middle East.

Insta: @fractions_of_existence
Website: www.nathaliakhawand.com

I am Noor.

What inspires you?

My name, Noor, means light. I want to live up to its meaning. I want to be a light for myself and all those that I meet in this life.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Oh nooo, one time, I felt so anxious whilst performing. Knees weak, arms heavy, mum’s biriyani… I had to leave the stage and I felt so weird after not really understanding why I was feeling that way.
After a lot of reflection I realised I was burned out, I had been running around for the month before where I didn’t have much left to give when it was time to do this show.

I learned how important rest is from this experience, although I felt like I was fine mentally, I knew the words, the body keeps score! (incredible book by Bessel van der Kolk).

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

I think for me personally if someone sounds like they are reading their poem for the first time on stage. I find it difficult to really hear it properly if that makes sense? Like when there is no tonality it’s difficult to take in the message of the poem.

Reading is fine, but I prefer when a person is comfortable with the words they are reading, so they can play more with performance.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

I love love love I Was a Tree by Koko Brown – I think I have shown this piece to anyone that will listen to it. The way the poem grows, like a tree!!! It is truly masterful, the written version is just as beautiful as the spoken piece, which really inspires me!

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Do the thing, don’t think about what anyone else thinks.

If you could spend a day in a fictional world, what world would it be?

Matt Haig has a book called the midnight library. In this library there are books on all the possibilities your life could take. I would love to go to my own midnight library!

Noor Iman

Noor is a spoken-word artist, singer and writer. Her experiences range from beginning her spoken word journey as a Semi-Finalist in the BBC Words First competition in 2021. Noor has performed all over the UK from Scotland to Brixton. She has been commissioned by the Mayor of London for World Mental Health Day, as well as performing at the Commonwealth Games ceremony in Birmingham in 2022. 

She has performed on esteemed platforms like Sofar Sounds and is a part of the Flovortex Collective of poets. Noor uses poetry as a tool for introspection and deeper understanding of her experience of the world. In 2023 she released a five-part project titled ‘Light in a dark room,’ available on all streaming platforms which she self produced and published. 

Noor believes writing to be free therapy. We all have a story to share, we just need to find a way to tell it.

Insta: @noori_ia
Website: https://linkin.bio/nooriman/

Chilled honest rulebreaker.

What inspires you?

My younger self and wanting to make that kid proud of me. My mother and my sister.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I’m not saying I phoned in this performance, but I usually memorise my poems so that I can properly perform them. This one time, I hadn’t managed to memorise the piece so I read from my book thinking I’d be fine since I’d have the words in my hands. I was not fine. I completely skipped the second line in my poem, kept losing my place, couldn’t bring myself to look at anyone, skipped over all the beats and pauses. It was a mare. Safe to say I’ve learnt my lesson: reading isn’t easy.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

I can’t do super long preambles. How are you telling me your preamble is longer than your poem?? I came here for poetry big man, I’ve got podcasts at home.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

Gabrielle Calvocoressi. I’m obsessed with both of her Miss You poems and often find myself returning to them. Right now, I prefer ‘Miss you. Would like to grab that chilled tofu we love.’ but I know I’ll eventually go back to preferring ‘Miss you. Would like to take a walk with you.’ and the cycle will never end.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t shy away from being different; lean into it and learn to grow up with yourself constantly. 

If you were stuck in a lift with a stranger, what song would you suggest you sing to keep your spirits up?

I wouldn’t need a song. I’d be that annoying person who would strike up a convo with them. And if they don’t reciprocate, that’s fine. I’ve probably got books in my bag to keep me company. I’d take my corner and sit down for some nice reading time. If anything, they’d probably be the one to start singing.

About Zakariye

Zakariye is a poet, performer, playwright and filmmaker from Birmingham. His work often explores masculinity, faith and identity. His short poetry film ‘Cages’ has been broadcast on BBC 4 and BBC iPlayer. Last year saw him reach the finals at the Roundhouse Poetry Slam where he won the audience vote.

He is currently a Roundhouse resident artist working on a one-man stage play.

