Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month: Poetry Workshop with Simon Maddrell

As part of our contribution to LGBTQ+ History Month this February, we’re hosting a full day of events celebrating queer history, creativity and activism, with this two-hour poetry workshop opening the programme.

Led by writer and activist Simon Maddrell, the workshop offers an intimate and supportive space to explore poetry as a form of expression, resistance and storytelling, rooted in LGBTQ+ experience. Whether you’re an experienced writer or completely new to poetry, this workshop is designed to be welcoming, exploratory and inspiring.

Simon Maddrell is a Manx queer writer, poet and activist whose work explores identity, belonging and lived experience. Publishing since 2018, Simon has released six poetry pamphlets, including Queerfella, joint winner of The Rialto Open Pamphlet Competition, with recent work selected by the Poetry Book Society. His debut full poetry collection, blue spine, will be published by Out-Spoken Press in 2026.

The day also includes a screening of Iris On The Move: When Love Broke The Law, two short LGBTQ+ films from the Iris Prize Film Festival; a poetry reading and Q&A panel event with Simon Maddrell, Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners’ legend Jonathan Blake and Iris Prize Director Berwyn Rowlands; followed by a break for food and an evening screening of the 2014 film Pride, which tells the true story of the unlikely alliance between LGBTQ+ activists and striking miners during the 1984–85 miners’ strike.

Full details of all events taking place across the day can be found on our LGBTQ+ History Month listings page.

Discounted options are available, with any two events priced at £8 or a full day ticket available for £12, giving access to all events across the day, subject to availability.