Two Old Queens and a Clutch of Poems

Robert Hamberger and Simon Maddrell deliver armchair poetry readings and intimate discussion between two old queens with subjects ranging from fatherhood to serenity, celebration to shame and creativity to HIV/AIDS. Robert and Simon will share both poetry and personal experience in what promises to be a fascinating and inspiring event. Robert Hamberger –– born in Whitechapel in 1957, studying at Sussex University. He worked for 38 years in social work including in West Sussex. He moved to Brighton with his husband in 2009. Robert's fourth collection Blue Wallpaper was shortlisted for the 2020 Polari Prize. His memoir A Length of Road was published in June 2021.Simon Maddrell –– born in the Isle of Man in 1965, moving to Brighton & Hove in 2020. He thrives with HIV. Simon's debut, Throatbone, was published in 2020 along with Queerfella, which won The Rialto Open Pamphlet Competition. He was commissioned by Brighton Festival 2021 for Neil Bartlett's Lessons Learnt in Darkness.