Harehills ❤️ Love

This is a return to the 2022 advent calendar, on day 18 we covered Writing Our Harehills, a project to give the people of Harehills a voice through poetry, to write about their lives, their area, or anything important to them, and it was beautiful. In 2022 it culminated with readings at the Harehills Winter Welcome, but it didn’t actually end there.

To give you some back story, Leeds Playhouse were engaged with two different poetry writing projects in Harehills, one with adults organised by Natalie Tharraleos called Writing Our Harehills, and another Breaking Down Barriers Creativity Club which culminated in Sharing Our Harehills with the youth led Breaking Down Barriers with support from the amazing Adam Aslam.

Both groups were supported and mentored by Leeds Playhouse’s writer-in-residence Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, an amazing and powerful poet, writer and speaker. Lily Craig and several others from the Leeds Playhouse also supported at the venue and in co-ordinating events.

Working across 2022, the groups met up to work on poetic expression, with a range of subjects and prompts, getting generous feedback and exploring style. As mentioned this culminated in readings in at the 2022 Winter Welcome.

In March 2023, the Leeds Playhouse put on two readings one from the foyer, and the other in the Bramwell Rock Void, in front of live audiences. First up was Writing Our Harehills on the 20th March.

Writing Our Harehills

I wasn’t able to attend the group sessions that took place in 2022, it coincided with work. I am gutted I didn’t get to experience a lot of people that didn’t go on to the events poetry. People that attended genuinely seemed to have a great time, and learnt new skills to express themselves. Sessions took place at the Thack

We met up in a rehearsal space within the Leeds Playhouse to work together to rehearse our poems.

Suhaiymah guided us all on how to speak our poetry, to project the words with volume and feeling so that we could reach our audience, how to use our bodies to emphasise the poetry rather than just standing their like blocks (took me a while to get used to that). It was a very fun afternoon though, and for me personally, something I needed at a very dark time in my life.

Then we had a tour behind the scenes of the Leeds Playhouse, got to see the various stages, the props and costume rooms, and a lovely meal as we all chatted and got to know each other.

Then came the night itself when we would be doing our poetry readings. I don’t have any photos, I was very focused on my performance, and taking in the amazing poetry from others in the group, as well as Suhaiymah’s, and other members of the community that came along to share.

Sharing Our Harehills

Breaking Down Barriers is no stranger to the Harehills Good News Advent Calendar, they have been a source of inspiration, a push to get out to meetings and events, and have been a consistent highlight of our amazing young people in the area.

Meeting every Thursday at the Roundhay Resource Centre to work on poetry projects devoted exploring the theme of being a young person in Harehills today, and how they can express themselves to others, and share their views and experiences with a wider audience through theatre and performances.

The group is led artistically by Lladel Bryant and Leah Francis with support from Carla Addyman and Adam Aslam.

Leeds Playhouse did a video about the amazing work everyone had done in the lead up to Sharing Our Harehills which is definetely worth a watch, as well as checking out their story on both groups on their website.

Expressing Ourselves to the World

I have always loved poetry, it’s been a while since I wrote any, but I do enjoy hearing others still, there’s a power and emotion in poetry for expressing our truths, sharing our vision, and giving glimpse into worlds we can’t see from our narrow perspectives.

Everyone involved in these projects brought their power and emotion, and it was beautiful. When these projects, or ones like them, roll around again, I encourage anyone and everyone to get involved, even if you don’t feel up to doing a performance, just getting to let go and write poetry from the heart, and hearing and experience other’s poetry is one of the greatest things you can be involved with.

A big thank you to everyone that took part, and everyone that supported and organised two amazing projects and events.

I will finish by sharing one of my own poems, that seems apt:

The Gifts of Poets Gone

As I lay here, on the backs of giants,
Poetry forebearers that carried the skill into art,
Whose tireless efforts, and many a sacrifice,
Have given me today,
The bed upon which I lay.

By which I mean the literary warrants,
The rules, tempers, and heritages they impart,
For which I am able to add my words, spice,
And never say nay,
The words my mind may.

As I lay here dwelling in fragments,
Of poetry past and present, musing my part,
I have yet to play, indulging my vice,
I suffer no defray,
It will be a words day.

©, Jonathan Lawrence 2009