Jackie Kay
Appeared: 14 May
Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Glasgow. Her first book The Adoption Papers won the Saltire and a Forward Prize. Trumpet, a novel circling the life of a fictional jazz musician, Joss Moody, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. Red Dust Road, her memoir telling the story of her Nigerian birth father and Highland birth mother won the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Award, and was toured by NTS last year, adapted for the stage by Tanika Gupta. Her latest collection of poetry Bantam was published to great acclaim. She is the third modern Makar, the National Poet of Scotland and the Chancellor of the University of Salford. Her book on the blues singer Bessie Smith is due out in 2021.
Appeared: 14 May
Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Glasgow. Her first book The Adoption Papers won the Saltire and a Forward Prize. Trumpet, a novel circling the life of a fictional jazz musician, Joss Moody, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. Red Dust Road, her memoir telling the story of her Nigerian birth father and Highland birth mother won the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Award, and was toured by NTS last year, adapted for the stage by Tanika Gupta. Her latest collection of poetry Bantam was published to great acclaim. She is the third modern Makar, the National Poet of Scotland and the Chancellor of the University of Salford. Her book on the blues singer Bessie Smith is due out in 2021.
Links
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Jackie Kay's poem to say thank you to all essential workers during the coronavirus outbreak.
Jackie Kay was a recent guest on Simon Armitage's podcast The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed. Kay, who first shared a stage with Simon 30 years ago on The New Generation poetry tour, reminisces about those first readings as well a sharing their current experiences of holding the highest positions in poetry - Jackie as the Scottish Makar and Simon as the Poet Laureate. The conversation ranges far and wide as these two friends look back on their writing lives. Listen to it here. |
Jackie appeared on Front Row Late, interviewed by Mary Beard and reading her poem 'The Secret Life of Trees'. Watch it here (Jackie appears at the 11 minutes 50 seconds mark).
One of the poems that attracted the most attention when Jackie performed at Makar To Makar was 'MASKS', which was inspired by recent events. You can read the poem here.
One of the poems that attracted the most attention when Jackie performed at Makar To Makar was 'MASKS', which was inspired by recent events. You can read the poem here.
Independent Bookshop Spotlight on...
The Lighthouse
43-45 West Nicolson Street
Edinburgh EH8 9DB
email: [email protected]
Phone: 0131 662 9112
Website: https://www.lighthousebookshop.com/
Lighthouse - Edinburgh's Radical Bookshop is an activist, intersectional, feminist, antiracist, LGBTQ+ bookshop and community space. They are home to Edinburgh's annual Radical Book Fair & August Book Fringe and in normal times host hundreds of book events throughout the year. For now you can find their virtual community bookshop space on their website and across social media under the banner #LighthouseLifeRaft. Their weekly newsletter shares the highlights, including video readings, recommendations and author interviews, and that's where they'll announce their online events when they start up again! They are @Lighthousebks on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
They are still delivering books across the UK, which you can order via email or you can pick from a selection of our favourites on the website.
Jackie says of The Lighthouse, 'I love this bookshop - love how many wonderful books they have packed into a small space. Love how knowledgeable the workers are. And love the way that the bookshop specialises on fiction and non fiction and poetry for LGBTQI folk . You can find books there that you won't find so quickly in other bookshops. All my favourites will be there the minute the new book is available. It takes real dedication and passion to run a bookshop like this, and every time I enter it I feel a sense of gratitude. It reminds me of Silver Moon.'
43-45 West Nicolson Street
Edinburgh EH8 9DB
email: [email protected]
Phone: 0131 662 9112
Website: https://www.lighthousebookshop.com/
Lighthouse - Edinburgh's Radical Bookshop is an activist, intersectional, feminist, antiracist, LGBTQ+ bookshop and community space. They are home to Edinburgh's annual Radical Book Fair & August Book Fringe and in normal times host hundreds of book events throughout the year. For now you can find their virtual community bookshop space on their website and across social media under the banner #LighthouseLifeRaft. Their weekly newsletter shares the highlights, including video readings, recommendations and author interviews, and that's where they'll announce their online events when they start up again! They are @Lighthousebks on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
They are still delivering books across the UK, which you can order via email or you can pick from a selection of our favourites on the website.
