Chorlton Book Festival, Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press present: an Evening of Poetry with Flapjack Press

Starring: Cathy Crabb, Dave Morgan, Isabelle P. Byrne and copland smith, hosted by Melanie Neads.

Cathy Crabb is a poet, playwright, screenwriter and journalist from Oldham who has written more than thirty plays for the stage. A winner of the 24/7 Theatre Festival MEN Theatre Award and the Buxton Festival Best Comedy Award, her works have run at numerous theatres, including Oldham Coliseum, HOMEmcr, and Manchester’s Library Theatre.

Dave Morgan is a writer and arts organiser in the North-West of England, who was brought up in the Potteries. He co-founded the performance poetry organisation Write Out Loud and curates events for Live from Worktown, the Bolton-based arts collective. His work is often philosophical and meditative, drawing inspiration from Asianatic life and literature.

Isabelle P. Byrne is a poet whose work delves into themes of identity, mental health, sociological thought, and nihilism. A regular performer at festivals and events across the UK, her poetry has featured on BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Upload, and various podcasts. Her innovative poetry films, often selected for international film festivals, have garnered multiple awards.

copland smith is a poet and playwright who lives in South Manchester, where he has been the curator and host of Manchester Poets for several decades. Widely published in magazines and anthologies, his poetry has been commended three times in the The Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition.

Event host Melanie Neads is an award-winning poet, playwright, and dramaturge from Salford. She was Drama Co-ordinator for Salford Young People’s University, co-founded the Pavilion Theatre Company in Bolton, and was a judge for Manchester UNESCO City of Literature’s Slamovision in 2024.