Palestinian writer and performer Tasneim Zyada is undertaking a residency with Berwick Shines, that began with Berwick Literary Festival. Tasneim visited Berwick-upon-Tweed during September 2025 to explore the town, meet the people and deliver poetry workshops with Berwick Academy. As part of Berwick Literary Festival’s ‘The Things That Make For Peace’ concert, Tasneim performed her newly commissioned poem. Tasneim also led a poetry workshop as part of the Festival, and will be returning in February to continue her creative enquiries in Berwick.
Tasneim’s practice encompasses poetry, spoken work, voice acting, curating and facilitation. Through the Berwick Shines residency, after her initial invitation from the Berwick Literary Festival, Zyada will be supported with the time and space to push her practice in new and potentially unexpected directions throughout the remainder of the programme.
Tasneim Zyada is a Palestinian-British writer and international performer. Her work documents the generational stories that rise to the surface within her own.