Friday 12 February

7pm – 8pm

PATRICK VERNON: DOCUMENTING BLACK HISTORY

TBC Join Patrick Vernon, social activist, and Jefny Ashcroft, local historian, to discuss how to best document Black History. Patrick will be discussing his past, present and future project on how to celebrate and record Black British history. Patrick and Jefny will also explore different approaches and lessons for Wolverhampton and how we can continue to document our collective history and provide recognition to our black historical and public figures of today.

Tickets: £12 (+ booking fee)

SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY

Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists bring a selection of the finest poets from across the UK via Zoom. Entry to each of the five events is free, with the virtual hat being passed at the end of each show.

11.30am - 12.30pm HAIFLU EVER AFTER

12.30pm - 13.30pm THE SNOOPY QUESTION

13.30pm - 2.30pm ISOBEL’S WAR

2.30pm - 3.30pm IAN ELMSLIE

3.30pm - 4.30pm

GENDER FLUID

Part poetry show, part inspirational talk, spoken-word artist and inventor of the Haiflu, Liv Torc, will take you on an entertaining journey through the pandemic poetry project that engaged thousands.

Matt Black thinks he might be a dog, and that dogs have all the answers. Joyful and powerful entertainment with cheap props, surprising dog facts, excellent poems, and Snoopy’s answer to world peace. Poetry, comedy and science.

WWII saw plenty of women learning things and Isobel decides there are better ways to spend the war than worrying bout her RAF husband. She joins the ‘trainees’ and finds a world of boats she didn’t know existed – as well as lots of coal, calamities and cocoa!

‘A Marvellous Party’, is a ticklish but heartfelt “thank you” letter to his heroes and heroines, who threw down a pathway of glittering breadcrumbs to guide him from where and who he was to where and what he wanted and needed to be.

Stand-up poet, reluctant bear and attempted vegan strips… away labels of life, love, the arts and the LGBTQ+ community in this fast-paced, honest and hilarious debut. Dan navigates through the confusing world of definitions.

12pm – 1pm

KATES HILL PRESSES LOCAL BOOK LAUNCH FEATURING IAN HENREY, SHAUN PATRICK HAND AND GREG STOKES

Online

Come along and listen to extract from stories and poetry published by local Black Country Kates Hills Presses. You will hear from three of their newest publications. At the event you will have a taste of each of the authors own style, from dark humor to messages of hope and to presidential palace in Abu Dhabi.

Ian Henery is a successful local solicitor with offices across the West Midlands. But that’s just the day job. He is a prolific author and poet well known on the spoken word circuit. Shaun Patrick Hand, author and musican, will be reading extract from his book ‘The New Brutalism’, whom he Collaborated with Tom Hicks. This book is a mix of stark realism and dark humour which reflect these modern times.

Greg Stokes, local chap had travelled the world in various roles and began writing in 1980 and has written over 200 short stories. He Set up Kates Hill Press in 1992 to publish West Midlands writers.

Donations welcome. All proceeds will go to Teenage Cancer Trust.