There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
The Thompsons on wrestling at Victoria Lesiure Centre, local restaurants, and poetry
Tue 30 Jun 2026Our latest chat with Nottingham's most opinionated grocers....
Interview: Alexis Gregory in Smoke, a queer thriller at Nottingham Playhouse
Mon 08 Jun 2026Smoke is a new play from acclaimed queer theatre-maker Alexis Gregory coming to Nottingham this month. As well as a hard-hitting, savage, comic-thriller, a panel follows the play, hosted by You Are Loved and exploring issues from the play. LeftLion speaks to Alexis about social media, drugs, homophobia and much more...
Nottingham Poetry Festival 2026: top picks from the program
Thu 04 Jun 2026Nottingham Poetry Festival kicks off tomorrow with a 10 day city takeover. Catch shows from Brian Bilston, John Hegley, Yomi Sode, Henry Normal, Vanessa Kisuule and Nottingham’s own Nature Poet Laureate Cara Thompson. It’s a packed programme, so here's some top picks from their co-founder Henry Normal, director Tommy Rosley, and creative director Alma Solarte-Tobon...
East Midlands Pamphlet Prize launched by Bad Betty, in partnership with Writing East Midlands and Nottingham Poetry Festival
Sun 31 May 2026Notts based independent publisher Bad Betty Press has announced the launch of the East Midlands Pamphlet Prize, a new initiative designed to support and platform poets living, working and studying across our region.
Art, theatre, and poetry: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 1 - 7 June
Sun 31 May 2026Summer's here, and Nottingham's ready for it. Here are some fantastic events happening this week which we think are worth checking out.
Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature's Youth Advisory Board Celebrate the Launch of their Poetry Pamphlet
Sat 11 Apr 2026Join Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature's Youth Advisory Board as they celebrate the launch of their first poetry pamphlet on the 12th of April
Catching up with Nottingham poet and cultural historian Panya Banjoko
Fri 10 Apr 2026Panya Banjoko is a Nottingham-born poet and cultural historian and a tour de force in our local literature scene. She’s also the keeper of the Nottingham Black Archive and has been a Patron of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature since it first received the accolade in 2015. We talk to Panya about past and current projects, her new StoryArcs fellowship and why mature ladies get more done…
Free minds: the Notts open mic celebrating poetry's power
Mon 06 Apr 2026In the current climate of economic instability and political discourse, creative communities face bigger threats to remain connected. Poppy Thomason caught up with Caetano Capurro and Jasmine McCallion, the co-hosts of Free Minds – a free poetry open mic night at The King Billy pub – to ask them about the power of expression within accessible creative spaces.
Notts poet Marjie Griffiths on reaching the final of spoken word contest Slamovision
Thu 18 Dec 2025Marjie Griffiths has been enriching Nottingham’s literary scene with her poetry since her debut at Crosswords Open Mic in 2017. Now, she’s a finalist at Slamovision – the international spoken word version of Eurovision, hosted by the UNESCO Cities of Literature. She tells us about her Slamovision journey, her passion for Nottingham’s literary community, and the surprising dinner party conversation that inspired her Slamovision poem.
Theatre Review: Ordinary Decent Criminal at Lakeside Arts
Fri 21 Nov 2025Mark Thomas returns to Lakeside in a one-man play by Fringe First winner Ed Edwards. Telling the tale of Frankie, a writer and drug dealer with a history in political activism, who is serving his first prison sentence. A terrifying prospect, considering his ‘lack of a right hook’...
Run raves, poetry celebrations, the return of some loved Notts musicians and a soulful Sunday: Here's what's on in Notts this week 17 - 23 November 2025
Sun 16 Nov 2025This week, kill two birds with one stone and rave whilst you run, head to the return of Notts bands Unknown Era and Captain Dangerous, delve into some poetry, or enjoy a soulful Sunday. Here's our top picks...
A conversation with Cara Thompson: Nottingham’s new Nature Poet Laureate
Thu 23 Oct 2025Back in late August, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature announced Cara Thompson as the city’s first Nature Poet Laureate. Cara is an art-ivist, performer, and writer, a founding member of the Nottingham Black Creatives Network and the 2021 winner of Slamovision. Her work draws heavily from her Caribbean-British background – encouraging creative discussion of social issues. Below we meet Cara and learn all about her…
Explore luminariums, poetry, biodiversity and boardgames: Here's what's on this week 20 - 26 October 2025
Sun 19 Oct 2025The days are getting darker, but here in Notts things continue to be bright, colourful and energetic. Whether you've got a penchant for art installations, cultural festivals, board games, or live poetry, there's bound to be something that you'll enjoy doing this week.
Comedian and activist Mark Thomas talks Ordinary Decent Criminal
Wed 01 Oct 2025Cathy Symes interviewed Mark Thomas, the political activist, comedian, actor and director who is starring in Ordinary Decent Criminal, an award-winning play coming to Nottingham's Lakeside Arts in November...
Theatre, gigs, poetry and art: here's what's on this week 22 - 28 September 2025
Sun 21 Sept 2025Whether you fancy indulging in some playful art, enjoying some excellent theatre, checking out some chap hop or getting inspired by poetry, there's plenty on in Notts this week...
Cara Thompson Announced As Nottingham's First Nature Poet Laureate
Sat 23 Aug 2025We speak to Cara as her new 18 month position with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature begins...
We Review Nottingham Poetry Festival 2025
Sat 05 Jul 2025Callum Minford reflects on this year's Nottingham Poetry Festival and what it reveals to us about Nottingham's writing scene.
Poetry Festival, indie music and Shakespeare: Here's whats on in Nottingham 9 - 15 June 2025
Sun 08 Jun 2025There's loads of events happening this week in Notts. We have the start of the Poetry festival, a re-invention of Hamlet, a indie music market and a live podcast event from Scummy Mummies...
Words to live by: marking one decade of the Nottingham Poetry Festival with poet Ben Macpherson
Sat 07 Jun 2025This month marks the tenth anniversary of Nottingham Poetry Festival - a kaleidoscopic set of events that sees poetry collide with activities like musical open mics, meditation and arts and crafts, all the while celebrating the art form, and its age-old centrality to the city of Nottingham. To mark the occasion, festival producer and local poet Ben Macpherson told us about the festival’s importance to Nottingham, and what people can expect from this year.
Have You Got What It Takes To Be Nottingham’s New Nature Poet Laureate?
Tue 08 Apr 2025Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature has announced an open call for a Nature Poet Laureate...
Notts writer Hongwei Bao on the poetics of queer and diasporic experiences
Mon 17 Mar 2025Raised in Inner Mongolia, Dr. Hongwei Bao is now a Director of Research at the University of Nottingham and the industrious community organiser of events like the Queer Chinese Arts Festival, Poetics of Migration, Ode to Notts, plus many more. He’s also one of our most exciting creative writers, so we decided to invite him for a coffee…
We hear from GOBs Poetry Collective on their fifth anniversary
Mon 17 Feb 2025One of Nottingham’s leading poetry groups, GOBS Collective, turns five this year. With an impressive list of publications, events and live showcases under their belts, our Literature Editor Andrew Tucker talks about the need for such creative communities that help people find their poetic voice.
Live poetry review: Power Cut by Poets off the Endz at Fishergate Point
Wed 20 Nov 2024Sunday evening at Fishergate Point was buzzing with anticipation for the latest performance by creative collective Poets Off The Endz, who kicked off the first night of their new project with Chapter 1: Power Cut. The concept: a power cut. The question: what comes to light when the power goes out?