Polari shines its literary light at the Printworks

As ever it is hosted by founder Paul Burston who will introduce a succession of dazzling guests.

This time will be featured London-based writer Ursula Martinez who is also a performer and cult cabaret diva. Her many theatrical credits include A Family Outing, Show Off and OAP. She is an original cast member of the contemporary circus cabaret phenomena La Clique and La Soirée. Ursula is also an associate artist with iconoclastic performance provocateurs Duckie, with whom she created the smash-hit Olivier Award winning show C’est Duckie!

She has recently branched out as a theatre director and has also made several short films including ‘Oh Baby! ‘(1997 Dick Award runner-up) and ‘Venkel’s Syndrome’, which premiered at the Berlin International Film festival.

Also in the mix is John McCullough whose collection of poems ‘The Frost Fairs’ won the Polari First Book Prize in 2012. It was a Book of the Year for The Independent and The Poetry School, and a summer read for The Observer. His second collection ‘Spacecraft’ has just been published by Penned in the Margins.

Judith Shaw has lived in St Leonards for nearly 12 years. She writes poetry and prose and is also a fine art painter and printmaker. Her family, Jewish heritage and the year she spent living in Iceland are important influences on her painting and writing.

Wayne Herbert gave up his day job in 2015 to focus on writing. He is finalising his first novel which he hopes to publish next year.

Wayne was shortlisted for the 2015 Inktears annual short story competition. He is also an active member of the Old Vic Community Company starring in ages and the Old Vic Festival in 2015.

Tickets cost £8 (£6 conc) from Eventbrite or on the door.