A Healing Art: Northern Poets in Conversation

The latest in a series of eight events from the Royal Literary Fund, bringing together poets, playwrights, authors and screenwriters from across Northern England. In this event, award winning poets Tahmina Ali, Bob Beagrie and Harry Man discuss how poems can heal, do poems have some particular secret sauce that makes them memorable and can they change the direction of our lives? How do poetry readers access this change? How do poets see their artform’s impact in their own lives? All three writers will dip into the archive of the Royal Literary Fund, drawing on the words of some of the country’s leading poets, using what they find as a springboard for their discussion.

All welcome!

About the panel

Tahmina Ali

Tahmina is a British-Bangladeshi spoken word poet and creative practitioner. A two-time ‘ABC Arts and Culture Award’ winner, she is the founder of poetry night Freespill and has performed at the BBC and The Glasshouse. Her work is deeply rooted in identity and social advocacy, and she facilitates workshops that use poetry as a vehicle for positive change and supporting mental well-being.

Bob Beagrie

Bob is the author of fifteen poetry collections, most recently Hand of Glory (2025). With a PhD in Creative Writing and decades of experience as a lecturer and literature development officer, his work is recognized for its historical depth and lyrical mastery. His poetry has been translated into numerous languages and published globally. Critics frequently praise his ability to blend popular culture with myth and "firework-like" poetic imagery.

Harry Man

Harry is an award-winning poet and translator based in the Tees Valley. His debut pamphlet, Lift, won the UNESCO Bridges of Struga Award, and his follow-up, Finders Keepers, was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award. A celebrated translator, his collaboration with Endre Ruset, Deretter, won the Stephen Spender Prize and was named a Book of the Year by Dagbladet. His latest collection, Popular Song (Nine Arches Press, 2024), was shortlisted for a 2026 Gladstone’s Library residency. Harry teaches at the University of Oxford and is widely recognized for his ability to bridge the worlds of science, art, and compassionate narrative.

Accessibility

We aim to make our events as welcoming and accessible as possible.

There is an access call button at the shop entrance. This will alert a member of staff, who will be happy to assist wheelchair users with a ramp and offer support with access or seating.

If you have any specific access needs, please do let us know in advance at [email protected]. For example, we can reserve seating towards the front for those who are hearing impaired, or ensure wheelchair users are comfortably positioned near the exit.

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Host or Publisher Poetry Pharmacy- Deborah Alma