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Tag: Polari Salon

All the latest breaking news on Polari Salon. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Polari Salon.

  • Polari First Book Prize Awarded To Fairytales For Lost Children

    Diriye Osman has won the Polari First Book Prize for his short story collection, Fairytales for Lost Children, published by Team Angelica Press.

    The British-Somali short story writer, essayist, critic and visual artist was last night [Wednesday 8th October] presented with a cheque for £1,000 by Vincent Francois, Chair of the UK LGBT Network and Regional Head of Audit, Societe Generale, at the Polari Literary Salon at the London Literature Festival.

    The Polari First Book Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK in English within the twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year 1st February 2014). Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission.

    This year, for the first time, the five shortlisted books are on sale at selected WH Smiths travel outlets across the country.
    Paul Burston, Chair of judges, said, ‘With such a strong shortlist, deciding on a winner was incredibly difficult. The Polari First Book Prize is about celebrating voices which are often ignored or difficult to hear. Writing as a black gay African man from a Muslim background, Osman dazzled us with the wide range of literary voices in this stunning short story collection. We look forward to his next book and feel confident that he will dazzle us again.’

    The judging panel for the Polari First Book Prize 2014 consists of author, journalist and host of Polari Paul Burston, (Chair); critic and broadcaster Bidisha; author and former Culture Editor for Channel 4 News Matt Cain; literary critic and broadcaster Suzi Feay; author and former Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Rachel Holmes and VG Lee, author and comedian.

    Fairytales for Lost Children is narrated by people constantly on the verge of self-revelation. These characters – young, gay and lesbian Somalis – must navigate the complexities of family, identity and the immigrant experience as the tumble towards freedom. Set in Kenya, Somalia and South London, these stories are imbued with pathos, passion and linguistic playfulness, marking the arrival of a singular new voice in contemporary fiction.

    ‘At a time when homosexuality is still illegal in most of Africa, and barely features in contemporary African fiction, this book is a welcome surprise … At a time when African writing is on the rise, Osman stands above the crowd.’ The Independent

    ‘East Africa. South London. Queer. Displaced. Mentally ill. My excitement over Osman and his writing comes, in part, out of delight at the impossibility of categorisation.’ Daily Telegraph
    The 2014 shortlisted titles were:

    I Am Nobody’s Nigger by Dean Atta (Westbourne Press)

    Petite Mort by Beatrice Hitchman (Serpent’s Tail)

    Fairytales for Lost Children by Diriye Osman (Team Angelica)

    God’s Other Children – A London Memoir by Vernal W. Scott (self-published)

    The Rubbish Lesbian by Sarah Westwood (Mimwood Press)

  • Shortlist For Polari First Book Prize Announced

    The shortlist for the Polari First Book Prize was announced last night at the Polari Literary Salon at the Southbank Centre.

    This year, for the first time, the five shortlisted books will be displayed at selected WH Smiths travel outlets across the country.
    The Polari First Book Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK in English within the twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year Feb 1, 2014). Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission. The winner will be presented with a cheque for £1,000, courtesy of the Société General UK LGBT Network.
    The winner will be announced on 8 October 2014 in the Purcell Room at the London Literature Festival.

    The Polari First Book Prize Shortlist:
    I Am Nobody’s Nigger by Dean Atta (Westbourne Press)
    Petite Mort by Beatrice Hitchman (Serpent’s Tail)
    Fairytales for Lost Children by Diriye Osman (Team Angelica)
    God’s Other Children – A London Memoir by Vernal W. Scott (self-published)
    The Rubbish Lesbian by Sarah Westwood (Mimwood Press)

    The judges this year are:
    Paul Burston (Chair of Judges) – author, journalist and host of Polari
    Bidisha – critic and broadcaster
    Matt Cain – author and former Culture Editor for Channel 4 News
    Suzi Feay – literary critic and broadcaster
    Rachel Holmes – author and former Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank
    VG Lee – author and comedian
    Paul Burston, Chair of judges, said, ‘The judges were impressed with the quality and diversity of books submitted this year. These five books represent a wide range of voices from a variety of backgrounds, making for a very exciting shortlist.’

  • Polari Literary Salon Announces Arts Council Funding and Tour

    London’s award-winning LGBT literary salon Polari has been awarded a grant from Grants for the Arts, supported by the Arts Council of England.

    The grant will fund a national tour in the Autumn, beginning in September and ending at the Southbank Centre in November, which marks the literary salon’s seventh birthday.

    The tour will include Polari events at the Marlborough Theatre in Brighton, Homotopia in Liverpool, shOUT in Birmingham and the Manchester Literature Festival and will feature the best in established and emerging LGBT literary talent. It will also help to promote The Polari First Book Prize, which is now in its fourth year.

    Paul Burston, founder and host of Polari said, ‘After several successful, sell-out years at the Southbank Centre, it’s been a dream of mine to take Polari on tour. I’m very grateful to the Arts Council of England and the National Lottery for making this possible.’

  • REVIEW | Polari Literary Salon, The Southbank Centre

    ★★★★ | Polari Literary Salon, The Southbank Centre

    If you’ve not been to Paul Burston’s Polari Literary Salon, you must. I insist.

    I had my Polari Literary Salon cherry popped last night and it was stunning. An incredible, humbling and glorious array of literary talent showed their prowess on stage including: Carl Stanley, Nicolas Collins, Karen McLeod, Angela Clerkin and Maureen Duffy.

    A special mention for Karen McLeod, whose ‘humourless lesbian’ character Barbara Brownshirt had the room in tears with her odes to Judi Dench and cruelty free shoes.

    Also Angela Clerkin’s immensely enjoyable reading about her stage wetting Irish dancing nemesis provided light and shade against the often angst but thought-provoking poetic readings from Nicolas Collins, while Carl Stanley opened the evening with an intimate reading from his book about growing up gay in early 80s.

    An abundance of readings of poetry and excerpts from the author’s books, the evening provided a spotlight on some of the best queer writing, expertly hosted by the ever gorgeous and critically acclaimed Paul Burston.

    The next Polari Literary Salon evening at the Southbank Centre is on the 28th April and will star:
    Philip Hensher, Sophie Ward, Rebecca Chance, LaJohn Joseph and Kiki Archer.

  • Polari Salon Returns To Southbank On 17th March

    Paul Burston’s Polari Literary Salon returns on Monday 17th March.

    On the 17th March, Paul Burston’s Polari Literary Salon returns to the Southbank Centre in London and will have readings from leading gay and lesbian authors Maureen Duffy, Angela Clerkin, Andrew Asibong, Nicolas Collins and Carl Stanley.

    Maureen Duffy heads the bill. A leading lesbian author and poet, her many novels include the classic The Microcosm.

    Her latest, In Times Like These, is a fable that puts politics to its ultimate test. Jill Gardiner describes it as ‘a pacy, exciting read, centered around an out-lesbian MP and her artist girlfriend, whose well-established relationship is very much of our times.’

    Paul Burston’s celebrated Polari salon provides a platform for new and emerging LGBT literary talent and showcases the very best in queer writing.

    Weston Pavilion at Royal Festival Hall

    At the end of 2013, Time Out announced that it was to cut the LGBT Listings pages from its printed edition in London – the section was edited by Paul Burston.