Verbose MCR

One of Manchester’s longest running spoken word events, Verbose, returns on Monday 26th January 2026 at the Kings Arms.

Verbose has a proud history of bringing together a vibrant mix of live literature from poetry, prose and everything in between. Verbose welcomes new talent to the open mic alongside established writers and performers wanting to showcase new material, giving audiences the chance to hear work that is on its way to be published or perhaps feature at festivals including Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe and many more.

Over the years Verbose has hosted writers who have since gone on to win local, national and international awards for their work or feature on national radio and beyond. A night that offers any audience a chance to see an incredible array of talent month in, month out.

Introducing our headliners for January!

Hannah Ledlie

Hannah is an Edinburgh-born, Manchester-based writer.

In 2015 she was shortlisted for the BBC Young Writers’ Award, and in 2019 she was a winner of Penguin’s ‘Platform Pride’ poetry competition.

As part of Team Birmingham, she won UniSlam 2018 and ‘19.

Her work has been published in magazines including Ambit, Gutter, Magma, Butcher’s Dog, and New Writing Scotland.

In 2022, Hannah completed her MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.

In 2024, her poem ‘The Embroidery’ was chosen as The Scotsman’s poem of the week.

Aminah Zaman

Aminah is a queer British-Pakistani writer, poet, and performer based in Manchester. She is a multi-disciplined artist, with her work exploring cultural identity, the political landscape, lived experience, and mental health, weaving them together with honesty, sharpness, and a voice that refuses to dilute itself.

Her writing holds both tenderness and fire, and her performances carry the weight of story, heritage, and the world we’re all trying to navigate.

To enter the draw for an open mic slot, please email us on verbosemanchester@gmail.com between 1st and 6th January.

Tickets are pay what you can from the link

Verbose: Monday 26th January 2026

Kings Arms, Bloom Street Salford 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Find us on Instagram and Facebook at @verbosemcr