Young Identity

Young Identity is a Manchester-based literature and performance arts charity that provides opportunities for marginalised youth to excel creatively – locally, nationally and internationally. We nurture, develop and champion the voices and creativity of diverse young people through literature, writing and performance. Redefining poetry for a contemporary age, we support the poets and wordsmiths of both the present and the future. Through a youth-led, community-rooted and innovative approach to poetry and performance, we make our work universally accessible across the UK and around the world.

One Mic Stand

Drawing on their acclaimed homegrown high-octane slam night series One Mic Stand, a longstanding cornerstone of Manchester’s spoken word and music scenes, a number of Young Identity members present a special event for the Kunsthochschule für Median Köln. These seasoned stage artists are among the most decorated on the circuit, including finalists of BBC Words First and Manchester City of Literature’s Multilingual City Poets. Their work has featured on the stages of the South Bank Centre, Hay Festival, Factory International, Tara Theatre, and FIND Festival at the Schaubühne Berlin.

Biographies

Jack is an actor, poet and writer who has found a second home in Manchester. He's had the privilege of devising theatre-in-verse with Young Identity, performing a fight choreographed to Mario Kart music, and correcting an established professional onstage while hosting an award ceremony. Jack is enjoying the warming weather by filming audition tapes in his backyard, thereby risking neighbourly relations.

Saf Elsenossi (SAF-S2E) is an accomplished poet, performance artist and rapper based in Manchester, known for his dynamic presence in the UK and international arts scenes.

In 2019, Saf emerged as one of six finalists in the BBC Words First talent development scheme. Saf’s poetry has been featured in notable publications, including No Disclaimers: Volume One, Working From Home, Ecosystems of Fury, and Use Words First. His talent was recognised by Manchester International Festival (MIF), which commissioned him as part of their MIF Sounds initiative, leading to the creation and release of his LP Ink Is Blood as featured at MIF 2021. Saf's writing delves into profound themes such as morality, mortality, divinity, and identity, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience.

Kao Hove is a multidisciplinary artist and director/facilitator who has trained and worked throughout Manchester. Their work includes music with Reform Radio’s HERchester, Royal Exchange’s Young Company and premiering their one-person theatre show at HOME. Their involvement with Contact Theatre spans Contact Young Company, Future Fires, directing Creative Protagonists, and movement direction on The House is on Fire. They regularly host poetry and music night Drop the Mic and will soon host Fight For Manchester’s Trans Rights fundraiser gig. They value creativity as a catalyst for social change, particularly for improving mental health, enhancing accessibility and advancing queer human rights.

Kamran Sajid is a writer currently based in Manchester. His writing taps into an underworld intuition – a beautiful, occult, tuberous and arcane exploration in surrealism, codeswitching and primordialism. He has read his poetry at Simon Armitage’s Blossomise book launch, Manchester Literature Festival and Aviva Studios. He was the winner of the 2025 Young Poets’ Summit Slam with Forward Prizes and Young Identity, and has been a Shadow Judge of the 2024 Forward Prizes. You can find him on Instagram (@kamransajid_).