Radikal Queen

JazzWitch is a live risqué soiree from poet and activist Radikal Queen incorporating song, spoken word, and digital media to explore the myth, the truth, and the taboo of love, creativity, and systemic power. Mixing classic jazz, funk, and African Futurist psychedelia with stories and banter, JazzWitch centres Black MaGe (marginalised genders) experiences, and speaks with an irrepressible, pioneering and extraordinary voice.

Radikal Queen is Tyneside's leading Black poet. She is an award-winning cultural activist who has performed all over the UK, as well as Spain, Central Africa, West Africa and extensively in the United States.

Latest

Fashion students create poetry

We went to Central St Martins to make poems...
Newcastle Zine Launch

Join us for the launch of our Newcastle Zine
'Zine Making in Newcastle

Reports from our Newcastle 'zine making session
Poet in the City looks back at 2023

A reminder of the events and activities that made Poet in the City's year

Ellen Moran - Poetry and Protest Library

Ellen Moran's specially commissioned poetry and Protest Library explores themes of protest, and specifically everyday acts of resistance.
Herstory Newcastle

Enjoy the full programme Newcastle Library, with performance from Radikal Queen, poetry from Ellen Moran, and more!
The Library Stage - Herstory Exeter

Discover the Exeter main stage - featuring the Herstory poets, Beyond Face, NGAIO and more!
The Rougemont Room - Herstory Exeter

See the full-line up on The Rougemont stage including Build Your Warrior and Makaton Jukebox
Makaton Jukebox

Infectious classic pop meets Makaton from a choir of women working and living with non-verbal individuals.
Build Your Warrior

Explore ideas of personal empowerment and personal weakness with a roof-raising line-up of artists.
Beyond Face

A library, a place where we might expect to be quiet, to read words from a page, inside our heads, to not speak out loud. Well, not here...
Fiona Benson

Fiona's powerful poetry commissioned for Herstory explores historical experiences of fertility, birth control and healthcare.
Exeter Poets

Curator Polly Russell discusses British Library exhibition Unfinished Business, while the Herstory poets sharing more about their commissions.
Ellen Moran and Lennie Goodings

With poems inspired by her work with local communities, join poet Ellen Moran in conversation with Chair of Virago Press, Lennie Goodings.

Contact us
Support Producers
Herstory Festival

Herstory is bringing together poets, activists, librarians, curators and communities to explore the unfinished fight for women’s rights in the UK through poetry, performance and discussion.
About Us

Poet in the City creates trailblazing poetry events that change the narrative and challenge the status quo. Our commissions help people and places tell their stories through deep community engagement. We are developing the next generation of poetry producers and establishing new routes into arts production. From poetry in libraries to arts centres, car parks to community venues and festivals to music halls, we present poets who can enlarge our worlds.
People

Meet the Poet in the City team
Herstory Creative Call Out: What Does a City Look Like that Cares For Women?

We're inviting you to contribute to Herstory Festivals in Newcastle & Exeter.
Take part

There are so many ways to be a part of the Poet in the City community. Join our thriving network of volunteers, apply for a place on our Poet in the City Producers training programme or Be a Friend and contribute to the financial wellbeing of the organisation.
Woolwich Speaks

Discover a new epic poem about Woolwich via a colourful poetry street trail and online film this August
About the programme

Join the new generation of poetry producers shaping the future of live poetry.
Watch, Listen, Read

A unique collection of audio interviews, podcasts and films featuring the poets and speakers who have appeared in Poet in the City events over the last ten years.