Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Utterly unmissable Lyrafest programming! Snapshots of activism and everyday life collide with lyrical precision in the first collection in a decade from one of Scotland’s foremost contemporary poets, Jackie Kay. ‘May Day’ is a politically charged interrogation of power, protest and the complexities of identity – expect a reading brimming with Kay’s trademark warmth and dramatic flair. "
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A event on Friday 2nd May. The event starts at 19:00.
✅ BSL Interpreted
✅ Live Streamed (book a ‘Live Stream Ticket’ at checkout)
✅ The Live Stream will be Captioned
All Lyra Fest venues are wheelchair accessible. Our full 2025 Access Information Pack is available at www.lyrafest.com.
Date: Friday 2nd May 2025
Venue: Waterstones (Bristol Galleries)
Time: 19:00 - 20:00
Tickets: £8 (£10 solidarity, £5 concessions)
One of the finest poets and writers today, Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh and from 2016 - 2021 was the third modern Makar, National Poet for Scotland. Jackie will be reading from her most recent collection, May Day, casts an eye over several decades of political activism, from the international solidarity of the Glasgow of Kay’s childhood, accompanying her parents’ Socialist campaigns, through the feminist, LGBT+ and anti-racist movements of the 80s and 90s, up to the present day when a global pandemic intersects with the urgency of Black Lives Matter.
Come along to this lively reading at Waterstones as part of Lyra Festival 2025. With support readings from Abby Oliveira and Ola Majekodunmi.
Jackie Kay appears at Lyra in partnership with with Walker Books.
Abby Oliveira and Ola Majekodumni appear in partnership with Speaking Volumes as part of their Breaking Ground Ireland event funded by Arts Council England.
Breaking Ground Ireland is an initiative by Speaking Volumes with Cuirt International Festival of Literature and the University of Galway to highlight diverse writers and writing on the island of Ireland.
https://speaking-volumes.org.uk/tag/breaking-ground/
Jackie Kay:
Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh. A poet, novelist and writer of short stories, she has enjoyed great acclaim for her work for both adults and children. Her novel, Trumpet, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. She has published three collections of stories with Picador, Why Don’t You Stop Talking, Wish I Was Here, and Reality, Reality; two poetry collections, Fiere and Bantam; and her memoir, Red Dust Road. From 2016 to 2021 she was the third modern Makar, National Poet for Scotland. She lives in Manchester and is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.
Abby Oliveira:
Abby Oliveira:
Abby Oliveira is a writer and performer based in Derry. Her work is often cross-discipline and collaborative; comprising poetry, storytelling, music, prose, playwriting, and/or physical performance. Her more recent collaborations as a spoken-word artist include with renowned acrobatics troupe Compagnie XY, Spraoi Waterford and Story Riot. Her work has been published in The 32: An anthology of Irish Working Class voices (Unbound, 2021), The New Frontier: reflections from the Irish border (New Island Books, 2021), and Empty House: poetry & prose on the climate crisis (Doire Press, 2021). She has been commissioned as a writer by organisations such as The MAC in Belfast, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Foyle, RTÉ Radio, and more.
Ola Majekodunmi:
Ola was born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She is a broadcaster, writer, Gaeilgeoir, creative producer and workshop facilitator. She has produced and spoken/performed at literary events with the likes of San Patrizio Livorno Festival, IASIL Conference, Dublin International Literature Festival, Cúirt International Festival of Literature, West Cork Literary Festival and including Irish Writer’s Centre. Ola has performed her poems at home in Ireland and internationally in Italy and Egypt.
Part of Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2025
#LyraFest
Filters:
BSL Interpreted ✓
Online/Streamed ✓
Live Event ✓
Entry requirements: no age restrictions (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult over 21yrs, 1:1 ratio)
✅ Live Streamed (book a ‘Live Stream Ticket’ at checkout)
✅ The Live Stream will be Captioned
All Lyra Fest venues are wheelchair accessible. Our full 2025 Access Information Pack is available at www.lyrafest.com.
Date: Friday 2nd May 2025
Venue: Waterstones (Bristol Galleries)
Time: 19:00 - 20:00
Tickets: £8 (£10 solidarity, £5 concessions)
One of the finest poets and writers today, Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh and from 2016 - 2021 was the third modern Makar, National Poet for Scotland. Jackie will be reading from her most recent collection, May Day, casts an eye over several decades of political activism, from the international solidarity of the Glasgow of Kay’s childhood, accompanying her parents’ Socialist campaigns, through the feminist, LGBT+ and anti-racist movements of the 80s and 90s, up to the present day when a global pandemic intersects with the urgency of Black Lives Matter.
Come along to this lively reading at Waterstones as part of Lyra Festival 2025. With support readings from Abby Oliveira and Ola Majekodunmi.
Jackie Kay appears at Lyra in partnership with with Walker Books.
Abby Oliveira and Ola Majekodumni appear in partnership with Speaking Volumes as part of their Breaking Ground Ireland event funded by Arts Council England.
Breaking Ground Ireland is an initiative by Speaking Volumes with Cuirt International Festival of Literature and the University of Galway to highlight diverse writers and writing on the island of Ireland.
https://speaking-volumes.org.uk/tag/breaking-ground/
Jackie Kay:
Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh. A poet, novelist and writer of short stories, she has enjoyed great acclaim for her work for both adults and children. Her novel, Trumpet, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. She has published three collections of stories with Picador, Why Don’t You Stop Talking, Wish I Was Here, and Reality, Reality; two poetry collections, Fiere and Bantam; and her memoir, Red Dust Road. From 2016 to 2021 she was the third modern Makar, National Poet for Scotland. She lives in Manchester and is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.
Abby Oliveira:
Abby Oliveira:
Abby Oliveira is a writer and performer based in Derry. Her work is often cross-discipline and collaborative; comprising poetry, storytelling, music, prose, playwriting, and/or physical performance. Her more recent collaborations as a spoken-word artist include with renowned acrobatics troupe Compagnie XY, Spraoi Waterford and Story Riot. Her work has been published in The 32: An anthology of Irish Working Class voices (Unbound, 2021), The New Frontier: reflections from the Irish border (New Island Books, 2021), and Empty House: poetry & prose on the climate crisis (Doire Press, 2021). She has been commissioned as a writer by organisations such as The MAC in Belfast, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Foyle, RTÉ Radio, and more.
Ola Majekodunmi:
Ola was born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She is a broadcaster, writer, Gaeilgeoir, creative producer and workshop facilitator. She has produced and spoken/performed at literary events with the likes of San Patrizio Livorno Festival, IASIL Conference, Dublin International Literature Festival, Cúirt International Festival of Literature, West Cork Literary Festival and including Irish Writer’s Centre. Ola has performed her poems at home in Ireland and internationally in Italy and Egypt.
Part of Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2025
#LyraFest
Filters:
BSL Interpreted ✓
Online/Streamed ✓
Live Event ✓
Entry requirements: no age restrictions (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult over 21yrs, 1:1 ratio)
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