ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH
Fri 20th Feb '26, 7:00pm
Welcome the 3rd Chapel FM Anthology, and the 10th Writing On Air festival, across the threshold with a fabulous night of poetry and music.
Writing On Air 2026
Writing On Air, now in its 10th year, is a festival of words and ideas broadcast on East Leeds Community Radio from Chapel FM Arts Centre
This years theme is on Thresholds
Entry and exit points, moments of transition, transformation.
The point at which change starts to occur. Doors, portals, liminal spaces in-between, Gatekeepers, Membranes, Passing places.
Schedule
Friday 20th Feb - Sunday March 1st 2026
Next programme
When: Show schedule currently unknown
All broadcasts
View allOZYMANDIAS AND OTHER LONG GOODBYES
Sat 21st Feb '26, 10:00am
Helped by some old statues, Leonard Cohen and Taking Back Sunday, Christopher R. Moore considers what it really means to let go.
TONY HARRISON: GLOBAL LINKS
Sat 21st Feb '26, 11:00am
How the great Leeds poet, who died last year, used art to transcend borders from Nigeria to Eastern Europe, Brazil to Japan.
OVER THE THRESHOLD
Sat 21st Feb '26, 12:00pm
Alice had long gone over the threshold,but never imagined she could cross this one. Monologue from Gaia Sequoia, plus discussion with health professionals.
STEP IN, LOOK UP!
Sat 21st Feb '26, 12:45pm
At the former entrance to Leeds General Infirmary there are medicinal plants at the tops of columns. Why? With Emma Storr and Barry Strickland-Hodge.
DAWN CHORUS
Sat 21st Feb '26, 1:30pm
Have you ever really listened to the dawn chorus? Hear it differently in this audio drama from Sophie MacWhannell.
BEYOND THE GATE
Sat 21st Feb '26, 1:45pm
A child stands poised at the entrance to the abandoned garden. Will she step into this world of wildness, beauty and wonder? Story from Madeleine Wuidart.
WHEN POETRY TAKES WING
Sat 21st Feb '26, 2:00pm
Hannah Stone explores the threshold between poem and song as alumni from Leeds Song read poems and discuss the craft of writing for composers.
THE WAKE
Sat 21st Feb '26, 3:30pm
30 years after leaving school a group of forty-somethings undertake a walk across the North Yorks Moors. But who is with them?
SHOT THE LOT
Sat 21st Feb '26, 4:30pm
A dairy farmer in despair. Lost everything. Chris Berry reads his own story written in 2020 when the milk price was well below production cost.
THE ACCIDENT
Sat 21st Feb '26, 5:00pm
Car in a ditch. In this mystery thriller, each passenger has a different version of events. Who’s telling lies? Live drama reading from Aberford Authors Drama Collective.
IDYLLS OF THE KING (Part 1)
Sat 21st Feb '26, 5:45pm
Tennyson’s epic cycle of poems about loyalty, truth, and political turmoil read in three parts by Ibrahim Knight.
LEEDS-DURBAN
Sat 21st Feb '26, 6:00pm
Did you know Leeds is twinned with Durban, South Africa? Find out more with Steve Whitby and Tony Macaluso.
GRIDLOCK
Sat 21st Feb '26, 7:00pm
Tallulah Howarth and Carrieanne Vivianette explore the threshold between poetry and sound in this live reading of Tallulah’s grid poems.
WHAT IS OUR LANGUAGE OF NOW?
Sat 21st Feb '26, 7:30pm
Peat bogs, marshes: thresholds. Anne Caldwell presents two award winning short films and launches her new collection of prose poetry from Valley Press.
MINUTES FROM THE REVOLUTION
Sat 21st Feb '26, 8:30pm
They’re out on the streets. It’s all starting. But is it in the minutes? Comedy satire audio drama from Freya Jackson.
MURDER IN 1960’s YORKSHIRE
Sat 21st Feb '26, 9:30pm
Ian Walker/Jon Mason reveals how his involvement in the search for the victims of Brady and Hindley, the Moors Murderers, affected his writing thereafter.
RED KITE: SPACES AND PLACES
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 10:00am
Young people from Chapel FM’s Next Generation chat about public spaces in Leeds and how they feel about them.
WHOSE MILK IS IT ANYWAY?
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 10:30am
Barbara complains about her husband leaving the milk out, but the relationship went sour long before the milk. Audio drama by Jan Ruppe.
MOTHER NATURE’S WHISPERS
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 11:00am
What happens when the natural world and the human world interact with each other? Lighthearted and reflective poems from Mandi Lynsdale.
