Barrett and Welsh, unit 301
curated by Danila Botha
featuring Ann Choi, Doyali Islam, Priya Ramsingh, Bianca Marais, Deepa Rajagopalan and Emily Sanford.
Open mic:
Anyone attending is welcome to read or perform (if you are a musician) in our open mic sessions. If you are a writer or musician who would like to perform in the open mic session, we ask that you listen in to at least one session to get the flavour of the evening and join in on your next visit. To participate in TTSR #15 please contact Mark Sampson the evening's curator — beforehand as this will allow him to line up readers and manage the evening efficiently.
The ambience at our readings is intimate, extremely informal and very supportive. Readers are given 4 minutes in total including a brief introduction to themselves and their work which may be any form of creative writing (fiction/poetry/drama/screenplay) – or a work of reportage or creative non-fiction. This is not a lecture or motivational speaking series, so no academic or self-help works, please.
Open mic readers who have published works they would like to offer for sale are free to mention it on finishing their readings.
About The Tartan Turban Secret Readings: Barrett and Welsh hosts a (not so) “secret" reading series on its rather lovely open-air office rooftop deck while it's warm, and in its large open concept studio space in cooler weather.
The Tartan Turban Secret Readings feature poetry, drama and prose readings that celebrate Canadian multicultural writing created by multicultural, minority and BIPOC writers. The idea is to provide a platform for minority writers who have very few such platforms while welcoming all writers who want to celebrate Canada’s multiculturalism, diversity and indigenous heritage, and have talent to share.
Curators change from reading to reading. If you would like to read or curate, contact Gavin Barrett or Mayank Bhatt who are co-curators for the series. Readings may eventually be collected in an anthology, so ideally everyone reads some unpublished work.
The sessions are often photographed, filmed or streamed on FB/YouTube live. Please be aware that by attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
Seating: For those wishing to attend, please note that our indoor space can comfortably accommodate no more than 35 people (including our features).
Refreshments: Barrett and Welsh does provide complimentary refreshments and light snacks, but in keeping with the community-centric spirit of the series, we encourage attendees to bring and/or share their own beverages and snacks (and to carry their own drinking cups/glasses as we avoid the use of disposables unless they are biodegradable. Filtered water is available to all.
Entry: Please arrive before 7 and encourage your guests to do the same. if they arrive later, they may need to text one of us (contact info will be posted on the door) to let them in and we’ll swing by in 10 min intervals (sorry!)
Accessibility: Barrett and Welsh’s offices are at the top of an office building that was once a large townhouse, so there are a couple of steep flights of stairs to get in. If you (or any guests) have mobility challenges, please be aware that you may need a helping hand up the stairs, as there is no elevator. Please let us know if we can be of assistance.