The Poetry Supertram at Writing On Air 2022

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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The Poetry Supertram

27 November 2022

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Poet Ian Harker.
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Writing On Air is a literature festival on the radio – East Leeds FM via Chapel FM Arts Centre, to be exact – with more than 50 events running 23 to 27 November.

Then there’s The Poetry Supertram, which sees Ian Harker, William Thirsk-Gaskill and Joe Williams take us on a whirlwind poetry tour of Leeds.

Now in its eighth year, all programmes are conceived and created by writers, readers and performers from across Leeds and West Yorkshire, supported by the Chapel FM team. The theme of Writing On Air this time round is home. We’re told to think “leaving home, finding a new home, high rents, domestic bliss and quotidian misery, belonging, identity, the bedroom ceiling’s the limit”.

With interviews, radio dramas, discussions and soundscapes, there are no headliners at Writing On Air and everything in the festival is broadcast to the entire world on Chapel FM Art Centre’s very own community radio station, East Leeds FM. You’re invited to tune in, listen again or even bob along to the free events as they’re recorded live in the radio theatre.

There’s a Yaffle Press showcase with readings by emerging and established writers (27 November, 6pm) and a chat with Jeremy Poynting, founder of Peepal Tree Press (23 November, 7.30pm). There’s a workshop called Home On Stage when poet and performer Caitlin McKenna will help you feel more comfortable on stage, passing on tips for using microphones, hosting, audience engagement and more (25 November, 5.30pm), followed, at 7pm, by an open mic to put the skills you learn into action for an in-house and radio audience. Then there’s The Poetry Supertram (27 November, 5pm), which sees Ian Harker, William Thirsk-Gaskill and Joe Williams take us on a whirlwind poetry tour of Leeds.

Ian Harker is the author of a pamphlet (The End of the Sky) and a collection (Rules of Survival) through Templar Poetry, and is publishing his second pamphlet A-Z of Superstitions through the aforementioned Yaffle Press. He’s a co-founder of Saboteur Award-nominated Strix magazine and he was poet in residence at the Henry Moore Institute. He has been placed in competitions including the Bridport, Troubadour and BBC Proms Poetry Competition, and is an organiser of Leeds Lit Fest.

William Thirsk-Gaskill lives in Wakefield and works in Leeds, and is a poet and short story writer; both his debut poetry collection, Throwing Mother In The Skip, and his debut short fiction collection, Something I Need To Tell You, are published by Stairwell Books, based in York.

Joe Williams is an award-winning writer and performing poet from Leeds. His latest book, a short collection of poems on the theme of sport and games, The Taking Part was published last year by Maytree Press in 2021) and follows the critically acclaimed pamphlet This Is Virus, erasure poems made from Boris Johnson’s lockdown letter to the UK, the verse novella An Otley Run, which was shortlisted for a Saboteur Award, and debut poetry pamphlet Killing The Piano. His work has appeared in many anthologies and in literary magazines including The North, Popshot, Prole, Strix, Poetry Scotland and The Blue Nib, and it has been broadcast on BBC radio. He has provided commissioned work for Ilkley Literature Festival and Leeds International Piano Competition, among others. He also hosts the now regular Leeds live lit night Chemistry.

Check out the Writing On Air website for full festival listings.

Where to go near The Poetry Supertram at Writing On Air 2022

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

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