Insta: @zakariyyee

Miss Jacqui is part of SPINE Festival 2024, along with an incredible team of poets they’ll be leading workshops and arts activities for children in Libraries and schools across London this Spring.

Describe yourself in 3 words…

Respectfully honest, Goofball, passionate.

What inspires you?

 Family and the communities I come from.

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I was on stage and I had only had 2 hours of sleep the night before and I just kept repeating the same line until the rest of the poem came to me but the audience were super chilled about it.

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

 When someone uses like a thousand metaphors that don’t link or make much sense.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

 Galavanting, shenanigans, flabbergasted.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

 Trust yourself and have a little more fun.

How do you relate to the themes of magic & imagination?

Our imaginations are what makes the world work, think about inventors and storytellers. We are all a little magical.

What do you enjoy most about working with children, families and libraries?

 Seeing how everyone is included and truly wants to get involved warms my heart every single time.

If you could do someone else’s job for a day, what job would it be

 Astronaut or Cardiologist because I wanted to be those when I was a kid.

About Miss Jacqui

Miss Jacqui is a Poet and Songwriter who knows a great deal about working with the cards that you are dealt. She is someone who always tries to challenge societal perceptions, like what it actually means to be a black woman with a disability. A wheelchair user herself, Miss Jacqui wants her poetry and music to help her listeners to see the world differently, and to inspire others to feel confident in being themselves.

She is also a Spoken Word Artist, Songwriter, and Facilitator.

Website: www.missjacqui.co.uk
Instagram: @iAmMissJacqui
Twitter: @iAmMissJacqui
Facebook: @iAmMissJacqui
YouTube: iAmMissJacqui_
My EP ‘Perception‘

About SPINE FESTIVAL 2024

Adam is part of SPINE Festival 2024, along with an incredible team of poets they’ll be leading workshops and arts activities for children in Libraries and schools across London this Spring.

Describe yourself in 3 words…

Playful, messy, grumpy 

What inspires you?

Heavy metal. And heavy metal flavours wherever I can find them. Any sense of awe and chaos. I do nature whenever I can. Trees are pretty heavy metal, so are the East London canals. 

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

I did a gig in a pub that had been moved upstairs from its basement venue, and the upstairs punters did NOT want to listen to poetry. So, while there were a good number of people listening, the ‘just in for a pint’ crowd were actively competing with us. And fair enough. They eventually cleared out and a man put a bin on his head and got the audience to blow up and release balloons while he banged on the bin with a stick and screamed his poems. One of the best performances I’ve ever seen. 

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

Performers putting on ‘Poetry cadence’. A specific voice and intonation that is seen as ‘poetry’. There’s so much scope for weird and fantastic brilliance in this medium. It holds so much, from monologues to cabaret, from rap to free verse, and yet a sort of unifying style can easily catch so many new writers. Poetry has the potential to be really anarchic, hence the bin-on-head man, and that seems to be lacking recently. Maybe since everyone has a camera in every audience, it’s less of a safe space. Ban smartphones at poetry gigs! At music gigs! Everywhere! (Except in the cab where I’m writing this, please) 

Whose words do you love at the moment?

At the moment I read more to my son than to myself so I’m currently a firm Julia Donaldson fan. And when I’m out, I’m loving Hearing Things by Angela Leighton.

It’s about the sounds we hear when we read. The sound of our interior language. Forms of Active Listening are interesting to me, maybe because I’m usually such a chatter box.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Read and write more, perform less. It’s important to keep a healthy relationship with audience-approval. If you’re not writing for yourself, the fun of making new stuff can dry up. Also, drink more water, eat more vegetables. 

How do you relate to the themes of magic & imagination?

Poetry is magic. We are holding attention reshaping space and intention, creating small worlds and new connections. From nothing. 

What do you enjoy most about working with children, families and libraries?

I loved the library when I was a child. So many books! I love being a small part of that. 

Would you rather be able to travel 50 years into the past or 50 years into the future?

Neither. The present is the one for me. But if I have to choose, the past please. I don’t want to know what the future holds. Where’s the fun in that? 

