One of Owen Sheers’ selected writers for the International Literature Showcase
“Scottish poet and playwright Hannah Lavery’s poems are born of a fearless and unflinching interrogation into heritage, race, identity and the nature of belonging. Lean and challenging, her work is driven by an honesty and energy of surprising power and immediacy.”
– Owen Sheers
Daydreamer. Sometimes angry, always hopeful. Writing in the margins. Dancing in the kitchen.
Hannah Lavery is a Scottish writer, poet and playwright. Her pamphlet of short fiction, Rocket Girls, was published by Postbox Press (October 2018) and her poetry pamphlet, Finding Seaglass: Poems from The Drift was published by Stewed Rhubarb Press (May 2019). The Drift, her autobiographical play, was produced by the National Theatre of Scotland for a nationwide tour in 2019. Her most recent play, The Lament for Sheku Bayoh, was commissioned by the Royal Lyceum Theatre for the Edinburgh International Festival. She was awarded a New Playwright Award from Playwrights Studio Scotland and was named as one on BBC Writers Room Scottish Voices of 2020.
Praise for The Rocket Girls
‘The sheer pace and intensity are remarkable. Just remarkable.’ – Janice Galloway
Reviews for The Drift
‘Lavery succeeds in throwing down a vital challenge to the people of Scotland, to face up to Scotland’s long history of complicity in colonialism and racism, to listen to the stories of those most deeply touched by that history, and to begin to change.’ – The Scotsman
‘Few works of Scottish theatre confront the hypocrisies of Scottish nationalism and identity so bluntly, and so well. Lavery lyrically acknowledges the conflicting emotions of love and resentment she feels towards both her father and her homeland, but does not attempt to stamp out one feeling in favour of the other. They should – and must – find a way to co-exist, just as the nation too must allow for more than one story of Scotland to be told.’ – The List
‘…a conciliatory tone pulses Lavery’s writing in a way that falls somewhere between eulogy, purging and laying her father to rest. Her artistic act not only keeps his restless spirit alive, but immortalises her memory of him in this fragile, heartfelt and painfully honest tribute delivered with a raging calm.’ – Review for Finding Seaglass: Poems from The Drift
‘A vibrantly intimate, tender and furious pamphlet with language fizzing in Lavery’s native Scots tongue, Finding Sea Glass is an absolute must-read from the newly re-established Stewed Rhubarb Press. Lavery’s language is a revelation for spoken word poetry. Deeply emotive yet expertly crafted, it evokes much more than the story of one family’s experiences.’ – The Skinny
“It is an incredible honour to be selected. I am delighted.”
Bibliography
Rocket Girls (Pamphlet of Short Fiction), Postbox Press
Finding Seaglass: Poems from The Drift, Stewed Rhubarb
Contact Hannah
