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?

All the broadcasts for Writing On Air 2024

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Programme

GREEN SPACES

Fri 29th Nov '24, 11:30am Remind me

Reflections on the healing powers of nature in this mindful collaboration between Chapel FM and Orb in Knaresborough.

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WORDS FOR WELLBEING

Fri 29th Nov '24, 12:15pm Remind me

What is bibliotherapy and how can other peoples words help you to find your own? An introduction to the Words For Wellbeing workshop.

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FINDING THE WORDS

Fri 29th Nov '24, 12:45pm Remind me

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.

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THE WREN BAKERY

Fri 29th Nov '24, 1:30pm Remind me

Clare and Jackie from the fabulous Wren Bakery in Mabgate talk about what an environment that aids recovery looks like.

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TUNE IN TO RECOVERY

Fri 29th Nov '24, 2:15pm Remind me

New poetry and stories from 5 Ways, the Leeds centre for people in recovery from issues with alcohol or other drugs.

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I HAVE AN ANSWER, SORT OF

Fri 29th Nov '24, 3:00pm Remind me

Modern relationships… A woman shares poetry from the frontline of a marriage in crisis. By Gareth Rhodes.

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THE TREE

Fri 29th Nov '24, 3:45pm Remind me

‘In 1875 I fought wolves to the death. But what death was this?’ Eerie short fiction from Phil Wiggs.

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RE

Fri 29th Nov '24, 4:00pm Remind me

Sound poem by poet and musician Tallulah Howarth that obsesses over the prefix 're', meaning 'back' or 'again'.

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DR.GAVIN FRANCIS

Fri 29th Nov '24, 4:30pm Remind me

Poet and GP Emma Storr interviews GP and writer Dr.Gavin Francis about his engrossing and best-selling book, ‘Recovery’.

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BUILDINGS BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY ART

Fri 29th Nov '24, 5:15pm Remind me

Soundscape tour of the future National Poetry Centre and an insight into other Leeds architectural re-imaginings.

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LEEDS GREEN

Fri 29th Nov '24, 6:00pm Remind me

Volunteers from urban gardens talk movingly about working together to re-nature waste spaces in Leeds.

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THE CASE FOR GERMAN

Fri 29th Nov '24, 6:30pm Remind me

Nicola Good advocates for the importance of keeping the German language alive in UK schools. And is there a cure for ‘ostalgia?’

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LAUNCH!

Fri 29th Nov '24, 7:00pm Remind me

Poetry to celebrate the publication of the 2 nd Chapel FM print anthology, with a short film about Chapel FM’s resident Recovery Chair.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH AND HERBAL REMEDIES, Ep 1.

Sat 30th Nov '24, 11:00am Remind me

Menstrual cramps, pregnancy, childbirth. Emma Storr and Prof. Barry Strickland Hodge on women’s health through history.

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REPAIR CAFE

Sat 30th Nov '24, 11:30am Remind me

Jaimes Lewis Moran interviews item fixers and repair receivers in the amazing world of East Leeds Repair Cafes.

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FISH SHOPS AND GIBBETS

Sat 30th Nov '24, 12:00pm Remind me

‘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.

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WORDSHIP IN RECOVERY

Sat 30th Nov '24, 1:00pm Remind me

Join the Yaffle's Nest Wordship team with readings from their eclectic poetic responses to this years festival theme.

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TWO OLD TOO OLD?

Sat 30th Nov '24, 2:15pm Remind me

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.

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THE POET WHO BROKE HER BACK

Sat 30th Nov '24, 3:30pm Remind me

A discussion with Written Off Publishing Founder Rebecca Kenny on recovery after major physical trauma, rebuilding the self, and community support in the arts.

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RECOVERY ON THE ROAD

Sat 30th Nov '24, 4:30pm Remind me

Mark and Gill Connors read from their new joint poetry collection, & The Where We Were; Poems, photography, travel.

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DATA DEBACLE

Sat 30th Nov '24, 5:30pm Remind me

Undaunted by her digital disaster, Jasmine’s friends rally to make up her loss. An in-depth conversation on selfhood from Jaspreet Mander.

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AFTERDROP

Sat 30th Nov '24, 6:15pm Remind me

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.

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REBUILDING A BODY

Sat 30th Nov '24, 7:00pm Remind me

A showcase of poetry from Ey Up 3: Written Off Publishings upcoming anthology hosted by Alex Callaghan.

