Writing On Air 2026
Fri 20th February - Sun 1st March
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.
What’s On
Music, poetry, open mics, yoga, film-screenings, courses and classes.
Upcoming Events at Chapel FM
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Event ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH
Fri 20th February, 7:00pm
Welcome the 3rd Chapel FM Anthology, and the 10th Writing On Air festival, across threshold with a fabulous night of poetry and music.
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Event WORKSHOP: THE SEA, THE SEA
Sat 21st February, 11:00am
Hannah Stone and Clare Wigzell dig deep in the liminal and littoral with writing prompts from poetry and lived experiences.
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Event WHEN POETRY TAKES WING
Sat 21st February, 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.
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Event THE WAKE
Sat 21st February, 3:30pm
Thirty years Thirty years after leaving school a group of forty-somethings undertake a walk across the North Yorks Moors. But who is with them? Live drama reading by Aberford Authors Drama Collective.
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Event SHOT THE LOT
Sat 21st February, 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.
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Event THE ACCIDENT
Sat 21st February, 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.
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Event GRIDLOCK
Sat 21st February, 7:00pm
Tallulah Howarth and Carrieanne Vivianette explore the threshold between poetry and sound in this live reading of Tallulah’s grid poems.
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Event WHAT IS OUR LANGUAGE OF NOW?
Sat 21st February, 7:30pm
Anne Caldwell presents two award winning short films and launches her new collection of prose poetry from Valley Press.
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Event POETRY ON FILM
Sat 21st February, 8:30pm
A selection of short films featuring poetry.
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Event WORKSHOP: TALKING SCRIPTS
Sun 22nd February, 11:00am
Charlotte Carrick leads a workshop introducing participants to the fundamentals of screenwriting
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Event YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU
Sun 22nd February, 1:00pm
If we are the sum of our parts, what becomes of the pieces we leave behind? Live performance from Huw Parlor.
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Event AFTERNOON TEA
Sun 22nd February, 1:30pm
Afternoon tea is important to Angie Smiles, but not because of the food. Live sketch.
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Event CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
Sun 22nd February, 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.
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Event RIGHT HERE WITH YOU
Sun 22nd February, 3:00pm
Live drama from Dales Ball that welcomes you into a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and cherished in their own neighbourhood.
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Event STRAW INTO GOLD
Sun 22nd February, 3:45pm
How do you spin straw into gold? What is gold anyway? Live storytelling and song with Vickie Orton and Carol Timlin.
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Event BEOWULF
Sun 22nd February, 4:45pm
Four storytellers. One ancient tale. A thousand interpretations. Live theatre performance of this thrilling, darkly comic retelling from Treadlight Theatre
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Event THE BIG PUB QUIZ
Sun 22nd February, 6:00pm
Enjoy a drink at the end of the day whilst tackling fun threshold questions, solo or in a team. Free entry and a prize for the winner.
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Event LEEDS-LILLE
Thu 26th February, 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.
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Event THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Thu 26th February, 7:00pm
The Stone Soup performance group returns for a show about life past, present and future told through song, stories and conversation.
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Event STORIES FROM THE SOFA
Thu 26th February, 8:15pm
A candlelit weave of tales and myths from storytellers Ruth Steinberg, Vickie Orton and Matthew Bellwood.
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Event GRADE OF EXECUTION
Fri 27th February, 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.
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Event THE LINES BETWEEN
Fri 27th February, 7:30pm
Rise & Howl presents four short plays interwoven with poetry, exploring the moments that shapeshift, and connect us.
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Event THIS PLACE, TO ALL PLACES LINKED: JOURNEYING WITH DANTE
Fri 27th February, 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.
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Event WORKSHOP: HAIKU
Sat 28th February, 11:00am
Award-winning writer and poet Todd Murphy shows how the techniques and discipline of haiku can sharpen writing of any kind.
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Event TOWER OF SONG
Sat 28th February, 4:00pm
Live music with regulars of this themed night for songwriters who turn their talents to Threshold, with Nicky Bray and Carl Flattery
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Event CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET
Sat 28th February, 7:30pm
Join the local and international COYC poets for a vibetastic evening of poetry, performance and lots of soul, hosted by Julie Jones.
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Event WORKSHOP: WRITING SPACES
Sun 1st March, 11:00am
Faye Marshall leads a session inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space. Explore the relationship between physical space and emotional memory to create new poetry.
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Event WORKSHOP: IN TANDEM
Sun 1st March, 1:00pm
Musician Martin Berger and storyteller Ruth Steinberg lead an improvisation session with words and music
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Event A CHILD DRAWS A BUTTERFLY IN THE SAND SCAR
Sun 1st March, 2:30pm
Ruth Steinberg, storyweaver, and sound artist Martin Berger, in a performance that combines words with sounds.
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Event EATING HISTORY, 1938-46
Sun 1st March, 3:30pm
More stories from Len Biran about a world in turmoil. But you have to eat! Live storytelling in the radio theatre
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Event DANCE FOR RADIO
Sun 1st March, 4:30pm
Musician Martin Berger, poet Peter Spafford, and dancers Rachel Dean and Anthony Haddon make the improbable possible
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Event Left of Leeds Live
Fri 20th March - Fri 20th February
Our resident experimental music show host has a brand new selection of experimental music, live in our radio theater.
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Event LEEDS SONG AND CHAPEL FM PRESENT: OLD WORDS / NEW SONG – A Day of Musical Creativity in Leeds
Sat 28th March, 11:00am
Calling all composers, songwriters, word-lovers and curious creatives! Ever wondered what it’s like to set someone else’s words to your own music? Or to turn a 500 year old poem into something new and alive? How about transforming a lemon sponge recipe, or even a tombstone inscription, into a song with real emotional punch?
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