Aurat Kahani - Free Poetry Writing Workshops

‘Aurat Kahani’ is an exciting new creative oral history project by Abda Khan exploring the lived experiences of South Asian women who migrated to Bradford in the 1960s and 1970s. Their stories will be documented and used as inspiration for new poetry to be created in these workshops - if you are a woman of South Asian heritage and this is of interest to you, then book your free place as soon as possible. The stories will also be used as inspiration for the creation of a script by Abda for a brand new stage play, all of which will culminate in live showcase performances when there will be an opportunity to share some of the new poetry created in these workshops.

Sharena Lee Satti is a Poet, Spoken word artist, Educator /workshop facilitator. An advocate for women and campaigning for their voices to be heard in society. Her book Shhhhh is out now via Verve Poetry Press. Sharena believes in the power of poetry and works hard in her community and beyond to ensure poetry is accessible to all. This has seen her shortlisted for the Ruth Rendal award 2024, nominated for the National Diversity Award (2022 and 2023), the British Indian Awards in 2020 and one of the ‘21 for 2021’ creatives most likely to make an impact on Bradford’s cultural scene. Recently she was instrumental in delivering the first ever West Yorkshire Poetry Week as part of the West Yorkshire Poet Laureate Programme at the National Literacy Trust.

About Abda Khan

Abda Khan is a lawyer turned writer. She mainly writes literary fiction, and is the author of two published novels: Stained (2016, Harvard Square Editions, described by Booklist USA as the ‘contemporary Tess of the d’Urbervilles) and Razia (2019, Unbound). She has finished writing her third novel, which has a working title In the Interests of Justice, a gripping courtroom drama that explores the issue of gaslighting, and is now carrying out research for her next book, which will be her first historical novel inspired by her late father’s service in World War II as part of the Punjab Regiment.

Abda’s writing (poetry, fiction and non-fiction) has also featured in various publications, and she also writes commissioned pieces for various organisations and projects. She also had her debut poetry collection published in 2023 entitled ‘Losing Battles Winning Wars’. Abda also teaches creative writing, both independently and in collaboration with various creative organisations.

Abda undertakes various creative projects. She was the project creator and director of Sidelines to Centre Stage (2019), in which she delivered creative writing workshops to marginalised women (survivors of domestic abuse staying in refuge, and female Muslim ex-prisoners), and their work was then edited and shared with audiences, through showcased public and community rehearsed readings performed by actors, and via a video, and social media campaigns. Her project Tappay Tales was all about traditional Pakistani folk/wedding songs which were used as inspiration for new creative work produced by the participants, new (commissioned) poetry and a script written by Abda culminating in three showcase performances in July 2022 in Birmingham, followed by a film and a book. Tappay Tales 2 travelled to Bradford and Liverpool in 2023. She has undertaken numerous other community based projects and is passionate about increasing engagement from members of communities that are generally underrepresented in the creative arts sector.

Abda is also a mentor, campaigner, public speaker, Desi Blitz Arts Ambassador, and a Lloyds Bank Women of the Future Ambassador.

Abda has received recognition for her work including winning British Muslim Woman of the Year in the British Muslim Awards 2019 and was shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award in Law Society Excellence Awards 2020.

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