Hear My Voice: a night of new writing from LGBTQ+ writers

An evening of new writing by Derby and Derbyshire based LGBTQ+ writers, co-produced with Derbyshire LGBT+ and In Good Company.

Featuring new writing from –

Grae Tower

Grae Tower is a trans masculine poet living in Manchester​. He is currently undertaking an MA in Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University where his work experiments with blank space and punctuation to reflect trans identities in a state of flux.

Last year Grae was published in The ​Ekphrastic Review, 192 Magazine and Libretto, commended in The Creative Manchester Poetry Competition, and performed in Reflections, an exhibition curated by Chester Tenneson and the Zorian Clayton from the V&A. Grae is excited to be a Poet-In-Residence at The COMINO Foundation in February.

Simon Marshall

Simon is a playwright, poet and writing facilitator from Derbyshire. He is newly based in Sheffield,

and works primarily in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. His writing blends a strong Midlands heart with a continued exploration of sexuality, belonging and identity. He is an Associate Artist of Derby Theatre, a member of Boundless Theatre’s Advisory Group and was runner-up at Derby Poetry Festival’s 2021 Poetry Slam.

His work includes: ‘kilburn (not london)’ an audio play about care experience and queer rural identity, launched in 2021 and profiled at London Podcast Festival. Other work includes: ‘Beau Repaire’ for Derby Theatre and Paines Plough’s ‘Come To Where I Am’, and ‘Bonfire’, a queer monologue-megamix in development.

YAY MARIA

YAY MARIA is a transgender musician, filmmaker & illustrator.In 2021, she released her debut album ‘OYEZ’; a pop album dealing with queer themes of transition & self love. In February 2022, she will release her first graphic novel ‘PILGRIMS’, which depicts a doomsday cult approaching their prophesied end of days. While a tragedy is also a story & redemption & overcoming repression. She hopes you take care.

and Suzanne Elvidge

Suzanne Elvidge is a bisexual writer of fiction, monologues, science and medicine based in the Peak district. She has just completed an MA in Writing for Performance at Derby University. Her writing crosses over fiction and science as well as queer identities, and her MA included writing an audio play based in Sheffield about the challenges of two women raising a daughter in a near future measles epidemic. In a world where alternative truths trump science, who makes choices for a child?

She has had a number of short stories and monologues published, and is planning an evening of monologues and music featuring untold women’s voices from across history.

Venue: Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Cost: £5
Booking essential: book here

Suitable for adults.