Polari Press (2024)

19/02/2024

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Derek Jarman who died of AIDS related illness at 52 in 1994.

Tonight with we’re celebrating his life and work; as filmmaker, artist, writer and gardener, with a screening of his final film ‘Blue’ as well as the launch of ’s poetry pamphlet ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’.

18/02/2024

Lovely to meet .booton in person for the first time (shocking and embarrassing really tbh since we published their pamphlet last year 🫣) at the launch event for his latest poetry pamphlet ‘On This Stretch of Queerland’ at yesterday afternoon. A touching and personal collection of q***r love, lust and friendship.

His first pamphlet ‘Walking Contagions’ is on sale from our website and available to order from most bookshops.

Also gorgeous to see readings by (who featured in our first anthology ‘Creating in Crisis’) and who’s been a great friend of our work.

17/02/2024

Signed copies of the limited edition of ’s ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ should be arriving by today for UK orders. We’ve also just dropped off five copies at which will be on sale shortly. Grab one while you can!

16/02/2024

Also with us today is the standard edition of ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ by , and we’re thrilled with how they look. Available now for £9 and mailing out early next week.

Copies will also be available from the launch events over the coming weeks, starting Monday 19th Feb, the 30th anniversary of Jarman’s death. Ticket links in our bio.

09/02/2024

Congratulations to .booton on his new pamphlet ‘On this Stretch of Queerland’ released this week and published by . Can’t wait to get stuck in, and already loving the shared colour palette between this and ‘Walking Contagions’ (published by Polari Press last year!) 🩷💙

07/02/2024

Some lovely snaps from the opening night of ’s latest exhibition. Photos by (who we possibly distracted throughout the night by chatting excitedly about graphic design 🫣).

06/02/2024

Here are the details of the book launch events we have planned for ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ by , published by .

Featuring guests , , Neil Bartlett, , .sidari and and our partners , ***rcircle, , .

We’ve now sold out online of the limited edition of the pamphlet so we’ll release a standard edition which is available to preorder now and will also be for sale at the events.

Links for tickets and book on our profile.

Very limited stock of the limited edition is still available to preorder from , , , and .

***rpoetry

03/02/2024

Lovely night at the opening of the latest exhibition at last night. It was such a warm and welcoming, friendly space and it felt great to be able to share the work of Polari Press. Thanks to Trevor at ADORN THE COMMON for having us! 💜

Work featured is on until the 15th February.

19/01/2024

Here’s the cover artwork for ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ by . Risograph printed in grey ink on Colorplan Sapphire paper then duplexed onto grey board with inner pages stitched in blue thread, creating a unique and hand-finished first edition.

Limited to 130 copies, each will be numbered and signed by the author. Out in exactly a month on the 19th February, marking the day of Derek Jarman’s death in 1994.

Order before the end of this weekend for free postage from our website.

20/12/2023

Preorders are now open for ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ by .

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death, ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ is a poetic tribute to Jarman’s inspiring legacy spun from the multi-coloured threads of his extraordinary life – writer, artist, q***r and AIDS activist, designer, filmmaker, and gardener.

Special limited first edition of 130 copies.
Numbered and signed by the author.

Hand-stitch bound with duplexed board cover. Risograph printed in Blue ink, using Munken Lynx and Colorplan Sapphire 170gsm papers. Featuring cyanotype illustrations by Peter Collins.

Preorder before the 19th January for free postage (UK addresses only). Link in bio.

13/12/2023

So stoked to have a poem from ‘We Are Hungry for Androgyny’ by be Poem of the Week in the newsletter, and such gorgeous words about the collection. 🧡🧡🧡

The collection is available online from (buy before Monday for Christmas delivery!)

And we thoroughly recommend signing up to the newsletter if you haven’t already for some great insights and recommendations of q***r poetry as well as updates about their releases.

02/12/2023

At ***riosities_ today and tomorrow selling all our books including ‘You Otter Know’ from (pictured).

At the 10am–5pm.

01/12/2023

To mark we are eager to announce that we'll be publishing a new poetry pamphlet by entitled 'a finger in derek jarman's mouth' in February 2024, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the visionary artist's death next year.

'a finger in derek jarman’s mouth' is a poetic tribute to Jarman’s life and inspiration spun from the multi-coloured threads of his extraordinary life — writer, artist, q***r activist, designer, filmmaker, and gardener.

Unashamed of his HIV status, Jarman died of AIDS-related illness in 1994, aged 52.

The limited edition pamphlet will be risograph printed with a duplexed cover and featuring cyanotype illustrations by Peter Collins.

Preorders will open soon.

19/11/2023

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the repeal of Section 28, the utterly vile and homophobic legislation brought in by Thatcher’s Conservative government in 1988 which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality.

The policy was seen as a fight against the “loony left” Labour councils who dared to support gay children or acknowledge the fact that some children have gay parents.

