Powerful Poetry Panel

Join our panel to discover the power of writers and local communities to stand up against injustice and give voices to those who need it most.

Centering around Rochdale's historical involvement with fighting for abolition in the 1860s during the Lancashire Cotton Famine, historians will uncover the people and their poetry behind the town's radical history.

In collaboration with Manchester-based poets, this panel shows how creatives continue to use their voices to fight for change today, using poetry in protest and advocacy. In bringing history to life, this panel event aims to ignite vital conversations and inspire creativity during Black History Month

This panel follows the release of the Weaving History podcast in June 2024, a miniseries uncovering the forgotten working-class poetry from the Lancashire Cotton Famine (1861-1865). Episode 5 of this podcast took listeners to the Cotton Famine Road in Rochdale, interviewing local residents from the Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum.

This panel seeks to expand the story of the podcast and bring Rochdale's radical history to life through connections to modern poets.

Panellists

  • Ruth-Anne Walbank: a PhD Candidate at the University of Warwick and co-producer of the Weaving History Podcast. Their research focuses on literature from the industrial north of England in the mid-nineteenth century, especially works written by working-class authors. Ruth-Anne is also the chair and facilitator of this panel.
  • Jayran Lear: a Manchester-based performer and theatremaker who uses folklore and myths to reflect political climates in the contemporary world. She highlights Middle-Eastern joy and centres her Iranian heritage in her work as both an escapism and homecoming
  • Griot Gabriel: the founder of The Poetry Place in Manchester, championing both new and established poets. Gabriel's poetry explores themes of racial identity, masculinity, and political discourse inspired by his upbringing in Black urban culture.
  • Simon Rennie: an Associate Professor of Victorian Poetry at the University of Exeter. His research focuses on politically engaged poetry and working-class writing from the mid-nineteenth century. Simon also collated the publically accessible Cotton Famine Poetry database between 2107 and 2019 in an AHRC-funded project. 

Disclaimer

Events and activities are not organised by Rochdale Borough Council unless stated otherwise. Neither is Rochdale Borough Council responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. If you are under 18, ask your parent or guardian before taking part in any event or activity.

Related content

Date: 27th October 2024.

Location: Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ

Cost: Free

Time: 15:00 - 16:00