Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

‘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...

Read and leave comments (3)

 

News

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...

Read and leave comments (3)

 

News

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 ...

Read and leave comments (1)

 

Events

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 ...

Read and leave comments (0)

 

News

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...

Read and leave comments (4)

 

Review

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...

Read and leave comments (1)

 

News

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 ...

Read and leave comments (1)

 

Review

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

Read and leave comments (0)

 

Competitions

Deadline nears for Wirral poetry competition

The deadline is 22 May for the Wirral poetry festival annual competition. First prize is £250. More details

Read and leave comments (0)

 

Competitions

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...

Read and leave comments (0)

 

News

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...

Read and leave comments (0)

 

Review

'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...

Read and leave comments (0)

 

News

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...

Read and leave comments (0)

 

News

'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 ...

Read and leave comments (1)

 

News

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...

Read and leave comments (0)

 

Events

RSS feed icon

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message