Polari returns to G-A-Y Manchester for a night of poetry, prose and LGBTQ story-telling.
Hosted by Paul Burston with Rosie Garland, Hook, Andrew McMillan and Max Wallis.
Rosie Garland writes poetry, long and short 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 novel, The Fates (Quercus) is a retelling of the Greek myth of the Fates, and her first collection of short fiction Your Sons & Your Daughters Are Beyond is out now (Fly On The Wall Press).
Hook is a trans, non-binary, neurodivergent mythical creature, writer, and cabaret artist. Hook is currently touring their new cabaret-comedy The Wheel of Nouns and has also previously written and performed their work with Queer Arts at Pride 2024, Polari Literary Salon at Theatre 41, Roots Theatre at The York Theatre Royal, and The Wonderhaus Cabaret at The Wardrobe Theatre.
Andrew McMillan’s debut collection physical was the only ever poetry collection to win The Guardian First Book Award. His second collection, playtime, won the inaugural Polari Prize. His third collection, pandemonium, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2021. His debut novel, Pity, was chosen as one of the top 20 books of 2024 by The Independent. It has been translated into numerous languages including Norwegian, Swedish, French, German, Turkish and Slovak.
Max Wallis is a poet and artist based in Lancashire. His first book Modern Love was nominated for the Polari Prize. Widely published in both poetry journals and magazines, Wallis's main motive is to get poetry into places it's not normally seen. In 2024 he left London after a mental health crisis, returning home to his family. Diagnosed with complex-PTSD and adult ADHD, he returned to his first love: poetry. In 2025 he launched The Aftershock Review.
About Polari
Founded in 2007 by author Paul Burston, Polari has appeared at the Southbank Centre, Heaven nightclub, The British Library and at book festivals, bars, nightclubs and theatres across the UK and beyond.
Inspired by the gay slang of the same name, Polari is a multi award-winning celebration of LGBTQ+ words and voices – whether written, spoken or sung. The salon also runs The Polari Prize awards – the UK’s only book awards for LGBTQ+ writing.
Tonight's event is part of the Polari Prize 15th Birthday Showcase, funded by Arts Council England.