UNSPEAKABLE
Written, spoken and newly made words at Wainsgate
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11TH 11AM-10PM
A whole day of words for everyone aged 6-106
World-class poets • Family events • Workshops • Bold New Voices Performances • Café
Bar, Hot food at lunchtime, Cocktails and Canapes from 5pm.
Scroll down to book for individual events
11am – 12.30pm Creative Writing with KIM MOORE workshop 16+
11am – 12pm Word Explorers with Winston Plowes
12.15 – 1.15pm. I Am a Poetato Print with Amanda Allan
2.30pm – 4.15pm: JOHN HEGLEY: BISCUIT OF DESTINY.
Cocktails, canapés and tunes in the Wainsgate Speakeasy from 5pm
5.30pm – 7pm
BOLD NEW VOICES
Upstairs in the Sunday School Room
Why not bring a cocktail and canape upstairs to spend an informal early evening with some of the most exciting new spoken word voices in the North.
Featuring writers and artists from the brilliant Writing Squad; an Open Mic for local talent; and some relaxing vibes to listen to as the sun goes down.
The Writing Squad is a highly talented community of artists who make new work together and support each other’s development. They work with all genres – poets and prose writers, playwrights and script writers, creative-non fictioneers, lyricists and performance artists, as well as those who want to try everything, and those who haven’t
decided if or what they want to specialise in.
Their free two year programme of workshops and 1-1 support is for writers aged 16-22 who live, work or study in the North of England.
Eli Yim
Eli Yim is a Liverpool-based actor-musician and writer whose work explores mental health and LGBTQ+ acceptance through live performance.
A 2025 LIPA Music graduate, they have performed with companies including Off Topic Theatre and Not That Asian Theatre.
Their autobiographical gig-theatre show The Easy Way Out was shortlisted for the New Writing Award at Buxton Fringe 2025 and has since developed into a full-length production touring venues across the North, with its original soundtrack forthcoming.
CJ Simon
CJ Simon is a Black British writer and academic whose dynamic work finds a way to balance both the scholastic and poetic.
As a playwright, spoken-word artist, essayist, dramaturg, and podcaster, CJ’s work endeavours to use multidisciplinary approaches in creating politically engaging and challenging work.
His writing has been performed across the UK including at Southwark Playhouse and Birmingham Hippodrome.
CJ founded theatre company Fire and Folie Theatre, pushing to produce research-led and impact-driven art.
Jasmin Gray
Jasmine Gray is a Northern writer working across poetry, hybrid non-fiction and experimental art writing, with a particular interest in the body, the monstrous, the feral and women gone wild.
Her work has received support from Arts Council England and recognition including the inaugural First Light Writer’s Prize.
She is the author of two poetry pamphlets with Broken Sleep Books, Let’s Photograph Girls Enjoying Life and Open Your Mouth, and has been published widely in literary and arts journals.
Lenni Sanders
Lenni Sanders (she/they) is a Manchester-based writer and performer. Her debut poetry pamphlet, Poacher, was published by The Emma Press in 2019, and her poetry has appeared in bath magg, The Tangerine, Butcher’s Dog and elsewhere.
A regular live performer, Lenni has appeared at festivals and poetry nights across the North.
She also writes personal essays, facilitates creative writing workshops, and has created interactive performances for museums and heritage organisations.
AN EVENING WITH CAROLYN FORCHÉ & KWAME DAWES 7.30PM
