GREEN SPACES
Fri 29th Nov '24, 11:30am
Reflections on the healing powers of nature in this mindful collaboration between Chapel FM and Orb in Knaresborough.
WRITING ON AIR is an annual festival of words and ideas broadcast in its entirety on East Leeds Community Radio (ELCR), the vibrant radio station housed in Chapel FM Arts Centre, Seacroft, Leeds.
Nov 29th to Dec 8th 2024
From readings, discussions, and powerful audio dramas to atmospheric soundscapes, poetic narratives and documentary, WRITING ON AIR has it all.
No headliners. No book signings. All programmes in the festival are originated and made by writers and readers with the support of the Chapel FM Team.
Each festival carries a theme. This year’s is Recovery: balance, confidence, a lost friendship, the precious object, health, mental health. What does ‘recovery’ mean in our post-Covid world?
Fri 29th Nov '24, 11:30am
Reflections on the healing powers of nature in this mindful collaboration between Chapel FM and Orb in Knaresborough.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 12:15pm
What is bibliotherapy and how can other peoples words help you to find your own? An introduction to the Words For Wellbeing workshop.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 12:45pm
Faye Marshall is a poet and nurse. She talks about the privilege of working in palliative care and its impact on her life and writing.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 1:30pm
Clare and Jackie from the fabulous Wren Bakery in Mabgate talk about what an environment that aids recovery looks like.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 2:15pm
New poetry and stories from 5 Ways, the Leeds centre for people in recovery from issues with alcohol or other drugs.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 3:00pm
Modern relationships… A woman shares poetry from the frontline of a marriage in crisis. By Gareth Rhodes.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 3:45pm
‘In 1875 I fought wolves to the death. But what death was this?’ Eerie short fiction from Phil Wiggs.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 4:00pm
Sound poem by poet and musician Tallulah Howarth that obsesses over the prefix 're', meaning 'back' or 'again'.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 4:30pm
Poet and GP Emma Storr interviews GP and writer Dr.Gavin Francis about his engrossing and best-selling book, ‘Recovery’.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 5:15pm
Soundscape tour of the future National Poetry Centre and an insight into other Leeds architectural re-imaginings.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 6:00pm
Volunteers from urban gardens talk movingly about working together to re-nature waste spaces in Leeds.
Fri 29th Nov '24, 6:30pm
Nicola Good advocates for the importance of keeping the German language alive in UK schools. And is there a cure for ‘ostalgia?’
Fri 29th Nov '24, 7:00pm
Poetry to celebrate the publication of the 2 nd Chapel FM print anthology, with a short film about Chapel FM’s resident Recovery Chair.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 11:00am
Menstrual cramps, pregnancy, childbirth. Emma Storr and Prof. Barry Strickland Hodge on women’s health through history.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 11:30am
Jaimes Lewis Moran interviews item fixers and repair receivers in the amazing world of East Leeds Repair Cafes.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 12:00pm
‘Eyes closed, deep inhale: the smell of freshly battered fish takes him back to his dad’s old shop’… Rayyah McCaul on a journey with her father.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 1:00pm
Join the Yaffle's Nest Wordship team with readings from their eclectic poetic responses to this years festival theme.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 2:15pm
Two people in old age fall in love. What is old? What is too old? Ruth Steinberg and Len Biran tell their story. Discussion follows.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 3:30pm
A discussion with Written Off Publishing Founder Rebecca Kenny on recovery after major physical trauma, rebuilding the self, and community support in the arts.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 4:30pm
Mark and Gill Connors read from their new joint poetry collection, & The Where We Were; Poems, photography, travel.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 5:30pm
Undaunted by her digital disaster, Jasmine’s friends rally to make up her loss. An in-depth conversation on selfhood from Jaspreet Mander.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 6:15pm
A woman dreams of an easy water birth but things don’t go to plan. Can swimming help her become the mother she wants to be? A story by Laura Graham.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 7:00pm
A showcase of poetry from Ey Up 3: Written Off Publishings upcoming anthology hosted by Alex Callaghan.
Sat 30th Nov '24, 8:15pm
South of the city the poetry heartbeat grows strong! Written and performed by poets active in the South Leeds spoken word community.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 12:00pm
Menstrual cramps, pregnancy, childbirth. Emma Storr and Prof. Barry Strickland Hodge on women’s health through history.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 12:30pm
How is it to live as the sibling of an autistic person with complex needs? Spoiler: you may laugh and cry
Sun 1st Dec '24, 1:15pm
Participants from Vera Media’s Can You Hear Us, Holbeck music-making course share an exclusive play of their song ‘All About Addiction’.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 2:00pm
Creative writing from a project at Leeds Trinity University which uses writing to connect people with issues of plant health within their local environment.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 2:45pm
Concert from the resident Chapel FM ensemble that ensures musicians with disabilities have a place to make adventurous music. Follows their acclaimed album.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 3:30pm
For people with disabilities and chronic illness the concept of recovery is difficult to navigate. Who decides what disability and recovery look like? Discussion follows.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 4:45pm
Poet Jaspreet Mander gives voice to the land of Punjab to speak of its dire state and passionate desire to regenerate.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 5:30pm
The fascinating story of how Len Biran’s refugee father used his wits to keep his family safe and fed through World War 2.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 6:15pm
Stories performed by Sonja Miller and their writer Neil Rathmell.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 7:00pm
Never heard of this famous artist and writer? He’s buried in Seacroft! Illustrated talk by Geraldine Beattie.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 7:45pm
A crash, a coma, submerged emotions. Racing-car driver Jean-Pierre races against time, and himself. Script-in-hand performance of this audio drama by Catherine Shonack.
