Bear Baiting is a labour of love brought to you by the passionate and talented Nottingham City of Literature Youth Board. This pamphlet captures a unique set of voices presenting them in chorus for your appreciation. For some of these artists, this is the first time they have shared their work in print. Enjoy the vibrancy of their work as they take you through dream and memory with words to provoke even the deepest sleeper from hibernation.
Launch event – 12th April
Friends, family, fellow creatives and the general public were invited to Fishergate Point on 12th April for a celebration of the launch of Bear Baiting, the poetry pamphlet, written, illustrated and produced by Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature’s Youth Advisory Board!
The launch was hosted by Annie Cross, Chair of the board, with support from Ben MacPherson, the group’s mentor and guide during the genesis of the anthology. Featuring readings from the poets and a discussion followed by refreshments and networking.
Bear Baiting is a labour of love brought to you by the passionate and talented youth of Nottingham. This pamphlet captures a unique set of voices presenting them in chorus for your appreciation. For some of these artists, this is the first time they have shared their work in print. Enjoy the vibrancy of their work as they take you through dream and memory with words to provoke even the deepest sleeper from hibernation.
Meet the Authors
Creative Facilitators
The Youth Advisory Board was supported by two creative facilitators: Ben MacPherson and Bridie Squires. Ben Macpherson lead creative development workshops and editorial. Bridie Squires provided mentoring on the pamphlet launch and event management.
Ben MacPherson
Ben has been creating poetry and spoken word projects since the mid 2010s. From the wry rhymes that shoot a sideways glance at society, to heartfelt meditations on queerness, kindness and other-ness, Ben has an eclectic catalogue of work that is perfect for any occasion.
He is a member of the GOBS Collective, and a director of Nottingham Poetry Festival. He has also worked for Derby Poetry Festival and performed at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Latitude Festival and Splore Festival in Corby.
Bridie Squires
Bridie Squires is a writer, performance artist and producer from Nottingham. Bridie is Founder and Director of GOBS Collective. Her work spans across poetry, playwriting and journalism, and has been featured by BBC Radio 4, BBC Sounds and LeftLion Magazine. She has performed alongside Holly McNish, Lemn Sissay and Linton Kwesi Johnson, and has appeared at We Out Here festival. Her debut collection Duck on Bike was self-published in 2023 and her one-woman shows Casino Zero and Chaos Casino premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in 2023 and 2025 respectively.