Iran: Poetry & Performance

Spreading from the borders of Turkey and Iraq to the Persian Gulf and Pakistan, Iran is a geopolitically important and diverse country that is often misrepresented in Western media.

Spanning over 2,500 years, Persian civilization has a rich and storied history that has contributed significantly to global art, architecture, literature, science and philosophy.

At a critical juncture in the history of the country, this evening is an opportunity to hear poetry, mostly in English and some in Persian, as well as experimental music from contemporary Iranian artists, including Sara Fotros, Hasti, Golnoosh Nour and Seper.

Sara Fotros is an award-winning percussionist based in London. She has performed with various ensembles in Iran, the UK and globally, and co-founded the Zagros Percussion Ensemble, working closely with their students to create and perform rhythmic compositions inspired by Kurdish, Persian and fusion music.

Hasti is a poet and writer living in south-east London. A member of the inaugural Southbank New Poets Collective and the Ledbury Poetry Critics, they are the recipient of the 2023 White Review Poet’s Prize, and the 2022 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize for Poetry.

Dr Golnoosh Nour is a British Iranian writer, lecturer and tarot reader. She is the author of The Ministry of Guidance and Other Stories (Muswell Press, 2020) and Rocksong (Verve Poetry Press, 2021) – both shortlisted for the Polari Prize.

Seper is a London-based Iranian artist, currently studying Creative Musicianship at the Contemporary Music Performance Institute of London. He has served as a musical director for charity projects, collaborating with fellow artists to curate memorable performances.