Description

Join us in the stunning surrounds of 253-year-old The Leeds Library for one of Leeds’ leading poetry nights! The 15th installment of ‘Chelping’ stars Maria Ferguson and Joshua Judson, plus open mic hosted by Matt Abbott.

Previous headliners have included internationally renowned performers such as Joelle Taylor, Sabrina Mahfouz, Anthony Anaxagorou, and Theresa Lola. We’ve also had nationally renowned poets including Cecilia Knapp, Jess Green, and Toby Campion.

MARIA FERGUSON

Maria Ferguson is a writer and performer from Romford. She has been a resident artist for Roundhouse and Battersea Arts Centre and commissioned by Royal Academy of Art, Stylist and BBC Radio 1. Her debut solo show, Fat Girls Don’t Dance, sold-out performances across the country and won the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show. Her second show, Essex Girl, was shortlisted for Soho Theatre’s Tony Craze Award and won Show of the Week at VAULT 2019.

Her debut poetry collection Alright, Girl? was published by Burning Eye Books in 2020 and was Highly Commended for the Forward Prize for Poetry.

JOSHUA JUDSON

Joshua Judson is a poet from Nottingham. His work has appeared in publications such as The North, The Rialto, The White Review, and The Tangerine and he has performed his poetry across the UK, as well as in the US and Germany. His debut pamphlet, Gongoozler, is available now from Bad Betty Press.

OPEN MIC

We have six slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these are 3-minute slots. We encourage poets at all stages of their careers. Reserve yours by emailing Matt at eyup@mattabbottpoet.com

MATT ABBOTT

Matt Abbott is a poet, educator, and activist from Wakefield. His début one-man show ‘Two Little Ducks’ earned a string of 5* reviews at Edinburgh Fringe 2017 and on a 2018 UK theatre tour. The show’s poems were published as his début poetry collection by Verve Poetry Press in 2018.

Matt’s début kids’ poetry collection ‘A Hurricane in my Head’ was published by Bloomsbury in 2019 and was a National Poetry Day selected title. He formed Nymphs & Thugs, the UK’s leading spoken word record label, in 2015. He also fronts indie outfit Skint & Demoralised. Notable commissions include TV ads for Nationwide Building Society and Leeds United FC’s centenary kit launch.