Saturday June 2nd
ALL DAY EVENTS
Poetry Bookstall and coffee from 10.30am
Poetry magazines and other publications from the invited poets/publisher plus hopefully a second-hand poetry bookstall.
Poetry Tree
An invitation to adorn the poetry tree with your favourite poems. Choose one of the greats or write one of your own.
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
MORNING
Poetry Is Nice To Eat – Fun With Words – Family Workshop 11.00am
A workshop for individuals or the whole family with Phil Barrett (MR B). Poems will be used to adorn the poetry tree – he’s a poet and he knows it.
Poetry Lunch 1.00pm
Buffet lunch and light refreshments on sale, or bring your own picnic.
AFTER LUNCH
Closely Shared – A Poet’s Choice/Masterclass 2.00pm
A Close Reading where the invited poets share work that has influenced and excited
them, including a close reading of a chosen poem(s).
Strictly Spoken 3.30pm
An Open Event providing an opportunity to perform ‘Bob’s Lane’, also known as ‘Women He Liked’ by Edward Thomas (chosen by Peter Sansom) and get feedback on your performance from a panel of judges, including one or more of the invited poets. The winning recitation will receive a prize of £20.00. Sign up at the beginning of the day for one of the 10–15 reading slots. Copies of the poem will be available.
Poetry, Cake and a Cuppa – ‘Open Mic Event’ 5.00pm
Whilst consuming cake and a cuppa, people are invited to bring and read a poem by
an existing writer, or to read one of their own, on the theme of ‘Summer’ or ‘A Summers Evening’ chosen by Peter Sansom.
Poetry and Pimm’s – Poetry on a summer’s evening 6.30pm
A great opportunity to mingle and enjoy refreshments before and during the reading by our invited poets.
‘Reading’ 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Peter Sansom reads a selection of his own work, supported by readings from Sally
Baker and David Tait. The reading will be in two halves with Pimm’s and finger-nibbles available before the event and during the interval.
Peter Sansom
Together with Ann Sansom, Peter is a director of The Poetry Business in Sheffield, and co-editor of The North magazine and Smith/Doorstop Books. Carcanet publish his five poetry collections, including Selected Poems (2010), and his classic textbook Writing Poems is published by Bloodaxe. Peter has been Fellow in Poetry at the Universities of Leeds and Manchester and company poet for both M&S and the Prudential.
Sally Baker
Sally Baker was born in Suffolk and now lives in West Yorkshire. She teaches poetry for the WEA and works as a gardener for the NHS. She was selected for the Jerwood Aldeburgh Seminar in 2007 and recently received an Arts Council award. Her pamphlet, The Sea and the Forest, is ‘an enticing mix of documentary and fairytale. Understated yet rich … it captures the magic and longing behind everyday acts.’ — Polly Clark
David Tait
David Tait was born in Lancaster in 1985 and has spent time in Leeds, Thailand, Suffolk and The Lake District, where he was a warden at Helvellyn Youth Hostel. His pamphlet, Love’s Loose Ends, was a winner in the 2010/11 Poetry Business Competition, judged by Simon Armitage. David is currently House Poet for Carol Ann Duffy & Friends at Manchester Royal Exchange.
TICKETS: £5 afternoon; £7 Evening; or £10 both
VENUES: Salthouse Church and British Columbia Hall (next to Salthouse Church)
For more information, contact Helen Birtwell at lilibirtie@yahoo.co.uk
or Rose Morton at rosemoreton@btinternet.com
