What's happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton and Stourton
Slung Low and the London Review of Books are to bring Tony Harrison’s poem ‘v.’ home to Holbeck Cemetery for its 40th anniversary, with unprecedented site-specific readings on Sunday 12 October, in a celebration of Harrison’s life and work, following his death on 26 September 2025. Tony Harrison’s ‘v.’ is
Nina Dales’ Poetry. MUMS MATHS DAY On Friday I went back to school, Mums Maths Days what they said. I took a seat beside my son, saw the work and thought … ”I’m dead!” The teacher introduced herself, then said “just ask if you are stuck … We’re learning through
Local poet Yvonne Ugarte has published a book of children’s poems, beautifully illustrated by pupils from Beeston Primary School where she works. Yvonne has been writing poetry for fifty years starting aged 5 when she was in foster care. She lost her son, Emil, to Meningitis when he was just
As the day progresses into evening, into night, he sits and waits for the unwelcome trumpetless gurgle; that deluge of life essence sprayed after the burble, the crackling; the teeth and tongue morphing life into blobs spotting the basin, bath and surrounds, shades of crimson; it doesn’t come, not like
You can call it rapping, or poetry, slamming or ranting – it’s all performing the spoken word. In the run up to Beeston Festival Phil Pearce and Kevin Philips are running free weekly workshops, starting on Tuesday 8 May, 6-7pm at City Evangelical Church on Cemetery Road. During the ten
Just before the Easter holiday, teams from four South Leeds schools came together to compete in a Poetry Slam. The event was held in the theatre at Cockburn School and gave children from three primary schools an insight into life in ‘big school’. Middleton Primary School were back to defend
Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitating condition that attacks the central nervous system, currently there is no cure. So it seems a curious topic for poetry. But Mark Wilson, from Beeston, is used to fighting his condition by unorthodox means. Parkinson’s is usually a disease of old age, but Mark was
It all began for me about four years ago, when I noticed I was struggling with climbing the stairs, and getting in and out of the bath, due to the pain and stiffness in my legs. This steadily became worse over time, and my partner suggested that I go see
The Broadway pub on Dewsbury Road are this Friday (19th August) hosting what they hope will be the first of many evenings of live entertainment – including performance poetry, music, and comedy. This inaugural event in particular promises some of Yorkshire’s finest up-and-coming poets, including Toria Garbutt, Matt Abbott, Gav
Tony Harrison’s controversial poem “V” is in the news again. A programme is being made and an updated version of the poem will be read by Harrison on Radio 4 next month. The poem is controversial because of the liberal use of four letter words – the words Harrison found