Subira Joy

Subira Joy is a Black, trans, queer spoken-word performer, writer and activist, based in Sussex. Their work weaves together the personal and political, through experiences and imaginations, spoken with rage, softness, and laughter.

Subira is an interdisciplinary theatre maker interested in the role of art in activism and social change whose work ranges from spoken word, to performance art, dance, playwriting, drag and cabaret.

Subira’s current show Kill The Cop Inside Your Head premiered at Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a winner of the Eclipse Award, and was nominated for the BBC Writers Popcorn Writing award. Creator of award-winning solo spoken word show, Subira, and co-creator of Joy-Nduku, they have performed in the UK, Finland, and Germany, and was poet in residence both at ONCA and Trope in March 2019.

In 2023, Subira was a co-creator of the first professional production of John Lyly’s Galatea for 450 years. Their adaptation is published by Methuen Plays. Subira often hosts their local poetry open mic, runs workshops, created the poetry zine Doesn’t it set your teeth on edge and is the co-editor of Trans Kink Zine.

Photo: Jamie Boyt