Manchester Writers For Ukraine at The King’s Arms

This special evening of poetry, stories and performance sees all proceeds going to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Manchester is part of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network that includes the Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Odessa, and the event will be hosted by Manchester City of Literature’s Ivan Wadeson along with regular Manchester Literature Festival host Kate Feld, who have both organised the event with The Real Story’s Adam Farrer.

“We’ve put together a brilliant programme of performers and everyone involved with the event is waiving their fees.”

You can expect an evening of all different kinds of readings and performances. Writers appearing include Sarah Butler (acclaimed author of the novels Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love, Before The Fire and Jack & Bet), Michael Conley (co-organiser of performance night The Other, whose latest poetry pamphlet is out with Nine Pens Press), Peter Kalu (poet, fiction writer and playwright, and a contributor to this year’s Lancashire Stories project), Cheryl Martin (poet, playwright, director and co-artistic director of Manchester’s Black Gold Arts Festival), John McAuliffe (poet, co-director of the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester, and associate publisher of Manchester’s Carcanet Press), Reshma Ruia (poet, short story writer and novelist, and co-founder of British South Asian writers’ collective The Whole Kahani), Fat Roland (writer, performer, Edinburgh Fringe regular and host of the Bad Language reading series) and Louise Wallwein (performer, poet, playwright and participation artist).

Organiser Kate Feld says: “We have all been horrified by the media reports coming out of Ukraine and the surrounding region following the Russian invasion. There is such an urgent need now for the most basic humanitarian aid including food and water, shelter and medical care – let’s come together and do what we can to help. We’ve put together a brilliant programme of performers and everyone involved with the event, from our venue The King’s Arms to illustrator David Bailey, is waiving their fees.”

The evening’s programme will also include a film of poets from different Cities of Literature reading the poem “So I’ll Talk About It” by Ukranian poet Serhiy Zhadan.