London’s award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon returns to Newcastle City Library as part of The Polari Prize 15th Birthday Showcase

Founded in 2007 by author Paul Burston, Polari has appeared at the Southbank Centre, The British Library and at book festivals, bars, libraries, museums, nightclubs and theatres across the UK and beyond.

Inspired by the gay slang of the same name, Polari is a celebration of LGBTQ+ words and voices – whether written, spoken or sung. The salon also runs The Polari Prize – the UK’s book awards for LGBTQ+ writing.

This afternoon’s event is hosted by Paul Burston with poet Jay Gadhia and writers Rosie Garland, Jennifer Ingleheart and Chitra Ramaswamy.

PAUL BURSTON is the author of six novels and four non-fiction books, including the best-selling memoir ‘We Can Be Heroes’ (Little A). In 2016, he featured in the British Council’s Global List of ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world.’

In 2026 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

JAY GADHIA is a QPOC poet, artist and teacher.

His artwork and poetry tend to focus on the Asian queer experience and explore cultural and racial history. A great deal of his work focusses on faith, as well as unpicking the complications of relationships.

ROSIE GARLAND has a passion for language nurtured by public libraries. She writes poetry, short and long fiction, and sings with post-punk band The March Violets. Her poetry collection ‘What Girls Do in the Dark’ (Nine Arches Press) was shortlisted for the Polari Prize 2021.Her latest collection is ‘This Is How I Fight’ (Nine Arches Press). In 2023, she was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.

JENNIFER INGLEHEART

Jennifer Ingleheart's Polari Catullus versions transport the poet laureate of horny heartbreak and outrageous obscenity from C1st Rome to the queer Underworld of London in the 1950s and 60s. Jennifer's day job is Professor of Latin at Durham University, where she works on Latin poetry and modern responses to Roman sexuality; her most recent book is ‘A Grecian Lad: A. E. Housman and the Classics’

CHITRA RAMASWAMY is a journalist and author based in Edinburgh. Her books include Homelands and Expecting, which was shortlisted for The Polari Prize. She is also a restaurant critic for the Times Scotland and won Food and Drink Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards.

This event is part of the Polari Prize 15th Birthday Showcase funded by Arts Council England.

Description supplied by the event organiser.