Dominic Berry is an award-winning queer poet. He is current Manchester Literature Festival Slam Winner, won a City Life award for his poetry in Manchester's most recent Not Part Of Festival and runs Manchester's busiest poetry night, Freed Up, every month at Whitworth Street's greenroom.
As well performing his own material across the country (this year Dominic has been a slam finalist in competitions in York, Leicester and Cirencester, as well as receiving bookings from London to Glasgow!) Dominic runs workshops where anyone can come and share their stuff in a quiet, friendly space. If they want, they can get feedback on their work.
"Once a month I hold a get-together of arty types in Rusholme, at a restaurant called The Greenhouse which we privately hire. The groups called Animal Writes- not that it has anything to do with animals, just liked the name- and anyone is welcome to come. People don't have to read, but they can if they like, and that's a great place to go if you want to start out with creative writing."
Dominic began writing himself after seeing gay socialist transvestite Chloe Poems on stage.
"It was awesome. So exciting and full of energy. Dead funny and dead powerful. I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks after. At the end of the day, poetry is just about saying something you believe in and trying to say it in the best, most memorable way. When I saw Chloe perform, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life- I'd been on benefits for ages, done a load of jobs I hated, hadn't a clue. But seeing Chloe made me want to see if I could develop something similar myself."
His work is often about his queer experience- getting queer-bashed, falling in love and enjoying long hedonistic nights out on the pull.
"I've always loved the sex, drugs, rock & roll side of poetry that most people don't even know exists. Getting that buzz from performing in front of a massive crowd, people loving your work, laughing at your jokes and being totally silent when you hit the deep, pin-drop moment parts- there is nothing better. I love it. Making that connection- it's the best buzz there is."
For more information on where Dominic is next performing or to find out how you could get involved check out dominic's website www.dominicberry.net
