On Nature and the Natural

Where does the othered body belong in the natural world?

This poetry reading from former Jerwood Poetry Fellow, Jamie Hale, explores the queer, trans, and crip body, siting it within nature, and nature within it.

They will be reading published work, including from their acclaimed pamphlet, Shield, as well as new work, trying to unpick what it means to truly be a part of nature - especially when you're told bodies like yours never will.

We ask that you wear a mask to this event unless exempt.

They are the author of the poetry pamphlet 'Shield', published by Verve Poetry Press in 2021. They won the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund Award for directing and theatre making in 2021. They were named as one of the 2021/2022 Jerwood Compton Fellows for poetry and on The Shaw Trust’s 2021 and 2022 Disability Power 100 Lists of the UK’s most influential disabled people. In 2019, they wrote and starred in their debut solo show NOT DYING at the Lyric Hammersmith and the Barbican. They also wrote When We Got Sick which was directed by Nickie Miles-Wildin for Graeae Theatre Company. Jamie was part of the Graeae Theatre Company’s Ensemble programme in 2020. Jamie is Artistic Director of CRIPtic Arts which has also been named on The Shaw Trust’s 2022 Disability Power 100 List. They have curated and directed two showcases for CRIPtic Arts at the Barbican.

During Jack Thorne’s MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival in 2021, he referenced Jamie and read some of their poetry.

• All our in-person events will be BSL Interpreted, including this one.

• This event is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets.

• Deptford Lounge has Changing Place facilities, an induction loop and assistance dogs are welcome. For more information: deptfordlounge.org.uk/access

• A quiet space is available during the day at Deptford Lounge, in the Music Room, on the first floor.

• If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in the Festival, for example larger print handouts at workshops, or a Scribe, please get in touch before the Festival day at: [email protected]

• If you require assistance on the Festival day itself, please come to the Festival Hub in the foyer of Deptford Lounge where we will be happy to help you.

• All our livestreamed events, including this one, will be live captioned. If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in this livestreamed event, please get in touch before the Festival day at: [email protected]

• We encourage anyone displaying Covid-like symptoms not to attend the Festival and we encourage attendees aged 16+ (unless exempt) to consider wearing a mask as some of our artists and audiences may be vulnerable.

• Masks will be available at the Festival Hub in Deptford Lounge. There will be hand sanitiser and air filters for events and workshops in the following spaces at Deptford Lounge: Main Hall, Room 1, Room 2, Room 3 and the Studio.

• You can see the full Deptford Literature Festival COVID-19 protocols here: spreadtheword.org.uk/deptford-literature-festival-covid-19-protocols/

• This event is free to you, and we ask that as far as possible by booking a place you commit to attending, as places are limited. If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket so someone else can come along. There are instructions on how to do that here.

• If you would like to support the future of Deptford Literature Festival, run by charity Spread the Word, you can donate here: totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/deptfordlitfest

Deptford Literature Festival takes place on Saturday 18 March 2023 and celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. It is run by Spread the Word, and funded by Arts Council England. You can find out more about Deptford Literature Festival at: www.deptfordlitfest.com

Image at the top of the page description: The event image has a light teal green background with black text reading ‘DEPTFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL’ in a bold font at the top left corner. There are pink and yellow graphics, including a cloud, decorating the photo. In the centre is a circular image of poet Jamie Hale (me), a white person seated in an electric wheelchair. I look at the camera calmly, wearing a denim jacket, and with dark red hair and a ginger beard. Behind me there is a blurred brick wall. At the bottom right of the photo is a text description of the event: On Nature and the Natural Saturday 18 March 2023 2.00 - 3.30pm @ Deptford Lounge

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, London, United Kingdom