‘Shaman’ Ted Hughes and the royals: Simon Armitage on a previous laureate’s reverence for the monarchy
The relationship of a previous poet laureate, Ted Hughes, to the Royal Family, and his shamanistic and “witch-doctor” attitude towards the royals, was discussed on a special edition of BBC3’s The Verb on Friday night, presented by Ian McMillan.
The programme was recorded in the Queen’s Library at Windsor Castle, in a nod to the Queen’s upcoming platinum jubilee. Among the many historical treasu...
28th May 2022
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries turns to rap poetry
They don’t call her the culture secretary for nothing … Nadine Dorries, who certainly has her critics, has turned to rap poetry to publicise government plans to improve online safety. In a video on the social media platform TikTok she says, to background music:
“The UK is passing some new le...
27th May 2022
Films celebrating Walt Whitman have UK premiere in Bolton
A British-US collaboration involving seven short films with over 50 global actors and local performers responding to the American poet Walt Whitman has its UK premiere at Bolton on Saturday 28 May at ...
27th May 2022
Double triumph! TS Eliot winner Joelle Taylor is Saboteurs best spoken word performer
Joelle Taylor has won this year’s Saboteur award for best spoken word performer, it was announced at the awards ceremony in Birmingham on Saturday night. It is a remarkable stage and page achievement ...
26th May 2022
Now hear the words of the bards: Bamburgh's Anglo-Saxon bones inspire poets
Northumberland’s rich heritage, and what is termed its ‘Golden Age’, were glimpsed at a remarkable poetry reading below the magnificent and imposing Bamburgh castle on the North Sea coast on Friday ni...
24th May 2022
Bestselling poet Rupi Kaur to tour UK later this year
The bestselling poet Rupi Kaur, who rose to worldwide fame via Instagram, has announced her world tour for 2022, which will include performing in 17 cities across the UK and Europe, beginning on 9 Sep...
12th May 2022
What Meets the Eye? The Deaf Perspective: eds. Lisa Kelly, Sophie Stone, Arachne Press
This first week of May has been Deaf Awareness Week and this past year has seen Deafness and the Deaf community attract a lot of positive media attention. What a good time to read and reflect on this ...
7th May 2022
Inua Ellams to judge £5,000 Bridport poetry prize
Inua Ellams will be judging the £5,000 Bridport poetry prize. The deadline is 31 May. More details
7th May 2022
Deadline nears for Wirral poetry competition
The deadline is 22 May for the Wirral poetry festival annual competition. First prize is £250. More details
5th May 2022
Poetry Pharmacy launches £3,800 project to fund 'Physic Garden'
The Poetry Pharmacy in Bishops Castle, Shropshire – a Victorian shop packed with poetry, philosophy and well-being books, ‘pills’ and other literary gifts and products, plus cafe, and a social space f...
4th May 2022
The Country With No Playgrounds: Elena Croitoru, Live Canon
Prize-winning poet Elena Croitoru is a British-Romanian writer based in Kent. She holds an MSt (Master of Studies) in creative writing from the University of Cambridge and is a writer of poetry, novel...
2nd May 2022
'The People Who Run The Country': Luke Wright's new video
Performance poet Luke Wright has released a new music video, just in time for this week's local elections. Titled ‘The People Who Run The Country’, and laced with swear words, it won’t be everyone’s c...
1st May 2022
Here are the Saboteur awards shortlists!
Luke Wright, Joelle Taylor, Cathy Carson, and Chris Singleton are shortlisted for this year’s Saboteur award for best spoken word performer. Two spoken word nights in Manchester feature in the best re...
1st May 2022
'Our waking breath': makar Kathleen Jamie delivers poem-letter from Scotland to Ukraine
Scotland’s makar Kathleen Jamie has curated a collective poem following a call-out to the public for submissions of lines of poetry in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Kathleen is joined in the ...
1st May 2022
Newcastle poetry festival's Emergency Poetry Summit
Newcastle Poetry Festival is staging a one-day live poetry event this month at Northern Stage, within the Newcastle University complex. It’s billed as an Emergency Poetry Summit, a day of readings and...
1st May 2022
