Polari: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Writing Talent

Enjoy entertaining, heartwarming and thought-provoking performances from a diverse and talented line-up of LGBTQ+ writers.

Hosted by bestselling author and journalist Paul Burston, the evening will showcase the work of the QPOC poet, artist and teacher Jay Gadhia, the poet and theatre maker Roma Havers, and the writer, researcher and historian Jane Traies.

The event will start at 7pm with a 15-minute break, approx finish time 8.45pm.

Other events with these writers: Jane Traies will also take part in a Q&A on her film 3,000 Lesbians Go to York which we are showing on Saturday 9 May, and Paul Burston will be teaching a creative writing workshop, also on Saturday 9 May. See our Events page for more details.

About Polari Founded by author and journalist Paul Burston in a bar in Soho in 2007, award-winning literary salon Polari showcases and celebrates the best in LGBTQ+ poetry and writing. The Polari Prize is the UK’s only book prize for LGBTQ+ writing. It comprises three awards: Book of the Year, Debut book and children’s/YA prize.

Paul Burston is curator and host of award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon Polari and founder of the Polari Prize book awards for LGBTQ+ writers. In 2016, he featured in the British Council’s Global List of ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world’. Paul is the author of six novels and five non-fiction books, and the editor of two short-story collections. His bestselling memoir We Can Be Heroes: A Survivor’s Story was published in 2023.

Jay Gadhia is a QPOC poet, artist and teacher. He has always written but has only recently developed his spoken word / performance poetry. His artwork and poetry tend to focus on the Asian queer experience and explore cultural and racial history. A great deal of his work focusses on faith, as well as unpicking the complications of relationships.

Roma Havers is a queer poet, theatre-maker and unsolicited go-go dancer – from your hometown but living in Manchester with their partner, allotment and every stone they’ve ever pocketed. Commissioned by Orchestra’s Live, Manchester City of Literature and Manchester Museum, among many others, they are known for their ‘joyful, communal and tender’ work. They have been published in Ink Sweat and Tears, Verve Poetry Prize (Shortlisted), The North and Under the Radar. Alongside their poetry work, they have produced writer development programmes, mentored many poets and produced work for performance including their show LOB, which toured the North West and Belfast in 2022, with their play Helmet with Laughter Lines being longlisted for the Bruntwood Playwriting prize the same year. They were winner of the 2024 Northern Writers’ Award for Poetry with The Natural Way, their first collection with Carcanet Press.

Jane Traies is a queer historian, writer and storyteller whose work focuses on preserving the stories of marginalised women’s lives. Her best-known book, Now You See Me, is a collection of older lesbian life stories. Her second life-history collection, Free to Be Me, captures the stories of a group of lesbian and bisexual women seeking asylum in the UK. Writing jointly with Jacky Bratton, Jane is also half of the sapphic historical novelist Jay Taverner. Their latest title, Liberty, is the fourth adventure in the ‘Brynsquilver’ series. Jane’s latest book, Three Thousand Lesbians Go to York, tells the story of the York Lesbian Arts Festival, the UK’s largest and longest lasting gathering of lesbian, bi and queer women, and of Libertas!, the bookshop that founded it. A treasure trove of inclusive queer history, 3000 Lesbians includes the memories of Jackie Kay, Stella Duffy, Sarah Waters, Val McDermid, Horse McDonald, festival founder Jenny Roberts and many others who attended or organised the festival.

Access and Covid safety measures: if you have specific access needs or queries and/or prefer to be seated away from other audience members as a Covid safety measure, please contact our Admin at: [email protected] with your request.

Friday 8 May

7pm-8.45pm

Amped, 29 Zetland St, HD1 2RA

£10 (£8 conc), free for University of Huddersfield staff and students & essential carers accompanying a ticket holder (Early bird tickets £8 (£6 conc) available until midnight on Monday 6 April.)

Age Guidance: 16+

Access Guide: contact the venue on: [email protected]; 01484 361932

Access and Covid safety measures: if you have specific access needs or queries and/or prefer to be seated away from other audience members as a Covid safety measure, please contact our Admin at: [email protected] with your request.

Concession & Carers: For further information on concession and essential carer tickets, please visit our FAQ's page.

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Host or Publisher Huddersfield Literature Festival