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THE BEATiful SOUTH

Sat 30th Nov '24, 8:15pm Remind me

South of the city the poetry heartbeat grows strong! Written and performed by poets active in the South Leeds spoken word community.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH AND HERBAL REMEDIES, Ep 2

Sun 1st Dec '24, 12:00pm Remind me

Menstrual cramps, pregnancy, childbirth. Emma Storr and Prof. Barry Strickland Hodge on women’s health through history.

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SIBLING ON THE SPECTRUM

Sun 1st Dec '24, 12:30pm Remind me

How is it to live as the sibling of an autistic person with complex needs? Spoiler: you may laugh and cry

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IT’S ALL ABOUT RECOVERY

Sun 1st Dec '24, 1:15pm Remind me

Participants from Vera Media’s Can You Hear Us, Holbeck music-making course share an exclusive play of their song ‘All About Addiction’.

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EVERYONE’S A SEED

Sun 1st Dec '24, 2:00pm Remind me

Creative writing from a project at Leeds Trinity University which uses writing to connect people with issues of plant health within their local environment.

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THROUGH OUR EYES (W.O.A 2024)

Sun 1st Dec '24, 2:45pm Remind me

Concert from the resident Chapel FM ensemble that ensures musicians with disabilities have a place to make adventurous music. Follows their acclaimed album.

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GET WELL SOON

Sun 1st Dec '24, 3:30pm Remind me

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.

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STOP THE SORDID STAPLE

Sun 1st Dec '24, 4:45pm Remind me

Poet Jaspreet Mander gives voice to the land of Punjab to speak of its dire state and passionate desire to regenerate.

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ELEGANT SOLUTIONS

Sun 1st Dec '24, 5:30pm Remind me

The fascinating story of how Len Biran’s refugee father used his wits to keep his family safe and fed through World War 2.

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THREE TALES OF LOSING AND GAINING

Sun 1st Dec '24, 6:15pm Remind me

Stories performed by Sonja Miller and their writer Neil Rathmell.

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GEORGE WALKER OF KILLINGBECK

Sun 1st Dec '24, 7:00pm Remind me

Never heard of this famous artist and writer? He’s buried in Seacroft! Illustrated talk by Geraldine Beattie.

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HOW TO DRIVE IN THE DARK

Sun 1st Dec '24, 7:45pm Remind me

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.

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SAND HOUSE

Sun 1st Dec '24, 8:30pm Remind me

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.

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GREY RAVENS

Wed 4th Dec '24, 6:00pm Remind me

In concert with Chapel FM’s resident band of young musicians and songwriters.

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STONE SOUP

Wed 4th Dec '24, 7:00pm Remind me

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.

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DANCING INTO THE FULL MOON

Wed 4th Dec '24, 8:15pm Remind me

Against all odds, Rhea chooses dance to dream of a full life. Dramatised short fiction for voices by Jaspreet Mander.

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CROSSING LINES, Ep 1

Wed 4th Dec '24, 9:00pm Remind me

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.

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RED KITE LIVE: EXPLORING RECOVERY THROUGH YOUNG VOICES

Thu 5th Dec '24, 7:00pm Remind me

Chapel FM’s young Next Gen broadcasters explore what ‘recovery’ means to them through music, poetry, conversation

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LEEDS TO LOUISVILLE

Thu 5th Dec '24, 8:00pm Remind me

Young writers from Leeds’ twin city Louisville, Kentucky, reflect on the theme of Recovery with young writers from Chapel FM.

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CROSSING LINES. Ep 2

Thu 5th Dec '24, 8:30pm Remind me

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.

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FIRST STORY SPECIAL

Fri 6th Dec '24, 10:30am Remind me

First Story places writers in schools throughout the UK. Young writers from residencies in W.Yorkshire schools read their work.

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MISSING MEDIA – THE ROGUE TO RECOVERY

Fri 6th Dec '24, 12:00pm Remind me

Recovering, restoring, retrieving, reclaiming, repairing: the lost, forgotten, decaying: data, films, tapes. What can be recovered?

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CROSSING LINES, Ep 3

Fri 6th Dec '24, 1:00pm Remind me

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.

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ALEC CLEGG AND THE EXCITEMENT OF WRITING

Fri 6th Dec '24, 2:00pm Remind me

Children’s poetry and the sharpness of their perceptions. Tribute by Jimmy Andrex to the unjustly forgotten West Riding Educationalist.

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THE WRITE STUFF

Fri 6th Dec '24, 3:00pm Remind me

Writers from The University of The Third Age return with funny and vivid responses to the festival theme.

