poets and prattlers

Green Party say 'Hannah Spencer won't be silenced' after Manchester violence Hannah Spencer, Gorton and Denton's newly-elected MP, was ushered into a police car amid the unfolding chaos

The reason the middle-class media has not reported Hannah Spencer being attacked by right-wing transphobes is that it needs to preserve the nice, coffeee-round-the-kitchen-table, middle-class view of transphobia, not the thuggish fascist reality.

This is tomorrow night. And it's going to be amazing. 😊

This Tuesday, folks! 😊

This Tuesday, folks! 😊

Text on a building in Luton saying 'If you can dream it you must do it'

Flying flamingo sculpture in Luton

Street art of flamingos and a sparkly sculpture in Luton.

Street art on the side of a building that reads 'the future demands your participation' and below it orange cut out lettering standing on the street reading Luton.

2/ And I LOVED Don Diego & the Good Fairy. My fellow @pandemonialists.bsky.social @bigstevepoet.bsky.social and @davethepitt.bsky.social were both brilliant.
Luton have flamingoes (so I did my flamingo poem), and they have lovely street art...

A poster with a green background. On one side is an image of a poet sitting writing in their notebook. On the other side, white text reads: Emma Purshouse poetry gigs, March and April 2026. Utter, Luton 05/3; KTeas, Wolverhampton 07/3; Stourbridge 08/3; Dudley 14/3; Ledbury 27/3; Willenhall (walkshop) 28/3; Arena Theatre, Wolves 16/4; Caffe Grande, Dudley 30/4

Want to know where @emmapurshouse.bsky.social is gigging over the next couple of months? Well, you're in luck... 😊

A poster with a mauve background (I think it's mauve – I'm not very good at identifying that range of colours correctly). An ice-cream cone is upside-down, with its contents melting. Text reads: This Could've Gone Better. A new play, written and performed by Aimee Gebhard

One week today, we're back at Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton for the latest episode of Arena Nights. This month, our full-length Fringe show is "This Could've Gone Better" by Aimee Gebhard. A PAYF event. See you there! 😊

Jeff Phelps review of 'Unsung' by @emmapurshouse.bsky.social takes stock of this embodied collection which responds with love and attention to Wolverhampton's history and people.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jeff-phelps-....

#InkSweatandTears #PoetryReviews #Wolverhampton

Tonight! See you there!! 😊

Four open mic spots available on the door on the night! 😊

A pink-and-yellow poster, with images of three poets. Text reads: The Great Western, Wolverhampton. Yes, We Cant, featuring Sandra Bond, Mogs, Willis the Poet. PAYF event. Sunday 1st March, 7.30pm.

Tomorrow evening, Yes We Cant returns to the Great Western pub in a city whose football team have just avoided getting the lowest number of points in a Premier League season. Come and celebrate with us, and get some great poetry into the bargain. 😎

This Sunday! 😊

Wolverhampton University's Arena Theatre to mark 50th birthday The Arena Theatre, which has hosted many performers, pledges to remain relevant to Wolverhampton.

Happy birthday, Arena Theatre! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A pink-and-yellow poster, with images of three poets. Text reads: The Great Western, Wolverhampton. Yes, We Cant, featuring Sandra Bond, Mogs, Willis the Poet. PAYF event. Sunday 1st March, 7.30pm.

One week today we're bringing you not one, not two, but THREE feature poets at Yes We Cant. Come and join us for some of the best in spoken word! 😊

Pottinger & Purshouse On The Road - Performance Poetry - The Heron Theatre - Beetham Drama Pottinger & PurshousePerformance Poetry Friday 20th February 2026: 7:30pm ‘Two Wolverhampton storytellers and poets share their one-man / one-woman show.’ Steve Pottinger’s Sweat & Mugs & Rock a...

Tickets for Friday are on sale here: theherontheatre.com/whats-on/pot...

Those were two great gigs. Thank you to the organisers, to everyone who came along, to the open mic poets in Bishop's Castle, and to everyone who bought books. I went home with substantially fewer than I set out with, which is always a win. 😊

Today, folks!

