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Pompey poetry party and Playland Portsmouth

A character creation workshop with Holly Kybett Smith

Presented by: Portsmouth BookFest
0PORTSMOUTH: Playland
PTuesday 17th February, 2026
N6:00pm

Event information

Suitable for ages 16-25
Gothic vibes. Killer lines.
Step into the shadows and unleash your inner storyteller in this spooky poetry workshop with writer and performer Holly Kybett Smith. You'll explore how horror and poetry collide — using creepy imagery, eerie energy, and your own imagination to create unforgettable characters and chilling poems.
In this fun and fearless session, you'll:
• Dive into the world of Gothic and horror writing
• Learn how to build atmosphere and suspense with words
• Boost your confidence performing your own work
• Discover how horror can be weird, wild, and empowering
Whether you're into vampires, ghost stories, or just love a good scare, this workshop is your chance to get creative!
About Holly Kybett Smith
Holly Kybett Smith is a queer femme horror writer, poet and lover of all things Gothic. Her poetry dissects technology, capitalism and oppressive beauty standards from a queer feminist perspective and has appeared previously in Popshot Quarterly. When she isn't performing around Pompey and Southampton, you can usually find her curled up in the corner of a coffee shop with an iced vanilla latte and a book.

Venue information

PORTSMOUTH: Playland
0193 Commercial Road
Portsmouth
PO1 4BD
> portsmouthcreates.co.uk/about-us/playland-creative-hub/