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ANOTHER CONVERSATION

Fri 6th Dec '24, 4:00pm Remind me

A sequel to Mally and Phil Harvey’s beautifully written dialogue from last year about love and sex in old age.

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GETTING CLEAN

Fri 6th Dec '24, 4:15pm Remind me

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.

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ADDRESSING ADDICTION

Fri 6th Dec '24, 5:15pm Remind me

Discussion with the world's first-ever Professor of Addiction and Recovery, and powerful music and poetry from people in recovery

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TYKE-LIPPED

Fri 6th Dec '24, 7:30pm Remind me

Dynamic performance blazoning the importance of local Yorkshire dialect in matters of identity and heritage, hosted by Keith Fenton

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THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED

Sat 7th Dec '24, 11:30am Remind me

Short documentary feature from the Recovering Power workshop last weekend which re-imagined power relationships in our unequal world

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WREN ASTER

Sat 7th Dec '24, 12:00pm Remind me

Poetry and short fiction by Wren Aster from our twin city Dortmund in Germany, anticipating Chapel FM’s international orientation next year.

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PASS THE VERSE (AGAIN)

Sat 7th Dec '24, 12:15pm Remind me

Jaimes Lewis Moran and Gareth Rhodes exchange lines and images in this surreal poetry conversation.

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THE NATURE OF NATURE

Sat 7th Dec '24, 12:45pm Remind me

Nature is often a powerful element in the recovery story. Hear from someone who knows.

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MUSEUM OF RELICS

Sat 7th Dec '24, 1:00pm Remind me

Tony Macaluso with bookstore owner Giovanni Spadaccini from Reggio Emilia, Italy, and his collection of curious objects recovered from old books.

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FORTIFIED SPIRITS

Sat 7th Dec '24, 2:00pm Remind me

Treadlight Theatre presents this funny and touching play about love and loss by Spike Marshall.

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NOBODY TELLS YOU IT DROPS WHEN YOU STOP CHASING

Sat 7th Dec '24, 3:15pm Remind me

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.

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THE FORGERY.

Sat 7th Dec '24, 4:00pm Remind me

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.

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SOUNDING THE WORD JAM

Sat 7th Dec '24, 5:00pm Remind me

Music from the workshop with Laura Sutcliffe played for the very first time in the radio theatre.

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TAKING THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE STARS

Sat 7th Dec '24, 5:45pm Remind me

When a girl unwittingly releases the sun, moon and stars, it has life-changing consequences. Gripping story from Vickie Orton with music and song.

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SPORTS TALK SPECIAL

Sat 7th Dec '24, 6:30pm Remind me

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.

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CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET (W.O.A 2024)

Sat 7th Dec '24, 7:30pm Remind me

Another vibetastic night of big-hearted poetry and music presented by the COYC collective presented by Michelle Scally Clarke.

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MUCKERS

Sun 8th Dec '24, 10:30am Remind me

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.

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DRINKING WITH DAVID FOSTER WALLACE

Sun 8th Dec '24, 11:15am Remind me

Writer and tennis obsessive Christopher R. Moore explores the complicated legacy of David Foster Wallace's

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VIC LEESON

Sun 8th Dec '24, 12:00pm Remind me

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.

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A NEW SELF AT 70

Sun 8th Dec '24, 1:00pm Remind me

Old friends Clare Wigzell and Ruth Steinberg track Clare’s journey towards a fuller sense of herself through motherhood, creativity, shame and anxiety.

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UNDER THE LAMMAS MOON

Sun 8th Dec '24, 2:00pm Remind me

Poet and novelist Cora Greenhill reads her sensual and lyrical tale of a young man enchanted by the sea, unable to grow up

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POETRY OF AMELIORATION

Sun 8th Dec '24, 2:45pm Remind me

‘Find inner strength, ask for help, accept change’. Healing and heartening poetry from East Leeds writer Lisa Forte

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TOWER OF SONG

Sun 8th Dec '24, 3:00pm Remind me

Nicky and Carl host ‘Recovery’-inspired songs showcasing the creativity of the songwriters who perform at their monthly Tower of Song nights.

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RECOVERY CHAIR

Sun 8th Dec '24, 5:00pm Remind me

For the duration of the festival, Chapel FM has hosted The Recovery Chair. We hear poems and stories written by writers inspired by it.

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I WANT TO GO HOME

Sun 8th Dec '24, 5:30pm Remind me

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.

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