Poetry with a Punch: Stand Up and Spit

Jay Bernard is the recipient of a Foyle Young Poet award (2005). She was the inaugural 2012 writer-in-residence at the Arts House and National University of Singapore and 2013 City Read young writer-in-residence at London Metropolitan Archives. Her second book, ‘English Breakfast’, appeared in 2013. In her own words: ‘I am interested in graphic/public art, film, literature, technology, cyber-feminism, queerness and impending doom(s).’

Born in Sudan and raised in England, Asma’s dual heritage deeply influences her creativity, paired with a focus on international development and female empowerment. Published work includes the Muslim women’s anthology ‘The Things I Would Tell You’. Performances include: Liverpool Acoustic Festival, Word of Mouth, London as well as Sudan and Malaysia.

John Hegley has performed his words sung and spoken in just about every live setting you can imagine: from schools to prisons, the British Library to Glastonbury Festival. He has produced more than 10 books of verse and prose pieces, two CDs and one mug, creating material about dog hair, potatoes and handkerchiefs in a philosophical framework. He is an occasional dancer on stage and page, is a heavily published author and an urgent ukulele player.

Selina Nwulu is a writer, poet and performer and the third Young Poet Laureate of London. Her work has been published in a variety of magazines and anthologies including collections by the RSA, Lunar Poetry and Emma Press. Her first chapbook collection, ‘The Secrets I Let Slip’, was published by Burning Eye Books in September 2015. She has also performed at Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe and Fiery Tongues Festival in Ruigoord, Holland.

Nick Toczek is a writer and performer from Bradford. Throughout the 1970s and 80s he toured with bands and as a poet, and ran both music and poetry clubs in Yorkshire, becoming an integral part of the Ranting scene. Since the mid-90s Nick has been a best-selling children’s writer. He is also a professional close-up magician, a skilled puppeteer, a prolific print journalist and an experienced broadcaster.

Photo by Gaynor Toczek

Ralph Dartford studied poetry at Birkbeck College, London under the tutelage of Michael Donaghy. His work has appeared in the Guardian, Pulp Faction, Stirring (US), WordLife and London Territories amongst many other publications. His first volume of poetry, Cigarettes, Beer and Love received wide acclaim, and his second, Dirty Needle Rain will be published in 2019.