Sounds About Write with Jay Mitra and Sile Sibanda

Sounds About Write is The Writers Workshop's live literature event featuring invited guests from the world of publishing plus aspiring authors. Learn about their writing journeys as they chat to our founder, Beverley Ward, then see them in action before you take to the stage yourself.

For this special Off the Shelf Festival of Words edition of Sounds About Write, we have local spoken-word producer and BBC Radio presenter Sile Sibanda performing with punk poet Jay Mitra.

Then it's your turn to take to share your words in the open mic. Poetry or prose, anything goes! It doesn't have to be polished, and you don't have to be perfect; you just need something you'd like to share and that sounds about right! For an open mic slot, email [email protected] by 6:00PM on the day of the event. First come, first served.

Join Workshop members for social chitchat upstairs at Sheffield Plate from 5.30pm. The event (downstairs) will begin at 6:45pm. Performances begin promptly at 7pm. We must vacate the building by 9pm.

About our guests
Sile Sibanda is a spoken word performer, BBC Radio presenter, events host, creative producer/facilitator, and amateur DJ. She has been involved in creative and community projects for over 13 years, starting with a glee club at the age of 12. Sile became a creative producer for Storytrails, creating an immersive storytelling experience about untold stories of people living in Sheffield. Sile is passionate about reading books from different countries and writing whilst listening to jazz. She love the outdoors and travelling.

Jay Mitra (they/he) is a punk poet and creative non-fiction writer from Yorkshire, currently based in London. Their poetry has been published in Acumen Poetry, Drawn To The Light Press, Ink Sweat and Tears, and Broken Sleep Books’ Queer Icons anthology. They were the Bronze prize winner in the Creative Non-Fiction category of the Creative Future Writers’ Awards 2023 and was selected as one of Apples and Snakes' 40 Future Voices in Poetry. Jay has been featured on BBC Radio 6 and Radio 3’s The Verb and has also performed in a variety of festivals including BBC’s Contains Strong Language, Manchester Pride, and Manchester Punk Festival. Currently, he is pursuing a career in teaching and working as a freelance writer and facilitator. You can find out more about them on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) @punkofcolour.

Host or Publisher The Writers Workshop