About Adam Kammerling

Adam has been delivering poetry, rap and spoken-word theatre workshops for over ten years. As his own practice has widened so has his education work; producing poetry books, theatre shows, podcasts and dance pieces. Reaching emerging artists, young people in schools, artists with specific learning needs, and elderly and isolated artists.

He is the creative producer of The Nest, a project established with the Fostering Network, which delivers creative workshops to young people who are a part of the Mockingbird fostering program.

Insta: @adam_kammerling
Twitter: @adamkammerling
Website: adamkammerling.co.uk

About SPINE Festival 2024

Describe yourself in 3 words…

No Frills

Genuine

Understanding

What inspires you?

Everyone with something genuinely meaningful to share or express, across all professions and platforms. 

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

Hmmmm…an illustration commission of a single building with a lot of similar windows, I’m very easily tired of repetitive drawing…! However it was also good at the end, when it was finished.. 

Every difficult challenge brings something to learn from, even if it was just the sheer relief that it is completed!

What’s your number one artist pet peeve?

Assumptions that your pictures are quick or easy for you to make, or that it is down to ‘talent’ and not ‘proper work‘. I can honestly say that it is not all whimsical illustration desks and birdsong, much of the process is a total struggle and a test of your motivation and perseverance.

Whose words do you love at the moment?

The Letters of Vincent Van Goch, (Penguin Classics edition). He was a brilliant writer, so much expressed so deeply from the heart, I highlighted so many lines.

For authors, I love Olivia Hawker’s writing, especially one for the blackbird one for the crow. 

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t get bogged down in the detail so much, it is better to do and to share, than to do but hide it away… Believe!

How do you relate to the themes of magic & imagination?

When you’re struggling to bring a piece together, and then it starts to emerge before your eyes, when you’re about to throw in the towel, that feels like magic- the feeling of being happy with a piece of work and being able to move onto a new one.

Imagination for me is being able to put yourself in the mind and feeling of a character, whatever animate or inanimate thing that might be. For me it isn’t fantastical rockets or castles and so called made up or imaginary stuff. It’s very much imagining stories in real and everyday life.

What do you enjoy most about working with children, families and libraries?

Children are just brilliant. Children are so giving in their willingness to take part. It is incredible to see eyes light up when you give children the freedom to express themselves however they wish to do so through the magic of their own, unlimited imagination.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An animator or illustrator. Trust in your inner voice!

About Nancy Ellis

Nancy Ellis, has over 20 years industry experience, working as both an illustrator and animator, since attaining her BA at Camberwell College, London.

Nancy’s journey into producing animation for TV began with Catchphrase, (a popular UK TV show back in the day!), and was on hand at the recording studio to make last minute adjustments or create new animations during filming.

Then on to a West London production company, working for clients including the BBC, Nickelodeon & Fox Kids. Nancy’s position as Animation Director included developing concepts for pitches, designing characters, storyboarding, animating & leading animation teams through to final production.

After several happy years, Nancy began working for herself and teamed up with London based agencies to produce animations for major brands, always with an emphasis on character design and colourfully, illustrated backgrounds.

This led to opening her own animation studio, MightyPow.com with Lee Ellis, and a long standing collaboration with the brilliant people at In Tune for Life, (a UK registered charity), providing short animated films to assist their global health campaigns.

Insta: @nancyellis.co.uk
Website: www.nancyellis.co.uk

About SPINE Festival 2024

Justin is part of SPINE Festival 2024, along with an incredible team of poets they’ll be leading workshops and arts activities for children in Libraries and schools across London this Spring.

Describe yourself in 3 words…

Not Mr Tumble 

What inspires you?

There’s a poem in anything. Today is all about biscuits and bicycles – and also, for some reason, spoons.  

Tell us about your worst ever gig?

One of the first times I was on stage as a poet was at a small festival where my job was mainly to introduce the bands. I managed to forget the names of the first three bands I introduced – the fourth band said they’d rather introduce themselves, thanks. There was another memorable one early on where I performed on a bandstand in Bognor Regis to two old age pensioners in their motorised-wheelchair buggies. Instead of applauding the poems they just tooted their hooters. 

What’s your number one poetry pet peeve?

The excessive use of alliteration. I’m only joking – I love it!

