Visions of the City!

You heard it here first…

This series, curated by Bishopsgate Institute’s Poet in Residence Tom Chivers, will introduce some of London’s most exciting poets – writers whose work explores the complex, fluid and multivocal character of the City. Alongside their readings Tom will also premiere his own new work produced during the Residency.

Visions of the City I – Thursday 5 June

Oblique, bleak bloke Tim Wells has supported The Libertines with his riotous ‘Cockney Hell’ poetry show and his collection Boys Night Out In The Afternoon (Donut) was nominated for the prestigious Forward Prize.

Simon Barraclough‘s debut collection of poetry Los Alamos Mon Amour (Salt) has not yet been launched but is already creating a stir. According to The Guardian, Los Alamos ‘wheels through forms, moods and locations around a sensual core of love poems’.

Jay Bernard is fast establishing a reputation as one of the UK’s most talented young writers with her poetry collection Your Sign is Cuckoo, Girl and has performed at venues across the country including the London Respect Slam.

Visions of the City II – Thursday 3 July

Iain Sinclair is the de factor chronicler of contemporary London. Poet, novelist, essayist, anthologist, filmmaker and former book dealer, Sinclair has been described as ‘incomparable … the De Quincy of English letters’ by Peter Ackroyd. He is the author of numerous books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, the latest of which is London: City of Disappearances (Hamish Hamilton).

Chris McCabe’s poetry is raw, energetic and experimental, covering topics as diverse as Iraq, fatherhood and Pete Doherty. His second collection of poetry is published this year with the provisional title Zeppelins and follows his acclaimed debut The Hutton Inquiry.

Hannah Silva is a young, fast-talking poet, performer and theatre director from Devon. Her City Fragments captures the speed, energy and contradictions of 21st century urban life.

Both events are held in the Bishopsgate Institute’s Library, which has limited capacity, and start at 7pm. Tickets are £7, £5 concessions. Booking is essential (details here).