The Common Press Poetry Night + Open Mic is quickly becoming a popular event for writers and poets to showcase their work and launch poetry collections. Join us on March 18th from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM for an evening of poetry & OPEN MIC, hosted by Prince. The night will feature readings from Ruby Wednesday, Desree, and Piper Delilah, followed by a Q&A session.
We invite all poetry lovers to attend and celebrate talented and powerful queer voices. Along with hearing from familiar favourites, we’d love to welcome new voices to the stage. If you’d like to read at the poetry night, arrive at 7:00 PM to sign up. There will also be opportunities to sign up on the night and hop on stage.
Please note that while we will do our best to accommodate as many readers as possible, we cannot guarantee that everyone on the list will have the chance to perform.
🍷 Please note this is a BYOB, you are welcome to bring your drinks to enjoy the night. There will be lots of soft and hot drinks available to purchase from our bookshop.
Schedule
7:00 pm - Doors open
7:15 pm - Poetry readings & discussion.
7:45 pm - Break
7:50 pm - 8:45 pm - Open mic slots
8:45 pm - 9:30 pm - Social and mingle
About Ruby Wednesday
Ruby Wednesday is an artist, musician and writer based in London. Beginning their professional career in burlesque, drag and queer performance, Ruby Wednesday has performed internationally alongside writing their debut album of original music, Narcissus. Their fascination with themes of the occult, mythology and Tarot are interwoven into their written works from their lyrics to their collections of poetry, Grave Unknown and Dead Air.
They are currently writing a second album, co-producing RiffRaff Kabarett, a working-class Weimar/Punk inspired cabaret show, and co-hosting their podcast, Tarot is F*cking Cool, for its second season
About Desree - Poet & Author
Desree is an award-winning writer, spoken word artist, educator and producer based in London and Slough. An alumna of Born: Free Writers Collective, Jerwood Arts and the Obsidian Foundation, Desree was Poet in Residence at Glastonbury Festival 2022 and Slough’s EMPOWORD. A familiar voice on BBC Radio Berkshire, her work has been broadcast on Sky Arts, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah; and published in JOY//US Poems of Queer Joy, Ink Sweat & Tears, Spoken Word London’s Anti-Hate Anthology and more. Desree's debut poetry collection, Altar, with Bad Betty Press, arrives in Spring 2025.
About Piper Delilah - The Fools Press Literary Director
Piper is a British writer who focuses primarily on the short story form. Through studying English Literature at Goldsmiths University London, Piper came to develop her writing style after praising the considered craft of authors spanning from the 1890s to 1990s. The ignition behind her writing stems from the desire to understand people, hence her work blends both reality and fiction, which imbues the reader with a surreal endearment.
‘People are the thing’ she was told, and now holds this phrase as the pivot point of her work. Piper now splits her time between her studio in Surrey and her studio in Kinvara, Ireland. Taking inspiration from W. Somerset Maugham when he claims that ‘good prose should resemble the conversation,’ Piper attempts to strip back her narratives to make the reader feel as if ‘It is just one individual talking candidly to another.’
Xan Anderson - Art Director (photograph of cardbaord bird on head)
Xan is a self-taught, London-based artist/painter, working also in the mediums of poetry and performance. Her Afro-Caribbean/British heritage and synesthetic nature are expressed in a world of texture and colour, balancing the line between abstract and figurative. Xan was awarded multiple scholarships by The Royal Drawing School and The Essential School of Painting, she has also succeeded in exhibiting her paintings and artwork at 5 solo exhibitions before the age of 21.
Moving forward she hopes to nurture and witness a merging of all creative avenues. ‘A collision of sorts between the arts. Writers, dancers, chefs, and thinkers all feasting on ideas and collaborative projects in play.’
About Prince (Host)
Prince (He/Him) is passionate about facilitating spaces where people can show up in their authenticity. He currently splits his time by working as an event coordinator for The Common Press and organising workshops for a creative ecosystem that centres collective liberation in its community building (ATINUDA)
Please note that the bookshop area is fully accessible, Sadly our toilets and wheelchair-accessible toilets are unavailable due to ongoing venue construction work.