John Siddique
BIOGRAPHY
’John Siddique is a powerful, arresting and provocative new poetic voice, on the page, and off it. He writes with a rare combination of directness, ease, and authority and transports his audience through a gallery of moods and registers in just as wide a range of forms. His work is visceral, sensuous, searing, playful, and deeply moving.’
Gavin Wallace - Head of Literature, Scottish Arts Council
John’s poems have appeared in acclaimed anthologies such as: The Fire People, VELOCITY - The best of Apples & Snakes, The British Anthology of South Asian Poetry, Kiss, & many others, in magazines such as The North, Rialto, Fire, FLUX, as well as in his own chapbooks The Devil’s Lunchbox, and UMMA. He has performed at festivals all over the country, and on Radio 4, Radio 2, Granada Television, BBC Television & Radio. His poem ’Variola’ received a nomination for best single poem in this year’s Forward Prize, and his first full collection of poetry will be published by Rialto early in 2005.
As a flexible and innovative team player, John is a popular choice as Writer in Residence and has held such posts at The Lowry and the Ledbury Festival (Young people’s programme), and Wetherby Prison, which won two Koestler Awards for his work during his time there. The Prime Minister has recently commended John for his radical and innovative work with young people. John was Poet in Residence at 2004’s year’s Ilkley Literature Festival.
WEBSITE
GENRE
Poetry, Short Fiction, Readings, Workshops, Residencies
PUBLICATIONS | PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Collections/Chapbooks:
The Prize Rialto Forthcoming
UMMA Mongrel Press Jan 2002
Mine (as editor) M6/Mersey Basin Trust Mar 2001
A collection of children’s poems/
The Devil’s Lunchbox Mongrel Press Nov 1996
Anthologies:
Other people’s children Not in so many words Forthcoming
Smith/Doorstop
Helping Out MASALA - MacMillan Feb 2005
A Picture of my father FourFathers Jan 2005
ROUTE
Are? Is? Do? Celebrating Me! - Mid Pennine Arts May 2004
The Prize, Family Kin - renaissance one April 2004
Pins & Needles VELOCITY - Apples & Snakes Nov 2003
Hillside Transformation Peace Poems - Crocus Books Mar 2003
Perfume, Neckgrip Redbeck Anthology of British South May 2000
Blues for Ambedkar Asian Poetry
Arms, Radiation Gargoyle42 - Black Spring Press Jun 1999
Neckgrip, Thoughts #1 The Fire People - Payback Press Oct 1998
Blues for Ambedkar Nailing Colours - Crocus books Nov 1997
Infinity Manchester Poetry Festival Nov 1996
Poetry slam anthology - AK press
Watcher Body Ornament Oct 1996
All stripped down anthology
Saw you from the sky (North West Arts Board)
Perfume Kiss Feb 1994
The kissing ritual Crocus Books
A time in the south
Pacific no. 7
Piano, drums and Seawater TOK (Born) Oct 1993
John has read and performed a great deal over the last 5 years, please see his website for upcoming and past readings and shows
WORKSHOP | READINGS EXPERIENCE","REFERENCE/S
Festival Appearances:
Off the Shelf - Sheffield Lit Festival 2004
Bradford Book Festival/Refugee Week 2004
Ledbury Poetry Festival 1999 & 2003
Manchester Poetry Festival 1997
Bradford Mela 1994
Residencies:
Ilkley Literature Festival as Poet in Residence 2004
Oldham Hospital - Psychiatric Dept as Writer in Residence 2004
HMYOI Wetherby as Writer in Residence 2000 - 03
Ledbury Poetry Festival as Writer in Residence for Young People 2000 - 03
The LOWRY as Poet in residence 2000 - 01
Prestwich NHS Trust as Poet in Residence 2000
John has led hundreds of workshops all over the country for both young people and adults. Please see his website for a full CV, and information about the type of work he can do.
REFERENCE/S
Jane Stubbs. ACE, Yorkshire. 21 Bond Street, Dewsbury
Rachel Feldberg. Ilkley Literature Festival. 2 The Manor House, Ilkley
GROUP SIZE PREFERENCE
16/class size
GROUP AGE PREFERENCE
7 and upwards
WORKING LANGUAGE/S
English
AREA/S PREPARED TO TRAVEL
anywhere in UK
OTHER INFORMATION
I am represented by Melanie Abrahams at renaissance one.
To make an enquiry, book a reading, performance or workshop contact:
Renaissance one
Unit 6 Container Futures, 44 Gillender Street, London E14 6RP
Telephone/Fax: 020 7987 3111 or 07956 110330
General Email and enquiries info@renaissanceone.com
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.