LESSONS FROM AN ACCIDENTAL STAND UP
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 11:30am
A midlife adventure story by Laura Graham.
THE FINAL WHISTLE
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 12:00pm
Live in-studio reading of an audio play by Jacqueline Everett about love, betrayal and the 1966 World Cup, set in communist Hungary.
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 1:00pm
If we are the sum of our parts, what becomes of the pieces we leave behind? Live performance from Huw Parlor.
AFTERNOON TEA
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 1:30pm
Afternoon tea is important to Angie Smiles, but not because of the food. Live sketch.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 1:45pm
In Michael Hassell’s comedy, three engaged couples try to win their Dream Wedding on a TV Gameshow. Will anyone make it to the altar? Live drama reading.
WATER AND FIRE
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 2:45pm
Documentary about the volunteer fire watchers who kept watch over the rooftops of The Leeds Library in World War Two.
RIGHT HERE WITH YOU
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 3:00pm
Live drama from Dales Ball that welcomes you into a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and cherished in their own neighbourhood.
SPONTANEOUS RADIO ERUPTION
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 3:45pm
In the absence of the scheduled show, musicians & poets improvise a radio performance at five minutes notice. Why? Because we're Chapel FM!
BEOWULF
Sun 22nd Feb '26, 4:45pm
Four storytellers. One ancient tale. A thousand interpretations. Live theatre performance of this thrilling, darkly comic retelling from Treadlight Theatre.
RED KITE: WHOSE HERITAGE?
Thu 26th Feb '26, 3:30pm
Young people from Chapel FM’s Next Generation take the idea of heritage and what it means to them.
THE MUSIC MAN
Thu 26th Feb '26, 5:00pm
The boundary of time is the keeper. The music - it knows; it is the gateway. But to where? Fiction from Gaia Sequoia
SANCTUARY DIARIES
Thu 26th Feb '26, 6:00pm
Stories of coming to the UK by broadcasters from Chapel FM’s regular radio show of the same name.
LEEDS-LILLE RADIO CABARET
Thu 26th Feb '26, 6:00pm
Young radio makers from Chapel FM’s Next Generation share stories and sounds from their recent trip to Seacroft’s twin community of Moulins in Lille, France.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Thu 26th Feb '26, 7:00pm
Stone Soup return for another wry look at life past, present and future through song, stories and conversation.
STORIES FROM THE SOFA
Thu 26th Feb '26, 8:15pm
A candlelit weave of tales and myths from storytellers Ruth Steinberg, Vickie Orton and Matthew Bellwood.
WHAT IF..?
Fri 27th Feb '26, 10:00am
You are invited to look beyond the mask to a hidden inner world, the concealed struggles and triumphs. Story from Melissa Wuidart Phillips.
FIRST STORY (Part 1)
Fri 27th Feb '26, 10:30am
First Story is a national organisation that places writers in schools. Young writers from residencies in West Yorkshire share their work.
BISHOP YOUNG
Fri 27th Feb '26, 12:00pm
Young writers from Bishop Young Academy in East Leeds share writing created on a recent visit to Chapel FM.
FIRST STORY (Part 2)
Fri 27th Feb '26, 1:00pm
First Story is a national organisation that places writers in schools. Young writers from residencies in West Yorkshire share their work.
HEATHER IN HEAVEN
Fri 27th Feb '26, 2:00pm
‘Nobody told me heaven would be like this’. A sequence of poems in memoriam Heather Rathmell (1942-1953) by her brother Neil (1947-)
AND THE POINT IS?
Fri 27th Feb '26, 2:45pm
Why do old people think books help young people to live their lives? Is there any point in doing Literature at school? Live talk by Geraldine Beattie.
WAKEY WILD ONES
Fri 27th Feb '26, 4:00pm
Lyrical audio drama by Tim Brookes about five former club friends from Wakefield reflecting on love, loss, and basslines.
DECISIONS
Fri 27th Feb '26, 4:45pm
The Roundhay Park bench once more plays host to Pat and Dave as they face another of life’s great taboos. Audio drama from Mally and Phil Harvey.
OTHER TONGUE, MOTHER TONGUE (Part 1)
Fri 27th Feb '26, 5:00pm
Poets from online publication The Other Side of Hope and from all over the world share work in their own languages and in English.
IDYLLS OF THE KING (Part 2)
Fri 27th Feb '26, 6:15pm
Tennyson’s epic cycle of poems about loyalty, truth, and political turmoil read in three parts by Ibrahim Knight.
GRADE OF EXECUTION
Fri 27th Feb '26, 6:30pm
As a change in admin brings up Enriquez’s past, how much will he risk for his 3rd consecutive Olympic gold? Live drama reading from Catherine Shonack.