Sun 1st Dec '24, 8:30pm
The eighth wonder of the world. In Doncaster. Buried forever. The true saga of the legendary Sand House dramatised as an audio drama by Peter Spafford.
Wed 4th Dec '24, 6:00pm
In concert with Chapel FM’s resident band of young musicians and songwriters.
Wed 4th Dec '24, 7:00pm
Floods force a group of strangers to seek refuge in a coppiced wood. Will they survive? Will they make it through the rain? From The Performance Ensemble.
Wed 4th Dec '24, 8:15pm
Against all odds, Rhea chooses dance to dream of a full life. Dramatised short fiction for voices by Jaspreet Mander.
Wed 4th Dec '24, 9:00pm
Elite triathletes Becky and Natalie are prepared to give everything to be World No.1. But what if this affects their health forever? Powerful drama by Jacky Burton.
Thu 5th Dec '24, 7:00pm
Chapel FM’s young Next Gen broadcasters explore what ‘recovery’ means to them through music, poetry, conversation
Thu 5th Dec '24, 8:00pm
Young writers from Leeds’ twin city Louisville, Kentucky, reflect on the theme of Recovery with young writers from Chapel FM.
Thu 5th Dec '24, 8:30pm
Elite triathletes Becky and Natalie are prepared to give everything to be World No.1. But what if this affects their health forever? Drama by Jacky Burton.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 10:30am
First Story places writers in schools throughout the UK. Young writers from residencies in W.Yorkshire schools read their work.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 12:00pm
Recovering, restoring, retrieving, reclaiming, repairing: the lost, forgotten, decaying: data, films, tapes. What can be recovered?
Fri 6th Dec '24, 1:00pm
Elite triathletes Becky and Natalie are prepared to give everything to be World No.1. But what if this affects their health forever? Drama by Jacky Burton.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 2:00pm
Children’s poetry and the sharpness of their perceptions. Tribute by Jimmy Andrex to the unjustly forgotten West Riding Educationalist.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 3:00pm
Writers from The University of The Third Age return with funny and vivid responses to the festival theme.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 4:00pm
A sequel to Mally and Phil Harvey’s beautifully written dialogue from last year about love and sex in old age.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 4:15pm
Lenny Flint talks to Getting Clean, a project that promotes personal growth and social change for people in recovery from addiction, one bar of soap at a time.
Fri 6th Dec '24, 5:15pm
Discussion with the world's first-ever Professor of Addiction and Recovery, and powerful music and poetry from people in recovery
Fri 6th Dec '24, 7:30pm
Dynamic performance blazoning the importance of local Yorkshire dialect in matters of identity and heritage, hosted by Keith Fenton
Sat 7th Dec '24, 11:30am
Short documentary feature from the Recovering Power workshop last weekend which re-imagined power relationships in our unequal world
Sat 7th Dec '24, 12:00pm
Poetry and short fiction by Wren Aster from our twin city Dortmund in Germany, anticipating Chapel FM’s international orientation next year.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 12:15pm
Jaimes Lewis Moran and Gareth Rhodes exchange lines and images in this surreal poetry conversation.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 12:45pm
Nature is often a powerful element in the recovery story. Hear from someone who knows.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 1:00pm
Tony Macaluso with bookstore owner Giovanni Spadaccini from Reggio Emilia, Italy, and his collection of curious objects recovered from old books.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 2:00pm
Treadlight Theatre presents this funny and touching play about love and loss by Spike Marshall.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 3:15pm
Josh's gambling addiction has cost him his livelihood and his home life. Recovery’s going well. Until it isn’t. Impactful audio drama by Sam Lawrence.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 4:00pm
1905: Colonel Gascoigne from Lotherton Hall is visiting a friend in London when a telegram dramatically alters his plan. Brian Hull dramatises a local true story.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 5:00pm
Music from the workshop with Laura Sutcliffe played for the very first time in the radio theatre.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 5:45pm
When a girl unwittingly releases the sun, moon and stars, it has life-changing consequences. Gripping story from Vickie Orton with music and song.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 6:30pm
Sports Talk profiles Gaelic Football team John F Kennedy's, who last season failed to win a match and this season got to two Cup Finals.
Sat 7th Dec '24, 7:30pm
Another vibetastic night of big-hearted poetry and music presented by the COYC collective presented by Michelle Scally Clarke.
Sun 8th Dec '24, 10:30am
A dragon can change your life; if you can survive long enough to meet one. Fiery short story from Jane McGowan read by Sparkle Menzies.
Sun 8th Dec '24, 11:15am
Writer and tennis obsessive Christopher R. Moore explores the complicated legacy of David Foster Wallace's
Sun 8th Dec '24, 12:00pm
Vic is a writer and therapist working throughout Yorkshire with groups and individuals. She talks about her love for the work she does and how it has evolved.
Sun 8th Dec '24, 1:00pm
Old friends Clare Wigzell and Ruth Steinberg track Clare’s journey towards a fuller sense of herself through motherhood, creativity, shame and anxiety.
Sun 8th Dec '24, 2:00pm
Poet and novelist Cora Greenhill reads her sensual and lyrical tale of a young man enchanted by the sea, unable to grow up
Sun 8th Dec '24, 2:45pm
‘Find inner strength, ask for help, accept change’. Healing and heartening poetry from East Leeds writer Lisa Forte
Sun 8th Dec '24, 3:00pm
Nicky and Carl host ‘Recovery’-inspired songs showcasing the creativity of the songwriters who perform at their monthly Tower of Song nights.
Sun 8th Dec '24, 5:00pm
For the duration of the festival, Chapel FM has hosted The Recovery Chair. We hear poems and stories written by writers inspired by it.
Sun 8th Dec '24, 5:30pm
A gifted musician re-lives the time he contracted polio as a child. His recovery is dependent on finding his newfound power as The King of Sound.