Shirley May, winner of the North West Poetry Slam in October 1999 has performed at prominent venues across the North West. She runs writing workshops for local festivals, schools, and for Manchester Shirley loves the stage and the opportunity it offers to introduce "poetry to different audiences who otherwise would not come to appreciate it, and to use poetry to look at, relationship and society issues."

She is a popular poet who has performed across the North West at venues and events like The Yard Theatre, The Pankhurst Centre, The Green Room, Frog and Bucket, The Blue Cat Bar, the Manchester festival, Manchester Carnival and Liverpool's Everyman Theatre and Unity Theatre