Jackie says of The Lighthouse, 'I love this bookshop - love how many wonderful books they have packed into a small space. Love how knowledgeable the workers are. And love the way that the bookshop specialises on fiction and non fiction and poetry for LGBTQI folk . You can find books there that you won't find so quickly in other bookshops. All my favourites will be there the minute the new book is available. It takes real dedication and passion to run a bookshop like this, and every time I enter it I feel a sense of gratitude. It reminds me of Silver Moon.'
They're currently selling five Jackie Kay titles.
Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay
Trumpet by Jackie Kay
Bantam by Jackie Kay
Fiere by Jackie Kay
Red Cherry Red by Jackie Kay
Check out their special Makar to Makar page on their website here.
Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay
Trumpet by Jackie Kay
Bantam by Jackie Kay
Fiere by Jackie Kay
Red Cherry Red by Jackie Kay
Check out their special Makar to Makar page on their website here.
Theatre Spotlight on...
Eden Court
Bishops Road
Inverness IV3 5SA
01463 234234
Website: https://eden-court.co.uk/
Eden's Court is Scotland’s largest combined arts organisation. They say, 'We present and make work with, by and for the people of the Highlands and Islands and those who visit us.' They have two theatres: The Empire – 869 seats, The One Touch – 275 seats, two multi-purpose studios, two cinemas and three art galleries. 'The Highland spirit runs through our organisation in many ways from the local produce we use in our restaurant, our Gaelic and Traditional Arts programme on our stages, but perhaps most importantly; through our welcome.'
Jackie says of Eden Court, 'is a dream of a place on the River Ness. Every time I go through the doors there, I feel a real sense of welcome and community. It's a place where you can be mentally as well as physically nourished! Great films, theatre and a great scone too. I love the way that people come not just from Inverness but from all over the Highlands. The cast of Red Dust Road had the best time with the audiences there. The last time I was on there myself, there was a fabulous crowd. I was there judging the Neil Gunn Award and they had described me as The Lady with the Largest Smile in Scotland. I laughed when I heard that come across the tannoy - please take your seats for the lady with the largest smile in Scotland. It meant I could just stand on the stage and smile for the longest time until people started to shift uncomfortably!'
Eden Court CEO James Mackenzie-Blackman says, 'We’re honoured that Scotland’s Makar Jackie Kay has chosen Eden Court as her favourite theatre. It was only a year ago that Jackie’s autobiographical play Red Dust Road was performed here. That seems like so long ago now and we can’t wait to, once again, be presenting live performances on our stages as well as a world class cinema programme, our classes programme and getting back in and around the communities our Engagement team serves. Until then we need help to get through this. If you can donate to us, please do.'
Seventy-five percent of Eden Court’s total income comes from ticket sales, their bar and restaurant. Make a donation to support Eden Court's charitable work in the Highlands here.
Visit Eden Court’s dedicated “Lockdown page” here for latest news and recommendations.
Visit the “Covid Ceilidh” page here to see the hundreds of musical collaborations that taken place online over the past few months via the hashtag #covidceilidh.
Bishops Road
Inverness IV3 5SA
01463 234234
Website: https://eden-court.co.uk/
Eden's Court is Scotland’s largest combined arts organisation. They say, 'We present and make work with, by and for the people of the Highlands and Islands and those who visit us.' They have two theatres: The Empire – 869 seats, The One Touch – 275 seats, two multi-purpose studios, two cinemas and three art galleries. 'The Highland spirit runs through our organisation in many ways from the local produce we use in our restaurant, our Gaelic and Traditional Arts programme on our stages, but perhaps most importantly; through our welcome.'
Jackie says of Eden Court, 'is a dream of a place on the River Ness. Every time I go through the doors there, I feel a real sense of welcome and community. It's a place where you can be mentally as well as physically nourished! Great films, theatre and a great scone too. I love the way that people come not just from Inverness but from all over the Highlands. The cast of Red Dust Road had the best time with the audiences there. The last time I was on there myself, there was a fabulous crowd. I was there judging the Neil Gunn Award and they had described me as The Lady with the Largest Smile in Scotland. I laughed when I heard that come across the tannoy - please take your seats for the lady with the largest smile in Scotland. It meant I could just stand on the stage and smile for the longest time until people started to shift uncomfortably!'
