Verbose MCR

One of Manchester’s longest running spoken word events, Verbose, returns on Monday 26th May 2025 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 May

Maria Ferguson is a writer and performer. Her poetry has been widely anthologised and published in literary magazines such as Magma, The Rialto, The North and The Poetry Review. She was a finalist of the Montreal International Poetry Prize 2024 and her debut collection, Alright, Girl? (Burning Eye, 2020), was Highly Commended in the Forward Prizes. On the stage, her one-woman show Fat Girls Don’t Dance (Oberon, 2017) won the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show; Essex Girl (Oberon, 2019) was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award and won Show of the Week at VAULT Festival. She has been commissioned by the Royal Academy of Arts, Stylist magazine, The Bronte Parsonage and BBC Radio. Her work has been featured in The Guardian and on Radio 4’s The Verb and Woman’s Hour. She is the Associate Producer of LIVEwire Poetry and teaches creative writing in a variety of settings. Her second poetry collection, Swell was published in 2025 by Penguin Random House

Biz Bond is a poet living in Manchester who’s been que(e)rying the world through poetry since they were a kid. A member of the Southbank Centre New Poet’s Collective 24-25 and finalist in this year’s Roundhouse slam, Bond was dubbed ‘good value for money’ by Simon Armitage – come see if you agree.

To enter the draw for an open mic slot, please email us on verbosemanchester@gmail.com between 1st and 5th May.

May´s Verbose promises to be a night to remember and we recommend securing your seat whilst you still can!

Tickets are pay what you can from the link.

Verbose: Monday 26th May 2025

Kings Arms, Bloom Street Salford 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Find us on Instagram and Facebook at @verbosemcr