Costa poetry prize winner Jonathan Edwards, pictured, and Forward prize winner Kei Miller will be among a host of big poetry names at this year’s Wenlock poetry festival in April, organisers have announced. The lineup also includes Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Rosen, Imtiaz Dharker, Hollie McNish, Kathleen Jamie, canal laureate Jo Bell, Radio 4 favourite Luke Wright returning to Wenlock with the UK premiere of his new material ‘What I Learned from Johnny Bevan’, and Forward prize winner Liz Berry in conversation with Roz Goddard.

The festival’s first poet in residence, Jean Atkin, will share the stage with Carol Ann Duffy and Queen’s Gold Medal winner Imtiaz Dharker to close the festival on Sunday evening. She also plans to compose poetry live at the festival on her old Imperial typewriter. Publisher in residence Jane Commane and Nine Arches Press will take over the Poetry Space at The Edge, offering editorial critique and flash workshops in between events across the weekend. Another attraction will be the Wenlock poetry festival busk, with Liz Lefroy and Andrew McMillan hosting 10 hours of continuous poetry. The festival is from 24-26 April. More details 

 

FEBRUARY

Cork spring poetry festival, 11-14 February 

 

MARCH 

Stanza poetry festival, St Andrews, 4-8 March

York literature festival, 19-29 March

 

APRIL

Wenlock poetry festival, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, 24-26 April 

 

JUNE

Poetry & Words, Glastonbury festival 24-28 June