Henry Normal & Jan Brierton in Southampton - Tuesday 28th April 2026

Henry Normal & Jan Brierton present an evening of poetry in Southampton Tuesday 28th April 

Henry Normal and Dubliner Jan Brierton present an evening of poetry and laughs. Henry will be reading poems from his new book 'A Quiet Promise' whilst Jans' poems reflect on being a wife, mother, daughter, sister and retired raver. Expect a highly engaging evening.

Henry Normal comes to The Attic Southampton

Jokes, stories and poetry from Radio 4's reticent poet, writer and TV and Film producer Henry Normal. A new fun packed show featuring his latest collection ‘A Quiet Promise’, "Not heard anything that jumps from hilarious to moving in such an intelligent, subtle way as Henry Normal's show" - Radio Times

Henry Normal Tuesday 28th April 

Henry is a writer, poet, TV & Film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Literature festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival.

In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television.

He co-wrote and script edited the multi-award winning Mrs Merton show and the spin off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. He also co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family.

With Steve Coogan he co-wrote the BAFTA winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan's Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible and all three of Steve's live tours and the film The Parole Officer.

Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1990, Henry Executive Produced all and script edited many of the shows of it's 17 and a half year output during his tenure as MD.

Highlights of the Baby Cow output during his time include the Oscar nominated film Philomena, I believe in Miracles, Gavin and Stacey, Moone Boy, Uncle, Marion and Geof, Nighty Night, The Mighty Boosh, Red Dwarf, Hunderby, Camping and Alan Partridge.

Since retiring in April 2016, Henry has written and performed 10 x BBC Radio 4 shows combining comedy, poetry and stories about family. His 11th BBC Radio 4 show 'A Normal Journey' will be recorded this autumn.

Born in St Anne's, Nottingham in 1956, Henry now lives in Fairlight, Nr Hastings with his wife and screenwriter Angela Pell and their son Johnny.

In April 2018, Two Roads publishers released his book of memoirs 'A Normal Family' which was written with his wife Angela Pell, drawing on his family experience. It immediately became a best seller on Amazon and has already been reprinted. The paperback was released on 21st March 2019.

Henry performs poetry at Literature Festivals around the UK and has thirteen poetry books available from Flapjack. His latest collection ‘A Quiet Promise’ being released in spring 2026.

He was recently given an honorary doctorate of letters by Nottingham Trent University, another by Nottingham University and has a beer and a bus named after him in Nottingham!

Succinct, heartrending and peppered with gentle punchlines’ Hannah Verdier, The Guardian

Shove up National Treasures. We need to make room for Henry Normal"

Simon O'Hagan - Radio Times

'the Alan Bennett of poetry' The Scotsman

Jan Brierton at The Attic, Southampton

Dubliner Jan Brierton is a mam, a fashion stylist, and a poet.

Her first collection What Day Is It? Who Gives a F*ck was published in 2021 after Jan’s first ever poem went viral during lockdown.

Everybody Is a Poem: Midlife in Rhymes is Jan’s second collection published by New Island. In this pocket-sized book Jan riffs on menopause, midlife, the mental load, friendships, relationships, loss, and self-acceptance.

On its release, Jan’s second collection made the top 10 paperback non-fiction book charts. Plain-speaking and completely relatable, each of these 52 poems are served with Jan’s signature combination of humour, wit, and poignancy.

This is poetry for everybody.