Upcoming Events

Poetry Night with James M. Dragovich: Hearken Unto Me
When: October 8, 2026 - 20.00

Join us for an intimate evening of readings from James M. Dragovich’s first poetry collection, Hearken Unto Me.

Written between 2022–2025, the thirty-seven poems traverse land and language, offering enigmatic, dark and sensual takes on Dragovich’s themes - intimacy, antiquity and introspection - and often blurring the line between myth and reality. His poems address everything from Italian renaissance-era blood feuds and Bohemian forests, and contain traces of Oriental hymns.

About

James M. Dragovic is a Melbourne based musician and multi-disciplinary artist. His music ranges from folk-rock to ambient experimentation. He released his debut album ‘Mesmerism’ in 2024 and his first book ‘Hearken Unto Me’ in 2026. He is currently recording his sophomore album ‘Caballero’, exploring world folk music.
An evening of performances with Lucy English and Jo Eades
When: October 9, 2026 - 20.00

Join us for an evening of performances by two renowned (slam) poets. Lucy English (@slamlucy) will be reading from her new book. Featuring bonus performances from Jo Eades (@joeadespoet).

About

Lucy English is an award-winning poet, writer and Professor of Creative Enterprise at Bath Spa University. Her work explores memory, identity, family, place and environmental change. She is co-director of Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival and co-founder of Poetry Film Club. Her poetry films have been screened internationally and combine words, images and sound. Her recent project ‘Cancer Alley’ was a hologram poetry installation which was screened at the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival in 2024. Dream Time is her third poetry collection published by Burning Eye Books.

Jo Eades performs regularly on the Bristol spoken word scene, and beyond. She is a multi-slam winning poet (including the Poetry Shack Slam at WOMAD Festival, the Lyra Bristol Poetry Slam and the Ledbury Poetry Festival Slam) and has been featured four times on BBC Radio Bristol’s Upload, being one of their ‘best of’ poets for 2024.
"Radical Intimacy in a Geography of Loneliness" with Fionnuala Kavanagh and Siouxzi Connor
When: October 15, 2026 - 20.00

Radical Intimacy in a Geography of Loneliness

How does intimacy touch loneliness in Berlin? Grip, hug, cling, shove?

Join us for an intimate evening of readings, discussions, and newfound connections, as two Berlin writers reflect on how the city shaped their understanding of intimacy and loneliness, explored in their writing.

There will also be a chance to anonymously confess your intimate thoughts and lonely experiences, and mingle with like-minds.

About

Fionnuala Kavanagh (@i_keep_my_shadow_light) is a social issues writer from the UK. In 2026, she published her debut novel, I Keep My Shadow Light, about a Berlin Integrationskurs. She has published essays on unemployment, the far right, women’s rage and belief systems. She has also written a series of interviews about intimacy in Berlin, and journalistic articles on sex work and identity. Fionnuala likes to experiment with ways of bringing her darkly funny social commentary to new audiences.

Fionnuala Kavanagh

Siouxzi Connor (@siouxzisioux) is an Australian-born writer and filmmaker based in Berlin, exploring hydrofeminisms and queerness, and how the story-making process could be used to advocate for more-than-human nature. Her autofictional book, Your Body of Water, was published by Repeater Books in 2025 and launched at Hopscotch Books Berlin, San Serriffe Amsterdam, and Artless Gallery Marseille, with an accompanying scent installation. Siouxzi teaches creative writing courses for The Reader and was recently featured in The Berliner Magazine and LitHub.

Her first book was published in 2017, Little Houses, Big Forests (desire is no light thing), receiving coverage on the BBC World Service. Siouxzi’s other writing has appeared in many anthologies and in literary magazines such as The Offing (LA Review of Books).

She is also a former research fellow of the Berlin Institute for Cultural Inquiry.

Siouxzi Connor
The Reader Open Mic October Edition
When: October 28, 2026 - 20.00

Read a five-minute snippet of your work-in-progress — all genres welcome. Or just come and listen, applaud/finger-snap, and offer words of encouragement. See you there!

(Come a little earlier to sign up)
Halloween @ivallan's!
When: October 31, 2026 - 12.00

It’s spooky season and we want to celebrate with you all – tell your friends, bring your little monsters!

Seasonal specials abound from Frankenstein to modern creepy queer classics. Come in costume for a 10% discount! We’ll have sweet treats and tricks galore plus prizes for best kids and adult costumes!

Upcoming Events

Poetry Night with James M. Dragovich: Hearken Unto Me

About

An evening of performances with Lucy English and Jo Eades

About

"Radical Intimacy in a Geography of Loneliness" with Fionnuala Kavanagh and Siouxzi Connor

About

The Reader Open Mic October Edition

Halloween @ivallan's!

Past Events