Hannah Lavery
hannah_lavery@outlook.com
Hannah Lavery
Introduction:
I am a Scottish poet and playwright whose expansive creative practice spans poetry, drama, radio, and digital performance. My work interrogates political and social justice by exploring the intersections of race, nationality, feminism, and class. Through creative innovation, leadership in cultural programming, and a deep engagement with Scotland’s literary networks, I have established a robust national and international profile. In 2021, I was selected by Owen Sheers for the International Literature Showcase (British Council and National Writers Centre).
Major Publications and Creative Projects:
Poetry Publications:
● Unwritten Woman, 2024, Polygon (Gutter Magazine Poetry Book of the Month and highly recommended by the Forward Prize.) Edited by Joelle Taylor
● World May Not Be The Same, 2023, Stewed Rhubarb and Edwin Morgan Trust
● Blood, Salt, Spring, 2022, Polygon (Shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish National Poetry Book Award; widely reviewed for its innovative lyricism.)
● Finding Seaglass, 2019, Stewed Rhubarb
● And numerous inclusions in anthologies including, Neu Reekie, Untitled and Poet and the Echo
Upcoming:
● Third Poetry Collection; Everyday, Everything (Polygon, May 2026), Edited by Joelle Taylor
Plays (including radio and digital):
● Unwritten Women, 2024 – Scratch Performance at Soundhouse’s Winter Festival
● For us girls of colour making half notes into song when the haar is all, 2023 – Stellar Quines, Royal Lyceum Theatre
● Finding Seaglass, 2023 – BBC Radio Four / Tangible Productions / National Theatre of Scotland
● Protest, 2023 – Fuel Productions, Northern Stage, National Theatre of Scotland
● Life and Times of Santa Claus, 2021 – Pitlochry Festival Theatre
● Jekyll and Hyde, 2021 – Pitlochry Festival Theatre
● Eavesdropping, 2021 – Traverse Theatre
● Lament for Sheku Bayoh, 2019/2021 – National Theatre of Scotland, Fuel Productions, Edinburgh International Festival
● Thirteen Fragments, 2021 – Royal Society of Edinburgh, National Theatre of Scotland
● The Idler, 2020 – BBC Radio Four
● Disco with Mum, 2020 – National Theatre of Scotland
● Earwig: Baba Yaga, 2020 – Tron Theatre
● Lament for Sheku Bayoh (Digital), 2020 – National Theatre of Scotland
● Drift, 2019 – National Theatre of Scotland
Drama Publications:
● Protest, 2023, Methuen
● Lament for Sheku Bayoh, 2020, Salamander Street
Commissions (Selected)
● Entanglements, IASH, 2024
● Tomorrow Cathedral, St Giles 900, 2024
● Words from the Wards, Edinburgh International Book Festival, 2024
● Disrupting the Narrative, Edinburgh City Museums, 2023–2024
● Edinburgh is a Story, Edinburgh International Festival, 2022
● Thirteen Fragments, Edinburgh Royal Society, 2021
● Translation Project, Stanza Poetry Festival and Kiev Book Festival, 2021
● Currently under commission with the National Theatre of Scotland, Pitlochry Theatre, and Stellar Quines.
Relevant Work Experience
● Mentor, We Are Scotland, 2024–present
● Curator and Host, Quines Cast (Co-Host and Curator, Stellar Quines), 2023–present
● Group Leader & Facilitator, The Writers of Colour Group, Scottish BIPOC Writers Network, 2018–present
● Judge, Forward Prize, 2025
● Visiting Tutor at Cove Park, 2025
● Visiting Tutor at Moniack Mhor (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)
● Edinburgh Makar (City Poet), Edinburgh City, 2021–2024
● Visiting Workshop Leader; University of Cambridge ( 2024); University of Glasgow (2023)
● Board Member, Tron Theatre, 2022–2024
● Guest Poetry Editor, Stewed Rhubarb, 2023
● Lead Artist & Director, Disrupting the Narrative, Edinburgh City Museums, 2024
● Lead Artist & Director, For Coloured Girls, Stellar Quines, 2023- ongoing
● Artistic Director, CoastWord Literary Festival, 2013–2020
● Chairing, Nairn Book Festival, 2024; Jackie Kay
● Guest Curator, Granite North, 2024
● Associate Artist, National Theatre of Scotland, 2020–2024
● Chairing, Edinburgh International Book Festival, 2021–2024 (Chaired events featuring prominent writers including Bernadine Everisto, Jackie Kay, Roger McGough, Holly McNish, Joelle Taylor. Kathleen Jamie, Don Patterson, Gary Younge, Fatima Bhutto, and others.)
● Director, Homelands at Edinburgh International Book Festival, 2022
● Writer & Director, Lament for Sheku Bayoh, Edinburgh International Festival, 2020
● Writer & Lead Artist, Thirteen Fragments, 2021, National Theatre of Scotlanf and
● Guest Curator & Director, Sorry I Was On Mute, Fringe of Colour, 2020
● Engagement & Learning Coordinator, Scottish Poetry Library, 2017–2021
● Creative Director, Appletree Press, 2012–2019
● Co-Owner, Bowdy Books, 2013–2016
● Secondary English Teacher, 2002–2008
I was honoured with a Creative Edinburgh Award for Leadership in 2022 in recognition of my work as Facilitator of Writers of Colour and for curating and directing Sorry I Was On Mute: Poetry Films for Fringe of Colour.
Education
● BA (Hons) English and Education with Commonwealth Literature (First)
● Dip Ed Secondary Teaching University of Stirling, 1998–2002
Critical Reception and Recognition
● Lament for Sheku Bayoh
○ Highly acclaimed at the Edinburgh International Festival; praised for its bold exploration of loss and injustice; shortlisted for Kavya Prize.
● Unwritten Woman
○ Named Gutter Magazine Poetry Book of the Month.
○ Highly recommended by the Forward Prize.
○ Acclaimed for its fearless exploration of heritage, identity, and social justice; celebrated for its innovative lyrical form and emotional depth.
● Blood, Salt, Spring
○ Widely reviewed for its innovative lyrical structure and emotional impact; shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish National Poetry Book Award.
● Finding Seaglass
○ The BBC Radio Four adaptation and live production were celebrated for their poignant autobiographical lyricism and inventive narrative approach, culminating in an award at the 2024 Audio Production Awards.
● In 2021, I was selected by Owen Sheers for the International Literature Showcase (British Council and National Writers Centre), a prestigious recognition that has significantly enhanced my profile nationally and internationally