Love the Words

A preview of the amazing Leeds International African Arts Festival 2024 (July 6-12) and blistering new writing from young writers at Leeds East Academy.

Comedy from the Joyful Drama Group based at Heart, Headingley, & another chance to hear the astounding Billy Myers voice all characters in Gareth Rhodes' Interviews Through History.

Rachel Vernelle from Leeds Arts Centre talks about the theatre company's new production of Caryl Churchill's radical play Escaped Alone, and Zodwa Nyoni on her new musical with Testament, Chisholm for President.

A tribute by Jimmy Andrex & friends in words and music to Alec Clegg, a West Riding education pioneer whose largely forgotten legacy could save us from cultural poverty.

Composer, punk rocker, mayor, teacher and so much more. Tony Macaluso talks to Phillip Bimstein who shares stories and examples of his many music compositions that weave in oral history voices.

David Harmer was in the original line up of Circus of Poets. His most recent book for children was published in 2021. Stu Hennigan, who came into Chapel FM for a meeting one week early, serendipitously joins David for a chat about writing for, and by, children.

'Part threnody, part celebration of friendship' , Hannah Stone talks about her moving new poetry collection, The Invisible Worm, and reads from it. In the midst of grief, is there a place for hope and healing?

Safiyyar Umar is a published writer based in Leeds and still in her teens. She talks about her debut dystopian novel, The Heart Crusher. Plus a repeat of the gripping Flight 93 by Caroline Noh.

Will Carr from Book Trust talks about their recent move to Leeds & the work they do with children and reading throughout the UK, as well as his own career in literature.

Poet & Performer Rose Condo returns to LTW to talk about her brand new show How To Starve An Artist and why we all need the nutrition of art in our lives, plus intimate relationships for older people - A Difficult Conversation - & Raavi, River of Two Punjabs, a beautiful meditation on time, water and the artificial boundaries humans create.

Four poets published in Pennine Platform Issue 94 read poems from the latest edition of this long-established poetry journal and talk to editor Julia Deakin.

Tim Brookes helps run a food bank and Getting Gobby in the Lobby spoken word night. He talks about the provenance of, and reads poems, from his new pamphlet Keep Taking 6 Away from 100. Tim speaks movingly of his recovery from serious illness and the role poetry has played in creating his new life.

Vivid highlights of Writing On Air '23 from Sparkle Menzies and other younger contributors to the festival, plus a moving story from Dortmund writer Linn Schiffmann about first love and summer.

Players of non-mainstream sports in Leeds speak eloquently about what they love doing. Unsung Sports was a Leeds 2023 giving voice to players, organisers and supporters of lesser known sports through poetry, song, film and photography.

Julie Walker works as a bibliotherapist using the written word – song lyrics, poetry, prose in creative ways to engage with people experiencing mental health issues. She tells us about Words for Wellbeing.

Sneaky preview of a ground-breaking report about the literature ecology of Leeds commissioned from New Writing North by Leeds City Council. What have we got already? What do we need more of?

Poet and novelist Mark Connors talks about his and Gill Connors' new Yaffle's Nest initiative, and about what's he writing himself when he's not making it happen for other writers!

Spike Marshall talks about Rope, Patrick Hamilton's dark play that he directs for Leeds Arts Centre, plus a compelling short audio drama by Seki Lynch.

Alex De Little is a sonic artist & researcher with bases in Leeds and London, UK. His practice encompasses installation, composition, performance and workshops. He talks about the extraordinary range of his work and about his recent artist residency in Bali.

Colin Speakman is a Yorkshire historian, poet, and passionate advocate for the North of England. Here he talks about the power of dialect and his plans for a big Yorkshire festival next year.

Vickie Orton tells a story, Jaimes Lewis Moran talks about his new poetry collection, Mechanism, & Oz Hardwick chats about Making A Difference, a selection of Neurodiverse Poets.

At last! The special radio version of Save Our Stories, Chapel FM's community play, staged earlier in 2023 as part of our Home From Home project. SEA.CORP have plans to develop and 'improve' Seacroft. Will they succeed?

Jamie Bloom's debut poetry collection, Change & Rage, is out now. He talks about managing iconic music venues like The Rainbow Theatre, meeting Marvin Gaye, and finding peace.

Writers from the WordPlay group led by Barney Bardsley return to LTW with poems & pieces on the theme of Missing, which is incidentally the theme of Writing On Air this year, Nov 24-Dec2.

In this first LTW of Season 5, poet Ian Duhig previews Contains Strong Language, the UK's premier poetry & performance festival which storms into Leeds later this month, and talks about the hidden histories of Leeds.