We’re thrilled to have programmed this event for Leeds Lit Fest in celebration of International Women’s Day 2021. The event will take place over Zoom on Sunday 7 March from 3-5pm and tickets can be reserved free of charge here.

It’ll feature performances from Theresa Lola, Erin Bolens and Reece Lyons, and will be hosted by our very own Louise Fazackerley. There’s also an open mic section which is now full.

Please feel free to join and share the Facebook event here!

Theresa Lola

Theresa Lola is a British Nigerian poet based in London. She was appointed the 2019/2020 Young People’s Laureate for London and was a senior judge for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2019.Theresa has read her work across the UK as well internationally in places such as Germany, Brazil, and Singapore.

In April 2018 she was invited by the Mayor of London’s Office to read a commissioned poem alongside Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Former Prime Minister Theresa May at the unveiling of Millicent Fawcett’s statue which took place at Parliament Square. Theresa was featured in the September 2019 issue of British Vogue which celebrated people who are forces for change.

Her debut collection ‘In Search of Equilibrium’ was published by Nine Arches Press in February 2019. Theresa Lola was the joint winner of the 2018 Brunel International African Poetry Prize and was shortlisted for the 2017 Bridport Poetry Prize.

Erin Bolens

Erin Bolens is a poet, performer and facilitator from Leeds. She has performed across the country at venues and festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Camp Bestival, The Royal Albert Hall, Cheltenham Literary Festival and has written for E4, Nationwide Building Society and The Royal Academy of Art.

She is a former Glastonbury slam champion, former Roundhouse Resident Artist, was one of the first ‘Boat Poets’ for Totally Thames Festival and was a Roaming Poet in Residence for Spine Festival, curated by Apples & Snakes.

Erin teaches poetry, creative writing and performance to all ages and writes bespoke poems for all sorts of events, celebrations, organisations and individuals.Erin’s debut collection ‘Alternate Endings’ was published by Burning Eye Books in July 2020.

Reece Lyons

Reece Lyons is a transgender actress, writer and poet based in London. She is a Roundhouse resident artist where her work has previously gone viral and has been watched by over 4 million people online. Select credits include: Overflow (Bush Theatre), HANNA (Amazon Prime), Life & Rhymes (Sky Arts) and Fierce Sisters (Mimbre).