Skip to content
  • Common Currency
  • Campaigns
    • PENWrites
    • Writers at Risk
    • Writers in Residence
    • Free speech in the UK
  • News
  • Events
  • Translation
    • PEN Translates
    • PEN Transmissions
    • International Translation Day
    • The World Bookshelf
      • Books
      • Authors
      • Translators
  • Prizes
    • PEN Pinter Prize
    • PEN Ackerley Prize
    • PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
  • Donate
  • Join
Home > Campaigns > English PEN Modern Literature Festival 2016

English PEN Modern Literature Festival 2016

On 2 April 2016, more than 25 UK-based writers, poets, novelists, playwrights and artists joined English PEN and the Enemies Project to perform new works created in solidarity with some of the incredible individuals we support through our Writers at Risk Programme

The inaugural English PEN Modern Literature Festival, curated by Steven J Fowler of the Enemies Project, saw each of the writers present a brand new piece – poetry, text, reportage, performance – in response to the writer at risk with whom they have been paired.

A full list of participants, partnerships and performances below.

English PEN is hugely grateful to all the writers who took part and to Steven for his incredible support.

  • Harry Man on Maung Saung Kha
  • David Berridge on Dawit Isaak
  • Kirsten Irving on Nurmuhemmet Yasin
  • Jen Calleja on Gao Yu
  • SJ Fowler on Khadija Ismayilova
  • Dave Spittle on Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury
  • Prudence Chamberlain on Patiwat Saraiyaem and Pornthip Munkhong
  • Robert Hampson on Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace
  • Adam Baron on Can Dündar and Erdem Gül
  • Andrew McMillan on Ashraf Fayadh
  • Eley Williams on Tsering Woeser
  • Sam Winston (with Jamie Perera) on Zunar
  • Lucy Harvest Clarke on Liu Xia
  • Stephen Emmerson on Dina Meza
  • Alex MacDonald on Alaa Abd El Fattah
  • Drew Milne on Omar Hazek
  • Caleb Klaces on Jorge Olivera Castillo
  • Tim Atkins on Liu Xiaobo
  • Caroline Bergvall on Sanjuana Martínez
  • Emily Critchley on Mahvash Sabet
  • Sarah Kelly on Nelson Aguilera
  • Allen Fisher on Mamadali Makhmudov
  • Nathan Walker on Mohammed al-‘Ajami
  • Michael Zand on U Zeya
  • Mark Waldron on Zhu Yufu
  • Mark Ravenhill on Mazen Darwish and Yara Bader
  • Emily Berry on Raif Badawi

Follow the progress of the project on #penfestuk

The festival was intended as a call to membership for writers, artists and readers in a time where we face perilous challenges to our freedom of expression and fundamental rights and hard fought liberties, both internationally and here in the UK. As the world changes so remarkably, and so rapidly, and on a global scale, it is vital the political will of our time and this generation of young, dynamic writers is directed purposefully to the work of English PEN, the writer’s charity. The hope is this festival, away from creating at least 30 new members of PEN, begins involvements and connections which will have exponential resonance for decades to come – Steven J Fowler

 

Join our mailing list

Sign up to receive the latest English PEN news and events.

SIGN UP
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Partners
  • Outreach
  • Jobs
  • Contact us

With thanks to our Core Funders

©1921 - 2020

English PEN is a company limited by guarantee number 5747142 (England & Wales) and a registered charity, number 1125610.

We use cookies to help us improve your experience on our website. By closing this notification or interacting with the website you agree to our use of cookies. ACCEPT Find out more
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.