Upcoming events hosted by award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon
polari
Coming up
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APRIL
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Apr 27 - Polari at Huddersfield Literature Festival. 7pm-8.45pm. £8 (£5 conc)
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With Julia Armfield, Paul Burston, Paul David Gould and Andrew McMillan.
This is a hybrid event at Small Seeds and online.
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MAY
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May 15 - Polari at Writing on the Wall, Liverpool. 7.30pm-9pm. £8.
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With Rosie Garland, Ciaran Hodgers and Gerry Potter (see below)).
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May 23 - Polari at The Foundry, Eastbourne. 7.30-9pm. £5-£7
With Alexandra Benedict, VG Lee and Paul Burston.
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JUNE
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June 14 - Polari at Pyle Library, Bridgend
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With Rachel Dawson, Emily Garside and David Llewellyn.
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June 20 - Polari at Leeds Central Library 6.30pm. Suggested donation £8
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With Julie Cohen, Adam Lowe and Karen McLeod.
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June 27 - Polari at Hillingdon Library
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TBA
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JULY
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July 7 - Polari at Bradford Literature Festival
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TBA
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SEPTEMBER
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Sep 29 - Polari at Ironworks Studio, Brighton. 7.30pm-9.15pm. £15
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With Neil Bartlett, Karen McLeod, Joelle Taylor and more TBA.
In these uncertain times, you can support Polari’s vital work by buying us a coffee HERE
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POLARI PRIZE 2023
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For more info, see Polari Prize in menu above.
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BACKGROUND
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Founded in 2007 by author Paul Burston, Polari is a multi award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon. Known for its high energy, thought-provoking performances, Polari is a heady mix of live literature and cabaret, in which the performers happen to be writers.
Described by The Huffington Post as “the most exciting literary moment in London”, the salon also tours regularly, supported by Arts Council England. We also host events online.
Ever adaptable, Polari has appeared at bars, book festivals, libraries, museums, nightclubs and theatres across the UK and beyond. Each event showcases the best in established and emerging LGBTQ+ talent.
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In 2009, Polari began a long residency at London’s Southbank Centre. In 2022 we moved to The British Library. We also tour regularly, funded by Arts Council England.
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We also run the Polari Prize book awards for LGBTQ+ writing.
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There’s a brief history of Polari on our YouTube channel HERE
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There’s a history of our touring activities HERE
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There’s a history of The Polari Prize HERE
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For a taste of recent events, you can listen to the Polari podcast HERE
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Writers and performers who’ve appeared at Polari include Adele Anderson, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Livia Kojo Alour, Julia Armfield, Jake Arnott, Neil Bartlett, Dustin Lance Black, Sophia Blackwell, John Boyne, Russell T Davies, Juno Dawson, Maureen Duffy, Stella Duffy, Carey Wood-Duffy, Janet Ellis, Cerys Evans, Bernardine Evaristo, Patrick Gale, Rosie Garland, Nikita Gill, Salena Godden, Niven Govinden, Kit Green, Garth Greenwell, Alexis Gregory, Saleem Haddad, Mari Hannah, Philip Hensher, Celia Imrie, Juliet Jacques, Keith Jarrett, Jackie Kay, VG Lee, Kirsty Logan, Adam Lowe, David McAlmont, John McCullough, Val McDermid, Karen McLeod, Adam Lowe, Andrew McMillan, Paul McVeigh, Charlotte Mendelson, Fiona Mozley, Golnoosh Nour, Okechukwu Nzelu, Musa Okwonga, Diriye Osman, Jon Ransom, Juno Roche, Ali Smith, Diana Souhami, Andrea Stuart, Joelle Taylor, Tracey Thorn, Paula Varjack, Sophie Ward, Sarah Waters, Mohsin Zaidi and Adam Zmith.
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Polari was named Cultural Event of the Year in the Co-op Respect Loved By You Awards 2013.
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“Always fun, always thought-provoking – a guaranteed great night out” – Sarah Waters
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“Lively, funny and inspiring – a gay-themed salon of interest to anyone remotely interested in literature, whatever their sexual bent” – Patrick Gale
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PRAISE FOR POLARI
"The most exciting literary movement in London... crackling with energy, ideas, excitement"
HUFFINGTON POST