THE LINES BETWEEN
Fri 27th Feb '26, 7:30pm
Rise & Howl presents four short plays interwoven with poetry, exploring the moments that shapeshift and connect us.
THIS PLACE, TO ALL PLACES LINKED: JOURNEYING WITH DANTE
Fri 27th Feb '26, 9:00pm
Poet Kimberly Campanello leads a journey through her new version of Dante’s Divine Comedy, based on her experience of Parkinson’s disease
PICNIC AT ALMSCLIFFE
Fri 27th Feb '26, 10:00pm
Tim Boardman’s phone was found at Almscliffe Crag. If you have information on his whereabouts please contact local police. Spooky audio drama.
THE THRESHOLD
Fri 27th Feb '26, 10:15pm
Strange things happen at sea. Story from Philip Wiggs about the threshold between what we know and what we cannot know.
PAUL’S GARDEN
Sat 28th Feb '26, 10:00am
Paul’s buying a house with a beautiful garden. And they’re in love, so it’ll be her home too. Won’t it? Story from Isabel Edain.
AN UNHOLY MARTYR
Sat 28th Feb '26, 10:30am
Ginger-haired Michael James O’Reilly, 13, wonders what the f*** he’s doing at St Desmond’s Catholic Boarding School. Story from Martin Riley.
FORGET ME NOT
Sat 28th Feb '26, 11:00am
Reflections on love, loss and remembrance written and presented by John Irving Clarke, Howard Falshaw, Lisa Falshaw and Mick Jenkinson.
ANCIENT THRESHOLDS
Sat 28th Feb '26, 12:00pm
Greek and Roman thresholds with The Muddy Archaeologist, Gillian Hovell, in discussion with poet Emma Storr.
THE JOURNEY FROM CREATING TO SHARING
Sat 28th Feb '26, 1:00pm
Typewriter Poet Molly Ovenden and fellow writers talk about crossing the threshold from solitary creating to public sharing.
OTHER TONGUE, MOTHER TONGUE (Part 2)
Sat 28th Feb '26, 2:15pm
Poets from online publication The Other Side of Hope and from all over the world share work in their own languages and in English.
IDYLLS OF THE KING (Part 3)
Sat 28th Feb '26, 3:30pm
Tennyson’s epic cycle of poems about loyalty, truth, and political turmoil read in three parts by Ibrahim Knight.
TOWER OF SONG
Sat 28th Feb '26, 4:00pm
Live music with regulars of this themed night for songwriters who turn their talents to Threshold, with Nicky Bray and Carl Flattery.
THE WRITE STUFF
Sat 28th Feb '26, 6:00pm
Stories and poetry from Leeds U3A’s vibrant creative writing group returning with their personal take on the festival theme.
THE BILLY MYERS RADIO SHOW
Sat 28th Feb '26, 7:00pm
Billy Myers presents his own unique brand of comedy, co-featuring Alan Partridge, Terry Wogan and many more!
CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET
Sat 28th Feb '26, 7:30pm
Join the local and international COYC poets for a vibetastic evening of poetry, performance and lots of soul, hosted by Julie Jones.
THE ONLY HIGH I NEED
Sun 1st Mar '26, 10:00am
In Ria Tocsin’s debut novel, Darcy tells her powerfully affecting story. Ria talks frankly about addiction and violence
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE
Sun 1st Mar '26, 11:00am
What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? In-depth discussion.
STEPPING INSIDE THE NATIONAL POETRY CENTRE
Sun 1st Mar '26, 12:15pm
Tony Macaluso continues the story of this landmark building in Leeds with studio guests.
LIFE, DEATH, AND BEYOND
Sun 1st Mar '26, 1:00pm
All is not yet lost. A personal narrative by Jaspreet Mander of a near-death experience.
REGRESSION
Sun 1st Mar '26, 1:45pm
Have we been here before? And will we come again? John Otley draws back the veil, with guests.
A CHILD DRAWS A BUTTERFLY IN THE SAND SCAR
Sun 1st Mar '26, 2:30pm
Ruth Steinberg, storyweaver, and sound artist Martin Berger, in a performance that combines words with sounds.
EATING HISTORY, 1938-46
Sun 1st Mar '26, 3:30pm
More stories from Len Biran about a world in turmoil. But you have to eat! Live storytelling in the radio theatre.
DANCE FOR RADIO
Sun 1st Mar '26, 4:30pm
Musician Martin Berger, poet Peter Spafford, and dancers Rachel Dean and Anthony Haddon make the improbable possible.