Dean Atta online at Queer Contact 2021

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Book now

Queer Contact 2021: Dean Atta: Black Flamingo

1 May 2021

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Poet Dean Atta. Photo by Hussina Raja.
Writer Dean Atta. Photo by Hussina Raja.
Book now

Join Dean Atta for this special event happening as part of Queer Contact Festival 2021, which runs 28 April until 1 May and features other writers including Young Identity performers Roma Havers and Ella Otomewo, who will be curating Outspoken. This showcase of Queer artists who have an innovative approach to literature welcomes Billie Meredtih, Jasmine Gardosi and Yandass Ndlovu featuring Alexis Bailey.

In this fantastic event for literary lovers and spoken word poets and performers, taking place via Zoom, Dean Atta will be reading some excerpts from The Black Flamingo and discussing his works with host Adam Lowe.

Back to Dean, though, an award-winning author and poet. His debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize while his debut novel, The Black Flamingo, was awarded the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, and shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, YA Book Prize and Jhalak Prize. The Black Flamingo follows the life of mixed-race gay teenager Michael and his discovery of drag culture. Says Dean of the book: “I didn’t want this story to look away from difficult topics, such as race and sexuality. But there are times in the story when Michael doesn’t fully understand what he’s seeing or experiencing.”

His critically acclaimed writing often deals with themes of race, identity, gender, sexuality and growing up, and Benjamin Zephaniah says: “Dean Atta’s poetry is as honest as truth itself.” Named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent On Sunday and described by Time Out London as “one of the UK’s finest poets”, Dean’s work has appeared on the BBC and Channel 4, and he has a regular column in Attitude. He is based in Glasgow, and is co-director of the Scottish BAME Writers Network and a patron of LGBT+ History Month. He is also a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen, founded by Malika Booker and Roger Robinson.

In this fantastic event for literary lovers and spoken word poets and performers, taking place via Zoom, Dean Atta will be reading some excerpts from The Black Flamingo and discussing his works with host Adam Lowe, a writer, educator, publisher and performer, and the UK’s LGBT History Month Poet Laureate. The event will be live captioned.

Following the reading, at 3pm, Dean is leading an hour-long online poetry workshop for Queer Contact, called Which Flag To Wave. Using flags as metaphors to discuss pride in various forms, including sexuality and nationality, in this free workshop, suitable for both beginners and experienced writers, you will look at poems by Bashabi Fraser, Danez Smith, Hannah Lavery, John Agard and Keith Jarrett, and Dean will guide you to write your own poem. Just email boxoffice@contactmcr.com to book your free workshop place.

The Black Flamingo cover
The Black Flamingo cover

Where to go near Dean Atta online at Queer Contact 2021

Hern Food
Leeds
Restaurant
Hern

This produce-driven bistro in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, prides itself on cooking with the only finest ingredients and his headed up by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rab Adams.

Indie Makers
Leeds
Shop
Indie Makers

Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

Plant Point
Leeds
Shop
Plant Point

Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

Leeds
Restaurant
Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

Sela opened in 2004 with an idea to provide quality imported beers from around the world, fun cocktails to compliment the beer selections and a stage for the region’s finest and most talented musicians to play on.Over ten years later, we’re still all about the beer, cocktails, live music and pizza!We carry over a selection of over thirty different beers spanning the globe from Pickering with The Great Yorkshire Brewery’s Yorkshire Blackout, to New York with a selection from Brooklyn Brewery, and Belgium with longtime Sela favourite, Vedett.Our cocktails change regularly too. Our best-sellers are joined by fun, new offerings and our pizza menu is regarded as one of the best the city of Leeds has to offer.As for the live music, Sela has had not only the great and the good from the region. Local funksters, The New Mastersounds are regular visitors and we stage the amazing Mojah Reggae Band for their weekly Wednesday residency.  Our other long running programming incl
Leeds
Restaurant
Sela Bar & Pizzeria

Sela Bar is a cosy Leeds basement spot with live music, great drinks, and a cool, laid-back, atmospheric vibe.

Leeds Beckett SU
Leeds
Restaurant
Leeds Beckett Student Union

Leeds Beckett Student Union hosts big-name artists and supports students through events, live music, and a vibrant campus venue.

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There's ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and entertainment facilities, making for a great evening out!

Watch the latest film releases and enjoy the industry-leading Sony 4K Digital screens, boasting spectacular picture quality, along with enhanced audio quality courtesy of Dolby 'Profound Sound'. Stepped SuperVue seating means you will never miss a second of the action while VIP seating guarantees you an extra touch of luxury whenever you want to upgrade.

Three of the nine screens showcase the newest 3D releases while Vue Classical brings the latest stage sensations to the big screen, and parents can save as they go with Family Tickets and Kids AM screenings offering great value for money.
Leeds
Cinema
Vue Cinema – Leeds Kirkstall Road

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There’s ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and

Restaurant 2
Leeds
Café or Coffee Shop
Empire Café

Empire Café is located in Leeds’ ‘home of day dining’- Fish street!

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Phranakhon

Phranakhon Thai Tapas is a revolutionised Thai dining restaurant with a combination of European indulgence and authentic Thai tastes.

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Wen’s

Wen’s is a family owned Chinese restaurant specialising in authentic, home cooked cuisine.

What's on: Literature

Jenn Ashworth at Blackwell's Manchester
LiteratureManchester
Jenn Ashworth at Blackwells

Jenn Ashworth is back at Blackwells bookshop for the Manchester launch of her latest work, reading extracts and chatting to Helen Mort about how The Parallel Path came about.

From £4.00
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners include Rosie Garland.

Free entry
Poet Mike Garry. Photo Paul Wolfgang Webster
LiteratureManchester
Word Central at Central Library

Word Central is a long-standing live literature favourite at Central Library and features open mic performers and a special guest, brought to you by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press.

Free entry
Cover of a book with a canal boat on it saying boater by Jo Bell
LiteratureManchester
Jo Bell at The Portico Library

Poet and now memoirist Jo Bell invites you to join her “for a friendly evening” at The Portico Library when she’ll be talking about her new “smart, funny” memoir Boater.

From £6.00

Culture Guides

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.