Love the Words

Poets Linn Schiffman, Thorsten Trelenberg, Calvin Kleeman from Leeds' sister city Dortmund join Leeds poet Dalton Harrison for poetry and discussion. Poetry breaks borders.

Historian and film maker Catherine Warr talks about her brand new book on Yorkshire history, plus a feature about the amazing bellringers at St. James' Church, Seacroft. They're looking for new members!

Bradford-based Fox and Windmill is the first UK independent publishing company for British South Asian Writers. Co-founder Habiba Desai tells their remarkable story.

Maddie Morris won BBC Radio 2's Young Folk Award and now 'leads the next generation of socially conscious songwriters' (Jim Moray). Maddie plays Live for LTW and talks about a fascinating new commission with Mind The Gap Theatre Company.

Two contrasting highlights from Writing On Air 2022: Grandma's Kitchen by Jaspreet Mander and No Place by Jimmy Andrex. Look out for Writing On Air 2023 in late November/early December.

Young writers from Leeds East Academy make their debut on LTW reading & talking about their own work and the books they're reading, plus Irene Lofthouse remembering her characterful Irish Mum with with and affection.

Seacroft writer & lecturer Geraldine Beattie talks about how books can make a home, whoever you are & wherever you live. Geraldine's passion for literature of all kinds shines through her every sentence.

Acerbic and funny poetic monologue about the body, through motherhood, menopause and paralysis, by Pamela Crowe.

Four poets from Issue 93 of Pennine Platform read and discuss their contributions to this long-lived & well-loved poetry title with poet and editor Julia Deakin.

Volunteers on the brand new community newspaper East Side Story tell the remarkable story of its growing success, plus Zoe Freedman on directing Leeds Arts Centre's new production, Chicken Soup, at Carriageworks Theatre.

What is Community Psychology? LTW follows a conference in Leeds. Plus young theatregoers Oliver and Amos interview Lord of The Flies actor Jason Battersby. And anarchic storytelling from veteran Leeds playwright Martin Riley.

Poets Ian Harker, William Thirsk-Gaskill and Joe Williams, with Irene Lofthouse, take us on a whirlwind poetry tour of Leeds. Hilarious, irreverent and surreal.

John Baron, of the W. Leeds Dispatch, talks about the power of good local journalism in the age of Twitter. Plus Barber B and Seki Lynch on their co-written play coming soon to venues in Leeds supported by the marvellous Space 2.

Another chance to hear the poem sequence 150 Words As I Wait For A Tree To Grow Back by Pamela Crowe, first broadcast as part of Writing On Air 2022, as was dark drama There Was A Man by Neil Rathmell.

Garry Lyons, writer of the play Blow Down, talks to a live audience about writing oral history drama, with playwright Mary Cooper and oral historian Tony Macaluso.

Rach Horner, a Leeds playwright writing about myth, feminism and queerness, introduces their radio drama Gentle Things, produced by Rocket Box Theatre Company.

Charlotte Eichler talks about her new poetry collection, Swimming Between Islands, published by Carcanet. And Sharena Lee Satti of The National Literacy Trust on an exciting new initiative for young writers in W.Yorkshire.

Writer David Price, Assistant Headteacher Elizabeth Powell, and theatre makers Fran Cairns & Naomi Roxby Wardle discuss culture change in Education. What are the challenges of Education in the UK at the moment? Is reform possible and what models exist?

WordPlay, a group of Leeds-based writers working with Barney Bardsley, bring us a lyrical evocation of the sea in prose and poetry, with original music by Chris Benstead.

Tower of Song celebrates its 10th birthday with this retrospective from Nicky and Carl. Tower of Song is Leeds' fabulous regular night for songwriters who meet every month to share new songs written to a theme and style. A unique forum for new songwriting!

A Special LTW: Adam Farrer talks about Cold Fish Soup, his award-winning memoir set in Withernsea which, with Leeds Lit Fest, we're reading all night at The Readathon, 25th Feb.

Enya Lucas directs Leeds Arts Centre's new production, Scarborough, by Fiona Evans. She talks to LTW about this controversial and thought-provocative new play. Plus writer Bethany Rivers on ways that creative writing can work with grief.

Chijoke Ojukwu talks about a ground-breaking community initiative in Harehills, Leeds, plus our resident storyteller Vickie Orton live and in action with a haunting story about love and sorrow.

Matt Black, poet, on his piquant and poignant work-in-progress examining the tensions among siblings as they care collectively for an elderly parent. With a guest appearance from Charlie.

A Walk In The Park (Pt 2), a sonic stroll through Roundhay Park with A Quiet Word and storyteller Matthew Bellwood, funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, to mark 150 years of the Park.