Organisers of StAnza, Scotland’s international poetry festival at St Andrews, have been quick to reassure festivalgoers that the festival from 6-10 March will go ahead despite the closure of the Byre theatre at the weekend. StAnza’s newsletter said: “This is dismaying news, and we’ll be sorry if it means we won’t have the use of the Byre for this year’s festival. However we already use about 20 venues around town and StAnza 2013 will go ahead with our core programme, if necessary finding alternative venues for the events scheduled for the Byre.

”Those who have already booked their tickets through the Byre’s box office will have those accepted as normal. We are arranging an alternative booking system for those yet to buy their tickets. Information on this will shortly appear on the booking page of our website, and information on venue changes will be given on the online programme listings as soon as possible at http://www.stanzapoetry.org/www.stanzapoetry.org. We will also post information on our online blog there.

A campaign has been launched to “resuscitate” the Byre. You can sign up to it here.