Eden Court CEO James Mackenzie-Blackman says, 'We’re honoured that Scotland’s Makar Jackie Kay has chosen Eden Court as her favourite theatre. It was only a year ago that Jackie’s autobiographical play Red Dust Road was performed here. That seems like so long ago now and we can’t wait to, once again, be presenting live performances on our stages as well as a world class cinema programme, our classes programme and getting back in and around the communities our Engagement team serves. Until then we need help to get through this. If you can donate to us, please do.'
Seventy-five percent of Eden Court’s total income comes from ticket sales, their bar and restaurant. Make a donation to support Eden Court's charitable work in the Highlands here.
Visit Eden Court’s dedicated “Lockdown page” here for latest news and recommendations.
Visit the “Covid Ceilidh” page here to see the hundreds of musical collaborations that taken place online over the past few months via the hashtag #covidceilidh.
Library Spotlight on...
Glasgow Women's Library
23 Landressy Street
Bridgeton, Glasgow G40 1BP
0141 550 2267
Website: https://womenslibrary.org.uk/
Glasgow Women’s Library is the only Accredited Museum in the UK dedicated to women’s lives, histories and achievements, with a lending library, archive collections and innovative programmes of public events & learning opportunities. As well as a lending library, they hold a wonderful treasure trove of historical and contemporary artifacts and archive materials that celebrate the lives, histories and achievements of women. From Suffragette memorabilia and 1930s dress making patterns to rare 1970s Scottish Women’s Liberation newsletters, it’s all there!
23 Landressy Street
Bridgeton, Glasgow G40 1BP
0141 550 2267
Website: https://womenslibrary.org.uk/
Glasgow Women’s Library is the only Accredited Museum in the UK dedicated to women’s lives, histories and achievements, with a lending library, archive collections and innovative programmes of public events & learning opportunities. As well as a lending library, they hold a wonderful treasure trove of historical and contemporary artifacts and archive materials that celebrate the lives, histories and achievements of women. From Suffragette memorabilia and 1930s dress making patterns to rare 1970s Scottish Women’s Liberation newsletters, it’s all there!
Jackie Kay created a response to GWL's collections for their 21st Birthday – part of a project called 21 Revolutions - to mark Glasgow Women’s Library’s 21st Birthday in 2012. For the project, the Library commissioned 21 artists and 21 writers to each create new works inspired by items in their museum, library and archive collections. This is the link to Jackie’s work, which can download or listen to it for free from this link.
Jackie also recorded a podcast with Hollie McNish about visiting Glasgow's Women's Library, which can be heard here.
Jackie says of GWL, 'It has been amazing to watch the way that Glasgow Women's Library has grown into their own over the years. I've loved them from the beginning when they just had a couple of rooms in Parnie Street when I first went and did a candlelit reading there. I was entranced at the idea that all of these feminists in Glasgow had such amazing ambitions of building up a women's library. Now the new space is everything they could have dreamed of, and just going inside feels like a real experience before you even look at a book. Amazing carpets, beautiful design. Oh my my mum kept saying when I wheeled her around last year, Oh my.
'They really involve the whole community and put on an amazing amount of events and exhibitions too. The last time I was there was to do an event that involved the fantastic Hannah Leighton Boyce and Ruth Barker and was a collaboration with Castlefield Art Gallery and the University of Salford Art Collection.'
Jackie also recorded a podcast with Hollie McNish about visiting Glasgow's Women's Library, which can be heard here.
Jackie says of GWL, 'It has been amazing to watch the way that Glasgow Women's Library has grown into their own over the years. I've loved them from the beginning when they just had a couple of rooms in Parnie Street when I first went and did a candlelit reading there. I was entranced at the idea that all of these feminists in Glasgow had such amazing ambitions of building up a women's library. Now the new space is everything they could have dreamed of, and just going inside feels like a real experience before you even look at a book. Amazing carpets, beautiful design. Oh my my mum kept saying when I wheeled her around last year, Oh my.
'They really involve the whole community and put on an amazing amount of events and exhibitions too. The last time I was there was to do an event that involved the fantastic Hannah Leighton Boyce and Ruth Barker and was a collaboration with Castlefield Art Gallery and the University of Salford Art Collection.'