Live in the Assembly Bar + Kitchen!

Readings by a different local published poet each month, and this month we’re delighted to welcome ROB MILES

Rob Miles is from Devon, and he has lived in Leeds. He is Fellow in Film Studies at the University of Leeds. His poetry has appeared widely in magazines and multiple anthologies, and he has won various competitions including the Philip Larkin Prize, judged by Don Paterson, the Resurgence International Ecopoetry Prize, judged by Imtiaz Dharker and Jo Shapcott, and the Poets & Players Prize, judged by Sinéad Morrissey.

We’re bringing poetry and spoken word to the Thackray Museum of Medicine as part of their Thackray Lates programme on Thursday 13 February.

For one night only, the museum will be pumping with a programme filled with the red stuff (and we don’t mean roses). Join us for an anti-valentine evening like no other, one that embraces the visceral life force of all beating hearts: blood!

A completely made-up true story!

“The most generous of hosts… a mesmerising personality… a gifted storyteller… a natural comic” - The Guardian

When the world goes mad, do we inevitably go mad too?

January 1999.

George Coleridge-Taylor, retired Sierra Leonean diplomat, finds himself trapped in Fourah Bay College when the civil war that has been ravaging the country reaches Freetown. In hiding, he reflects on his and his country’s stories, wondering if he dares defend the woman captured by the fearsome rebels.

His imagination takes him to more peaceful climes, where he sings the beautiful songs of his famous uncle, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Contains allusions to, and suggestions of, gender-based and war violence, and one profanity.

Live in the Assembly Bar + Kitchen!

Readings by a different local published poet each month and this month were delighted to welcome SUSAN E DARLINGTON.

Susan is a Leeds-based poet. Her work regularly explores the female experience through nature-based symbolism and stories of transformation and has been published in Northern Gravy, Pennine Platform, Dreich, Dream Catcher, Anti-Heroin Chic, Hedgehog Press and Ethel Zine among others.

Steven Camden, aka Polarbear, is an acclaimed spoken word artist, YA novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Testament is a spoken word artist, rapper, theatre-maker, and world record-breaking human beatboxer! Alongside our feature acts will be school pupils from around Leeds who've participated in poetry workshops as part of our festival programme. Part of Leeds Storytelling Festival 2025.

A pay-what-you-decide family-friendly event recommended for children and young people aged 10+.

It’s 2025, and Chemistry kicks off another year of poetry and spoken word on Friday 31 January! Instead of our usual two wonderful headliners, we’ll be having three, as welcome South Yorkshire legend Ian Parks, and our first ever double act, the self-described “poetry twins” Rachel Davies and Hilary Robinson. Plus, of course, our amazing open mic!