Verbalise

Warehouse Seated

Verbalise is one of Brewery Arts’ most beloved community events, where emerging voices meet world-renowned artists on a shared stage. Join us either Live or Online, sign up and take part, or sit back and enjoy!

13 December – Guest Poet Dominic Berry

Queer, vegan poet Dominic Berry presents his favourite poems from his collections Tomorrow I Will Go Dancing, Wizard, Tigers and Yes Life, along with new poetry designed to engage and inspire.

31 January – Ian Chapman

Local legend Ian Chapman is a regular on the open mic at Verbalise and various other poetry nights. His poetry is playful, a celebration of festivals, love, motorbikes and the kind of things he thinks about every day. Come and join in the open mic, bring your New Year or new beginnings poems.

21 February – Emma Purshouse and Steve Pottinger

Freelance writer, performance poet and novelist Emma Purshouse was the first Poet Laureate for the City of Wolverhampton (2020 – 2022). Emma performs her work nationally, and is a published author (writing both for adults and children) and a poetry slam champion. Steve Pottinger is a poet, author and workshop facilitator, and the founding member of Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists.

28 March – Kieren King

We are celebrating King of Salford poetry and UK Slam Champion Kieren King’s poetry collection Spit & Sawdust, published by Flapjack Press. Kieren is the Great Northern Slam champion and four-time UK National Slam finalist. With poems of pubs, politics, love, and life in Salford, this debut is funny, fearless, and unapologetically Northern – poetry that belongs as much in the bar as on the bookshelf.

25 April – Rosy Carrick

Rosy Carrick is a writer, performer, translator, compere and bad-ass cut-throat b*tch. In her second collection, I Love, award-winning poet and playwright Rosy Carrick presents a passionate, lyrical and unflinching intimate collage of ruptured memory, drowned childhood, irreducible violence, and the intoxicating chimaera of inviolable desire. Her poems are experimental and playful.

‘Absolutely brilliant’ Dawn French.

About your host

Ann Grant is the co-founder and host of Verbalise. It’s important to her that the space is friendly, welcoming, accessible and has a sense of community. Ann has hosted live events in pubs, festivals and theatres across the UK. She has been the South Cumbria Poet Laureate, and she’s a workshop facilitator who enjoys collaborations and writing for wellbeing.

“You’re a cracking host!” Shaun Fallows, guest poet

More about the event

Verbalise was formed in 2009 to create a platform for emerging performance poets in the Cumbria and Lancashire area. Writers from all disciplines are welcome to perform for 4 minutes or less on the open mic, including storytellers, songwriters, novelists and comedians.

At each event, we have a featured guest who is an established or emerging writer. We have a no hate speech policy, and the performers and audience respect each other with people new to reading their words being encouraged and welcomed.

Please email annthepoet@gmail.com to book your open mic spot of up to 4 mins, including introductions. Include your words so they can be screen-shared during your performance. Please state if you will be attending live or online. 

See all Comedy and Spoken Word events here.