Henry Normal and Dubliner Jan Brierton present an evening of poetry and laughs.

Henry Normal is a writer, poet, TV and Film producer, and founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Literature festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival.

In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television. With Steve Coogan he co-wrote the BAFTA winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan’s Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible and all three of Steve’s live tours and the film The Parole Officer.

Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1999, Henry Executive produced all, and script edited many of the shows of its seventeen and a half year output during his tenure as MD, including Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh, and Alan Partridge.

Since retiring in April 2016 Henry has written and performed seven BBC Radio 4 shows “a normal family’, ‘a normal life’, ‘a normal love’, ‘a normal creativity’, ‘a normal nature’, a normal universe and ‘a normal communication’ combining comedy, poetry and stories about bringing up his autistic son. These shows are often now available on BBC sounds.

 

Jan Brierton is a mam, a fashion stylist, and a poet.

Her popular first collection What Day Is It? Who Gives a F*ck was published in 2021 by New Island books after Jan’s first ever poem went viral during lockdown. Jan’s poems have been shared widely on social media, and her engaging live performances bring her words to life. Highlights include opening for her poetry hero Dr John Cooper Clark at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre in 2024, performing her show Wild Words at the Ambassador Theatre, and appearances at Electric Picnic, The London Irish Centre, and numerous festivals and cultural events.

Alongside her writing and performances, Jan continues her work as a creative director and fashion stylist, curating and hosting cultural events including Culture Night, Electric Picnic’s Mindfield Stage, and performing at the Irish Made Awards for Irish County Magazine. Her career reflects a unique combination of creativity, professionalism, and a passion for making poetry accessible to all.

Jan hosts the podcast ‘Everybody Is A Poem’ where she shares poems and real life tales with her guests; a mix of well-known names and ordinary people with engaging stories. Plain-speaking and completely relatable, each of Jan’s poems is served with her signature combination of humour and sentiment. This is poetry for everybody.

 

Henry will be reading poems from his new book ‘A Quiet Promise’ whilst Jan’s poems reflect on being a wife, mother, daughter, sister and retired raver. Expect a highly engaging and hilarious evening.