A poster with an imge of three poets. Text reads: whatever you're into, read into it. A pocketful of poets. A trio of clever wordsmiths. Weds 18th Feb, 2pm, Necastle (Staffs) Library. Free, but booking essential. email newcastle.library@staffordshire.gov.uk

Poster with an image of two poets and a microphone. Text reads: Verbatim open mic, with special guests Emma Purshouse and Steve Pottinger. Weds 18th Feb 7.30-9pm. For Bishop's Castle Arts Fesitval. Come to listen or read. Poetry Pharmacy, Market Square, Bishop's Castle. Tickets £5. includes refreshments.

A busy day for @emmapurshouse.bsky.social and @bigstevepoet.bsky.social tomorrow. If you're in/near Newcastle (Staffs) or Bishop's Castle, pop along! 😊

Next Friday...

This week's Arena Nights was stupendous. Thanks to @davethepitt.bsky.social for this review.

A pink-and-yellow poster, with images of three poets. Text reads: The Great Western, Wolverhampton. Yes, We Cant, featuring Sandra Bond, Mogs, Willis the Poet. PAYF event. Sunday 1st March, 7.30pm.

Two weeks today, Yes We Cant is back. With a stellar line-up!! See you there. 😎

Have a read of this blog about Arena Nights by @davethepitt.bsky.social, and make plans to come to the next one on March 17th. 😊
pandemonialists.co.uk/2026/02/13/m...

White text on an orange background. Text reads: Magic and Mystery at Arena Nights

Arena Nights (at Wolves' Arena Theatre) is an opportunity to enjoy Fringe shows up close and personal, chat with the performers about their work, and give feedback to the work-in-progress which is on beforehand. Read all about this week's episode: pandemonialists.substack.com/p/magic-and-...

A trip to Cumbria beckons.

The following night (Saturday 21st Feb) Emma & Steve are both guest poets at Verbalise, in the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. 😊

Pottinger & Purshouse On The Road - Performance Poetry - The Heron Theatre - Beetham Drama Pottinger & PurshousePerformance Poetry Friday 20th February 2026: 7:30pm ‘Two Wolverhampton storytellers and poets share their one-man / one-woman show.’ Steve Pottinger’s Sweat & Mugs & Rock a...

One week today, two of the pandemonialists bring their Fringe shows to the Heron Theatre in Beetham (Cumbria). Tickets for 'Sweat & Mugs & RocknRoll' by @bigstevepoet.bsky.social and 'Poet Laureate in a Pandemic' by @emmapurshouse.bsky.social are on sale here: theherontheatre.com/whats-on/pot...

A poster with a green background. On one side is an image of a poet sitting writing in their notebook. On the other side, white text reads: Emma Purshouse poetry gigs, February and March 2026. Newcastle, Staffs 18/2; Bishops Castle 18/2; Heron Theatre 20/2; Verbalise, Kendal 21/2; Utter, Luton 05/3; KTeas, Wolverhampton 07/3; Stourbridge 08/3; Dudley 14/3; Ledbury 27/3

Well, look at this! @emmapurshouse.bsky.social has got a string of gigs coming up – which is great news for anyone who'd like to listen to some top-notch poetry. Details at www.emmapurshouse.co.uk

A poster with a green background. On one side is an image of a poet sitting writing in their notebook. On the other side, white text reads: Emma Purshouse poetry gigs, February and March 2026. Newcastle, Staffs 18/2; Bishops Castle 18/2; Heron Theatre 20/2; Verbalise, Kendal 21/2; Utter, Luton 05/3; KTeas, Wolverhampton 07/3; Stourbridge 08/3; Dudley 14/3; Ledbury 27/3

Well, look at this! @emmapurshouse.bsky.social has got a string of gigs coming up – which is great news for anyone who'd like to listen to some top-notch poetry. Details at www.emmapurshouse.co.uk

After seeing it last night, we thoroughly recommend Maya's show. It's very, very good. 😊
(P.S. Apologies for the typo in the original post: it should read Maya Catherine Foster)