Please join us on Saturday 23 March 2024, 2.30-4.00 at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation for a wonderful line-up of poets and musicians.

You will find all the information you need regarding visiting the IABF on their website here. The event is free and everyone is welcome (no need to book tickets). Performers often bring along books and CDs to sell, please note we are only able to accept cash payments.

Read about the poets and musicians below:

Mary Jean Chan

Photo Credit: Adrian Pope

Mary Jean Chan is the author of Flèche (Faber, 2019), which won the Costa Book Award for Poetry and was shortlisted for multiple prizes, including the International Dylan Thomas Prize and the Seamus Heaney Centre First Collection Poetry Prize. Bright Fear, Chan’s second book, was shortlisted for the 2023 Forward Prize for Best Collection and is currently shortlisted for the 2024 Writers’ Prize. In 2022, Chan co-edited the acclaimed anthology 100 Queer Poems with Andrew McMillan. Chan is currently the 2023-24 Judith E. Wilson Poetry Fellow at the University of Cambridge.

Rachael Allen

Rachael Allen is the author of Kingdomland and God Complex, both published by Faber. She works as an editor and lecturer.

Katie O’Pray

Katie O’Pray is currently a creative facilitator and Barbican Young Poet. They have been the winner of The ruth weiss Foundation’s Emerging Poet’s Prize and the Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition. Their work has also been associated with the Manchester Writing Competition and the Magma Poetry Competition, among others. Their debut collection ‘APRICOT’ was published by Out-Spoken Press in 2022. 

Christopher Godhard

Chris Godhard is a classical guitarist based in Manchester. He has recently completed his Bachelor’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music and is continuing his studies with a Master’s degree under the tutelage of world renowned guitarist, Craig Ogden.

In September 2022, Chris won two special prizes in the Youth of Music International Competition and was awarded the opportunity to record in the Electrecord Studio in Bucharest and a solo recital opportunity at the Arcus Cultural Centre. Chris has also been awarded the Ian Spencer Fox Guitar Bursary and support from the Waverly Fund and Help Musicians to aid him throughout his studies. In October 2022, Chris performed Sally Beamish’s Unquiet in a concert dedicated to showcasing her works and was highly commended by the composer for his performance.

Chris has given solo performances in prestigious venues in Manchester such as the Bridgewater Hall, the Stoller Hall, and the Lord Mayor’s Suite in the Manchester Library. As well as performing as a soloist, Chris has played extensively in a range of ensembles such as a guitar and violin duo, a guitar and voice duo, symphony orchestras and jazz bands.

Chris Godhard appears by kind permission of the RNCM.