The Power of Poetry: Panel Discussion with Jamie Thrasivoulou, Joelle Taylor & Mark Pearson

Zoom Webinar tickets also available.

What restorative powers does poetry have?

Can poetry heal us?

Expect dialogue around mental health, poetry, and the way we craft our personal narratives with our panellists Jamie Thrasivoulou, Joelle Taylor, and Mark Pearson of the Institute of Mental Health.

Jamie Thrasivoulou is an award-winning writer, poet, lyricist, and educator from Derby. He was the vocalist in the band In-Flight Program (2003-2013). His work has been published in: The Morning Star, Low Light Magazine, The Arsonist, Glove and Here Comes Everyone. Silhouette Press published his debut collection ‘The Best Of A Bad Situation’ in 2017. His second collection ‘Our Man’ was published through Burning Eye Books in July 2019. ‘Our Man’ was also toured as a one-man show at the Edinburgh, Greater Manchester, and Buxton 2019 Fringe festivals. In the past Jamie has toured all over the UK performing at literary festivals and events including: Outspoken at the 100 Club, The Everyman Theatre, The Old Rep Theatre, The Royal Albert Hall, Verve Poetry Festival, and The Other Place (RSC Venue). He’s performed alongside many highly acclaimed artists such as: Linton Kwesi Johnson, Helen Mort, John Agard, and Salena Godden.

Joelle Taylor is the author of 4 collections of poetry. Her most recent collection C+NTO & Othered Poems (Westbourne Press) won the 2021 T.S Eliot Prize and was the subject of a Radio 4 arts documentary Butch. A former UK SLAM Champion she founded the national youth poetry slams SLAMbassadors through the Poetry Society in 2001, remaining its Artistic Director until 2018. She is a co-curator and host of Out-Spoken Live, resident at the Southbank Centre, and an editor of Out-Spoken Press. She has recently completed a book tour of Australia including Sydney Opera House (March 2022). C+NTO is currently being adapted for theatre with a view to touring it from 2023. She is also completing her memoirs for publication in 2023, as well as a novel of interconnecting stories The Night Alphabet.

Mark Pearson is assistant professor in mental health at the University of Nottingham. Mark’s clinical background is as a mental health nurse, working predominantly with people experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems. Mark continues to research and work within the area of health humanities and is particularly interested in poetry and creative writing. Mark co-leads a poetry and mental project named ‘surviving by storytelling’ and is currently undertaking a PhD examining the potential of poetry to support meaning making and recovery for individuals who have experienced psychosis.

Doors: 1.30pm
Start time: 2pm

Pay what you can
£5 suggested donation
Please register for your ticket online before arrival.

(An NPF Event)