Always stay vigilant to politicians seeking popularity by sowing the seeds of hate and division.

This print, in collaboration with , erases the homophobia from the legislation, creating a more accurate message that we do, actually, have the inalienable right to be gay. Available in A4 and A5 size, these risograph prints are the perfect way to say “up yours, Thatcher!”

15/11/2023

Thank you to , , and and your lovely words in praise of ‘We Are Hungry for Androgyny’ by published by .

Catch Leilah reading from the book, tonight at .

26/10/2023

Copies of ‘Chatham House Rules’ by are finally with us! Preorders are in the post and should be with people by Saturday. 🤞

The cover uses our custom designed font by and is printed on Old Mill paper stock which gives them a gorgeously textural and tactile feel. We hope you love them as much as we do!

25/10/2023

Great to see in conversation with and two of the other shortlisted authors, and , last night at the .

As a relatively new indie publisher we’re still working to get national distribution, but copies of Livia’s first poetry collection ‘Rising of the Black Sheep’ are available direct from our website and selected q***r and independent bookshops including

16/10/2023

is thrilled to publish ‘On Railton Road’, a brilliant new play by and opening at the , 31 Oct — 18 Nov 2023.

‘On Railton Road’ throws you headlong into Brixton’s radical past where q***r activism transformed the lives of this unique community. Casper wants to bomb WHSmiths. Daire wants to put on a play. Ned just wants to be with Philip and live on Railton Road forever.

From 1971, until it was set ablaze during the uprisings, Brixton was a hub of unrestrained activist energy. The squats on Railton Road were a magnet for a thrillingly diverse collection of people who wanted to (and did) turn the world upside down.

Previews: Wed 31 Oct & Thu 1 Nov
Limited run: Sat 3 Nov – Sat 18 Nov
Evening tickets / Saturday matinées available.

Tickets for the show available now. You can preorder the play online now, or buy in person at the Museum of the Home. Links in bio.

10/10/2023

Leilah King will be touring her book ‘We Are Hungry for Androgyny’ starting from THIS THURSDAY! 💜💛💚

12 Oct, London
—
24 Oct, London /
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2 Nov, Liverpool /
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15 Nov, Bristol
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27 Nov, Bristol OFFICIAL LAUNCH
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7 Dec, Leicester
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12 Dec, Bath .poetry.night /
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Full info on ’s link on bio.

27/09/2023

Very exciting that our release of ‘Rising of the Black Sheep’, ’s first poetry collection, has been SHORTLISTED for the First Book Prize. 🤩

Livia will be reading from the book at the × BOLD Poetry Soirée at tomorrow night!

Last few tickets and full details from the link on our bio.

09/09/2023

And q***r reading number two of the day is ‘Camille’ by Charles Ludlam organised by at 🩷💚

09/09/2023

Rehearsed reading of ‘Poppies’ a Gay Sweatshop play by Noël Greig earlier today at . Well done and co for organising a wonderful afternoon.

08/08/2023

We’re publishing the playtext of Shanty by , which opens at tonight!

The comedy drama follows a Norfolk family band and their experiences of living in a seaside town. Tickets are now on sale on ’s website and copies of the playtext will be available at the theatre from Thursday and online (link in our bio).

22/07/2023

New A4 and A5 prints from ’s Erased pamphlet printed by the ever-wonderful .press

Remember, kids: The police are toilets, and children have an inalienable right to be gay*!

*And trans.

21/07/2023

What a wonderful way to end the week! Congratulations to whose poetry collection ‘Rising of the Black Sheep’ is longlisted for the First Book Prize 2023!

More on the book linked from our bio.

14/07/2023

The full collection of Polari Poetry titles are now with the .

Couldn’t resist finding our first pamphlet ‘Erased’ by on their shelves. 😍🩷

Books are free to peruse and check out. Find the library on the fifth floor of the .

The limited stitch bound editions of ‘Erased’ and ‘Isle of Sin’ (by ) are now sold out, but we’ll be printing a standard edition of both soon. Get your limited editions of ‘Long live the new flesh’ by .moore94 and ‘Walking Contagions’ by .booton while you can. Links on profile.

04/07/2023

You can now preorder ‘We Are Hungry for Androgyny by out in September. Published by .

Filled with wit, chaos, beauty and rage, Leilah’s second collection shares her experiences navigating the world as a butch, half-Iranian gay woman. Her poems touch on her dual heritage and her experience of q***rness.

She explores how these identities intersect, balancing the expectations of her Persian heritage with her sexuality and gender nonconformity.

Preorder from the link in our bio.

03/07/2023

Our lovely George Hodson gave an interview for the Guardian last year (but just published this weekend) which touches on themes and events he also explores in his memoir.

Full interview in our bio.

03/07/2023

Our lovely George Hodson gave an interview for the Guardian last year (but just published this weekend) which touches on themes and events he also explores in his memoir.

Link to the full interview in our bio.

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