A poetry night in Leeds that has been running for two years  - and has featured a number of top  names as guests in that time – is due to close at the end of November. Those who have appeared at Words on Tap, at the Chemic Tavern in Woodhouse, include John Hegley, Michael Symmons Roberts, and Helen Mort. Its final night on 28 November will feature Paul Farley.

Its host, the poet Matthew Hedley Stoppard, pictured, said the motivation behind setting up Words on Tap had been “to step away from the arts centre and performance spaces, as I wanted our headliners to hark back to the troubadour style when poets had to sing for their supper. We also wanted to have an open-mic section so that aspiring poets could learn from the more experience headliners on the night, talk to them and think about where they want to go with their poetry and performance style - as I did when I first went to a poetry night. And I have to say, we really have achieved that.

“As much as I enjoy poetry and the page, it’s always seeing/hearing a poet reading and sinking his teeth into his own verse which inspires me, or makes me insanely jealous. The last two years have been incredibly memorable and significant for me as a poet and arts activist. Our headliners have included nationally-acclaimed poets such as John Hegley, Michael Symmons Roberts, Helen Mort - and now Paul Farley. And giants of the Yorkshire poetry scene, such as  James Nash, Michelle Scally Clarke, Antony Dunn, and David Tait  -  all of these in the back room of the Chemic Tavern.

“Why am I giving it up then if it's so good? To begin with my friend Ayla helped with the admin side,, but she went and moved to France. Then my wife and I had a second child, so I am now struggling to keep up with everything and I feel I will really let someone down if I carry on in this way. And it sounds selfish, but I don't have time to read or write poetry anymore. Yes, I am fortunate that I get to hear it every month, but, like any poet, getting the words on paper is an itch that must be scratched.

“I will help anyone who wants to set up a replacement night for WoT, and perhaps I will want to start WoT again a couple of month after it has finished. However, I definitely feel that I am not doing WoT justice, the stretched way I'm running it now - its loyal audience and supporters and the Leeds poetry scene deserves better.”

The imminent demise of Words on Tap follows the loss of other venues such as Wicked Words and Letterbomb in Leeds in recent years. But Stoppard said the continuing success of other poetry nights including Poetry by Heart in Headingley and the Red Shed Readings in nearby Wakefield showed the local scene was still vibrant.  

Multiple award-winning poet Paul Farley will headline the last night of Words on Tap on 28 November. Tickets are £6 (and are very limited) and can be acquired by emailing wordsontap@email.com. Those interested in a support slot will have their ticket stubs entered into a prize draw from which five poets will be selected to read on the night.  

 

PHOTOGRAPH: IZZY BRITTLE