Whose words do you love at the moment?

I’ve always loved books but struggled with concentration – which meant I didn’t read all that much as a child. I’m trying to make it up for it, as best as I can, now. I read a lot of children’s poetry. At the moment I’m lapping up The Shape of Rainbows by Neil Zetter. Of recent reads, I’m a particular fan of Kate Wakeling’s quirky A Dinosaur At The Bus Stop – it’s full of very clever and kinaesthetically pleasing poems for younger children. I’m very much into verse novels. The best one I’ve read recently is The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow. Jeanette Winterson’s memoir Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is another richly rewarding read that I’ve got on the go. And, at last, I’m finally about to finish Dickens’ David Copperfield – I’ve enjoyed it for the most part, although the female characters do seem to do a lot of feinting. 

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

How about “stay in your day job so you’ll save up enough money to write comfortably when you’re older”. I’d never have listened, of course, and probably a good thing too!

How do you relate to the themes of magic & imagination?

Magic to me is all about joy and surprise. The imagination is the portal to finding magic in the mundane. Poets are good at locating and celebrating magic in the everyday (which is hopefully what I did in my book The Magic of Mums).

What do you enjoy most about working with children, families and libraries?

I love that library shows are accessible to everyone. And working with children and poetry together is such a joy. I like to write interactive poems and funny poems – because a crowd of lively, laughing children is a very addictive buzz.

If you could have an extra hour of free time every day, how would you use it?

I’ve got three children, I work in schools on poetry projects in the week, I work weekends as a carer for my disabled brother-in-law, I’m trying to finish my novel, I make time for reading, riding my mountain bike and playing the guitar very badly,  so in that extra hour, I’d probably just run a hot bath and go to sleep in it. 

About Justin Coe

Justin Coe is a poet and spoken word theatre creator, specialising in work for young audiences. 

He is the author of The Dictionary of Dads (Otter-Barry Books, 2017) and The Magic of Mums (2020) and the writer/performer of more than a dozen family shows, including  The House That Jackson Built (with Half Moon Theatre), a play inspired by Justin’s love of libraries. 

For over twenty-five years, Justin has shared his heartfelt humour and passion for poetry in hundreds of schools, libraries and theatres, entertaining and educating everywhere, from Sheppey to Shanghai and from The Savoy Hotel to a bandstand in Bognor Regis.

Twitter: @literacyoutloud
Website: www.justincoe.co.uk
facebook: facebook.com/literacyoutloud

ABOUT SPINE FESTIVAL 2024

Linden is part of SPINE Festival 2024, along with an incredible team of poets they’ll be leading workshops and arts activities for children in Libraries and schools across London this Spring.

How do you relate to the themes of magic & imagination?

This is a big question! I think imagination is incredibly important in creating the worlds we want to see – it helps us think differently, which we really need if we’re going to create positive change. Magic is part of this different way of thinking – it’s fantasy, but those fantasies help us see real-life things in new ways too, to understand things which we might not get if we look at them directly.

What do you enjoy most about working with children, families and libraries?

I love working with libraries because I think they represent the best impulses of humanity – to share resources and take care of each other. Libraries are community hubs, collective knowledge, and safe, nurturing spaces; my time in Scarborough Library was so important to me growing up. I love working with children and young people because their imaginations are so vast – they make me see things differently, and they new stop surprising me! Every child has the right to creativity, and I love being part of making sure the children I work with know that their imaginations are powerful and important.

ABOUT LINDEN MCMAHON

Linden is a poet, performer, fiction writer and arts facilitator – they write about our connections with ecology, dreams for the future, ideas about belonging and family, and queer joy! Over the past two years, they have been an artist in residence with Back from the Brink (making a fanzine for a forest, lanterns that send messages to moths, and more), helped young people to write spine-chilling Gothic stories with Ministry of Stories, and created a trail of poems and stories through the community gardens of Bethnal Green with the Live Art Development Agency. They also like baking elaborate desserts, making pots, and reading sci-fi novels.

Twitter: @lindenkmcmahon
Instagram: @linden_km
Website: lindenkatherinemcmahon.org 

ABOUT SPINE FESTIVAL 2024