Place and Identity (readings)

Readings from local poets + open mic

An exploration of the deep links between people and the places they inhabit. Five Kent poets will explore the ways in which place is important to them.  The first part will consist of an open mic compered by Gary Studley. After a break, the poets will read their work. The poets have been selected because they have links to the Kent area but also because of their connections to other distinct places whether that be Ireland, the Mumbles in Wales or the Kent countryside itself.

Open mic 7.15-8.15pm, Readings 8.30 – 9.30pm.
To reserve a 3 min open mic slot, contact Christopher Horton after booking, on email at: poetrykent@outlook.com

You may be interested in the linked Place and Identity – Fascination Street creative writing workshop run by Gary Studley, (immediately preceding this event).  

Saturday 21^st August 7:15 – 9:30 online
Free: Get Tickets

THE READERS:

Jessica Mookherjee: Jessica has been published in many print and online journals including Agenda, Interpreter’s House, The North, Rialto, Under the Radar and Antiphon. Her first full collection, Flood, was published in 2018 by Cultured Llama. Her second collection, Tigress was published in 2019 by Nine Arches Press. Her poem, Ursa Minor is included in the 2020 Bloodaxe Anthology: Staying Human. She will be publishing a new pamphlet in 2021 with Broken Sleep Books.

Declan Ryan: Declan has appeared in Poetry Review, Poetry London, Poetry (US), Poetry Ireland and the New Statesman, among others. Declan was chosen as one of the Faber New Poets in 2014 and his pamphlet was published in the Faber New Poets series. He has taught writing at King’s and at Royal Holloway. In 2019, New Walk Editions released his pamphlet, Fighters, Losers.

Sarah Westcott: Sarah Westcott’s first poetry collection Slant Light was published by Pavilion Poetry in 2016. A poem from the book was Highly Commended in the 2017 Forward Prizes. Her debut pamphlet Inklings, published by Flipped Eye, was a winner of the Venture Poetry Award and the Poetry Book Society’s Pamphlet Choice for Winter 2013.  Her second collection, Bloom, is forthcoming from Pavilion Poetry in April 2021.

Gary Studley (Open Mic Host): Gary Studley is an artist, curator, performer, editor and prize winning writer. Facilitating workshops & performing at festivals throughout Kent, Gary was Poet In Residence for The Roman Museum, Dreamland and Artefact Store. Co-founder of SoundLines Poets & leader of Dead Hoarse Writers, he teaches creative writing and has run monthly spoken word nights for 15 years.

Sarah L Dixon: Sarah L Dixon was born in Stockport and is based in a Huddersfield valley. She has had recent acceptances for ‘Strix’, ‘Spelt’, ‘Prole and ‘The Journal’. Her books are ‘The sky is cracked’ (Half Moon Press, 2017), ‘Adding wax patterns to Wednesday’ (Three Drops Press, 2018) and ‘Aardvark Wisdom’ (Kazvina Press, 2021). Sarah’s inspiration comes from beer gardens, being by/in water and towpath and moor adventures with her son, Frank (10).

Christopher Horton (co-host): Christopher Horton’s poems have appeared in Poetry London, Poetry Wales, Ambit, Iota, Magma, Dream Catcher, The Wolf, Other Poetry and anthologies with Penned in the Margins, tall-lighthouse and Days of Roses. He has a been a prize winner in the National Poetry Competition (shortlisted/ commended) and the Bridport Prize (highly commended). He won first prize in the South Downs Poetry Festival Competition in 2021 and had another poem highly commended in the same year.