A new team is taking over at Write Out Loud Sale this month. Sarah Pritchard, assisted by Mo Harrop, will be co-ordinating the regular monthly poetry open mic night at the Waterside arts centre, Sale, after John Darwin stepped down at the end of 2015.  

Sarah, pictured right, is a freshly retired drama and English teacher, and describes herself as a “a transatlantic yoyo, US military baby born in Norfolk, made in Manchester, UK”. She has been  directing and facilitating in Manchester since 1981 “in a number of gangs: Pretty Disgusting Things; Manchester Women Live, The Outlanders; Manchester Playback Theatre; The Batty Smiths;  Northern Gay Writers , 3 Muses and most recently Pride & Glory - What’s your Story?.”

She added: “The greatest tribute I could have been paid was by an ex-student, who tracked me down on Facebook. She told me I had encouraged her love of poetry. She persisted and now runs UK-wide poetry tours as the Quiet Compere [Sarah L Dixon], to which I have been privileged to be invited. The poetry circle of life!”

Mo Harrop, pictured left, describes herself as “67 years young”, with “a love of poetry for as long as I can remember. I went along to Write Out loud in Sale after seeing it online. I write about everyday things, and like to add a bit of humour.”

Guest compere at the January Sale on Tuesday 19 January at 7.30pm will be Write Out Loud founder Julian Jordon, for what should be an erudite, entertaining, effervescent evening of poetic sharing. Everyone is welcome to share their words. Beginners encouraged. No guest this month, just you and your words. More details and Map