This Is Not A Sideshow
eff-able is not something we wanted confined to the page. This project is about representation, visibility and expression, so we had to bring it to life! Our ACE funding allows us to platform hot queer crips around the country and collaborate with inclusive communities already showing up and showing off and making effing great art.
We’ve made a commitment to pay our readers and performers for their work, so most events will have ticketed entry, but we’ve kept this as low as possible, with Pay What You Can (PWYC) options. We’ve also worked hard to ensure that every venue and partner we work with has good accessibility on offer for our queer crip community.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon!
events to cum!
Wolverhampton Literary Festival
Saturday 7th February 2026
Join us for an evening of poetry from queer and disabled poets! Organised in cooperation with eff-able: a spicy anthology of queer crip poetry (fourteen poems, 2025), five queer, disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent poets will share poems of desire and joy. Expect sweat, sex, self-love at the intersections of disability justice and queer liberation.
Featuring Madailín Burnhope, Dylan McNulty-Holmes, Sallyanne Rock, Katie (Tom) Walters, and Scarlett Ward,
18.00 Wolverhampton Art Gallery
events we’ve done
live London launch
Thursday 12th June – An effing good book launch!
Expect a night of queer crip spiciness as Lèse Majesté and the eff-able guys bring you an erotic extravaganza of cabaret, poetry, and spoken word. Hosted by Cyro, with performances from Carmen Emissions and Major Dom, join us to welcome eff-able – an anthology of sweat, sex, and self-love by disabled and queer poets – to the world, bookshelves… and your bed!
There’ll be live readings from eff-able contributors Arden Fitzroy, Arlo Kean, Claire Sosienski Smith, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, Libro Levi Bridgeman, and Rick Dove, as well as an introduction from co-creators, George Parker and JP Seabright, and the chance to buy a copy of eff-able.
The event will be livestreamed, so if you cannot make it in-person, please select the ‘From the Comfort of My Own Home’ option when getting your tickets. eff-able is published by fourteen poems and is available to pre-order now!
Thursday 12th June, Walthamstow Trades Hall, London
online book launch
Sunday 13th July 19.00 – 21.00 BST
Hosted by award-winning Disability Awareness Consultant, author, podcaster and Co-founder of Bump’n Andrew Gurza!
This online launch will showcase an amazing array of our talented (and very sexy) contributors, launching eff-able into the virtual space.
This is an FREE EVENT online via Zoom.
Readers include: Amber Dawn, Dylan McNulty-Holmes, Elena Sichrovsky, Karl Knights, Marlena Chertock, Nat Raum, Petra Kuppers, Rae White, Rosamund Taylor, Tallon Kennedy, Will Darling, Sara Cline, Mollie Russell, Elspeth Wilson, Arden Fitzroy, Libro Levi Bridgeman, Jessica Whyte, Jem Henderon
National Poetry Library
Wednesday 9th July
Special Edition: Spicy Queer Crip Takeover
A fistful of queer, disabled and sexy a.f. poets take over the National Poetry Library for a thrilling showcase of work from eff-able, a spicy anthology of queer crip poetry.
Hosted by George Parker and JP Seabright, the evening promises to be poetic, poignant, political and provocative, featuring a range of contributing poets, including Catherine Balaq, Cat Chong, Rick Dove, Arden Fitzroy, Cleo Henry, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, John McCullough and Scarlett Ward.
eff-able is funded by Arts Council England and edited and managed by JP Seabright and George Parker. The project aims to shine a spotlight on the lives and experiences of queer disabled people writing about sex, desire and body positivity.
BSL Interpretation of this event.
cum to Brum!
Tuesday 15th July
The eff-able This Is Not A Sideshow cums to Brum with a brilliant mix of poetry and cabaret in the heart of Birmingham’s Gay Village, the wonderful (and accessible!) Sidewalk Bar,
Featuring readings from our sexy a.f. contributors Katie (Tom) Walters, Madailín Burnhope, Scarlett Ward, as well as our workshop lead Sallyanne Rock.
The night will be hosted by Brum’s big bi bachelor Crip Ladywood, with performances from Diomede and Lola Thorne.
eff-able in Glasgow
Friday 5th September – eff-able cums to Scotland!
Join us at The Boardwalk in Glasgow to celebrate more queer crip sensual joy!
Expect a night of queer crip spiciness as Glasgow’s hottest queer crip drag talent collaborates with eff-able to bring you an erotic extravaganza of cabaret, poetry, and spoken word. Hosted by Himish MacBeth, with performances from Bolly Ditz Dolly and Butch Cashidy, and live readings from eff-able contributors Deviji Jaani-Jaan, Raman Mundair, Éadaoín Lynch, and Dylan McNulty-Holmes.
Sexy in Sheffield!
Thursday 11th September – Sexy in Sheffield!
Join us at Sidney and Matilda in Sheffield to celebrate queer crip sensual joy – and the release of eff-able – a spicy anthology of queer crip poetry.
Expect a night of queer crip spiciness as Sheffield’s hottest monster drag collective collaborates with the eff-able guys to bring you an erotic extravaganza of cabaret, poetry, and spoken word.
Hosted by Tito Bone, with performances from Cryptid Queers, there’ll be live readings from eff-able contributors Jem Henderson, Ben Dalitz, and Rebecca Kenny.
Arts & Activism: Queer Disabled Creativity in Action!
Wednesday 15th October – Queercircle, London
Jamie Hale and Lucy Webster, in conversation with Lalah-Simone Springer
Join us for a unique event, celebrating queer disabled activism and creativity. Hear from Jamie Hale, award-winning poet, playwright, and Artistic Director of CRIPtic Arts, and writer, journalist, community organiser and disability advocate Lucy Webster, in conversation with Lalah-Simone Springer, poet, fiction writer, creative facilitator and performance artist. Collectively, their experience in the arts and activism is astonishing!
A chance to hear both Jamie and Lucy read from their work and talk about their careers and experiences in disability arts and activism. They’ll be a Q&A and attendees are encouraged to use the event to explore their own practice of arts activism and/or disability advocacy. This is a chance to learn from the best!
You’ll also be treated to readings from our wonderful eff-able contributors Cat Chong, Chloe Clarke, Rick Dove, Jackson Phoenix Nash, Claire Sosienski Smith, and hear what arts and activism means to them. A fantastic way to round off an effing fabulous year of the Arts Council-funded project, celebrating queer crip sex and sexiness.
Hosted by George Violet Parker and JP Seabright, with copies of the eff-able anthology (as well as our guests’ books) available to buy.
This event is BYOB. Water, tea and coffee will be available free of charge.
All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Queercircle to support the work they do for the queer and trans community, in addition to any further donations made.
Access This event is wheelchair accessible, with BSL interpretation and captions provided on a screen.
eff-able 