Power Lines: City

A tour of Birmingham’s booming poetry scene

Part of BBC Radio 4’s contemporary poetry series Power Lines, in this radio episode poet and proud Brummie Amerah Saleh takes us on a tour of the booming poetry scene in Birmingham.

From open mics to one of the city's biggest theatres, Amerah talks to the writers and performers turning Birmingham into a poetry power house. She meets people just starting out, emerging talent developing their skills, and artists established in the poetry world.

Young poets tell her about their motivation to perform in public. Emerging poet Shaun Hill speaks about coming up through small gigs and how the city has shaped his poetry. Established performer Jasmine Gardosi discusses two very different sides of Birmingham and Steven Camden, aka Polar Bear, talks about how being a Brummie is still at the heart of his work, even though he moved away.

The poets featured include: Holly Bee, Steven Camden/Polarbear, Jasmine Gardosi, Nafeesa Hamid, Shaun Hill, Liam O'Rourke, Bohdan Piasecki, and Afrah Yafai.

Episode credits

Producers: Tom MacAndrew and Husain Husaini
Executive Producer: Sally Spurring
A Wire Free production for BBC Radio 4