Name: Spork! Poetry @ Chococo
Start: 2026-01-28T18:30:00+00:00
Location: Chococo Exeter

Join us for an evening of poetry, spoken-word, live music & sweet treats at Chococo on Gandy Street. Just like a regular Spork! but more chilled, and much more chocolatey. 3 incredible featured artists (Harula Ladd, Casey Garfield & Manganaro,) a mini open mic, and (of course) delicious hot chocolates, soft drinks and other refreshments available from the café. Plus some free samples! And music support TBA.
All hosted by Chris Milky White
Manganaro is an award winning poet, performer, and event organiser. Their writing explores themes of identity, bilingual experience, & everyday nuances. A 2025 Queer Bath Award Recipient, plus the 2024 DIVA Magazine Poetry Competition Winner, they've performed across the UK and have supported artists such as Alice Oswald.
Manganaro is the 2026 Poetry Strand Programmer for Curious Minds Festival, by Bath Arts Collective. Within their residency at Emerge, they've explored the radical history uniting zines and writing, producing a collection of poetry postcards. Manganaro's aim is to uplift the local creative community; they're the co-founder of Bath’s leading poetry night Chimes, where they co-edited and self-published an anthology of attendees' work.
Harula Ladd is a highly experienced writer and workshop leader, an Exeter Slam Winner, the host of Word Stir in Totnes, curator of ‘Poem of the Week’ in the window of Totnes Community Bookshop, the Queen of writing retreats and on-the-spot poetry. Harula has a passion for bringing out creativity in others, facilitating work at festivals and libraries, as well as in hospital wards.
As a performer she's won multiple slams and performed at festivals and venues across the UK, including Hot Poets at the South Bank Centre. She's also a former Poet in Residence for the Social Prescribing Network, and an alumni of Spork's first artist development programme.
Casey Garfield is a nonbinary poet, publisher and pal. Their work, celebrating queer joy, rest, and everyday moments of hope and tenderness, can be found in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Under The Radar Magazine, and on Stagecoach and First Bus services across Portsmouth. Their most recent chapbook, ‘stories in which’, is available through Salo Press, and their next publication is forthcoming from Broken Sleep Books in April 2026.
Please note, this event will take place upstairs at Chococo, which is only accessible via 1 flight of stairs, with the toilet also located on the first floor. This is an alcohol free event, but the café at Chococo will be open all night and selling their usual range of delicious hot drinks, soft drinks and sweet treats. The event is adult orientated, with an age guidance of 14+.
Tickets are £9, with a £7 self selecting concession rate.
Want to Compete in the Open Mic?
Open Mic Tickets are £3. There will be a maximum of 7 open mic performers. Limited spaces available. First come, first served. Open Micers have a maximum of 4 mins or 1 poem each. For any questions about taking part, give us an email on [email protected]