The Festival, which takes place between April 13 to 15 April in Much Wenlock with an exciting mix of poetry readings, performances and workshops for adults and children.
Now in its third year the line-up includes Carol Ann Duffy, Liz Lochhead and Gillian Clarke; Jackie Kay, Lavinia Greenlaw and nick Drake; Mario Petrucci, Paul Henry Fiona Sampson, Elaine Feinstein, Daljit Nagra, David Whyte and many more.
At the weekend launch organizers said many of the events had already sold out but the are still hoping families from across the county will visit Much Wenlock during the festival as everybody will be joining in.
At the official launch an Ode to Shropshire media was unveiled dedicated to the writers and creative minds across the county.
A number of events will take place at the arts centre with the Sarah Gillespie Quartet and ‘Music Make Poetry’ at 9pm on Fridaym David Whyte at 4pm on the Saturday followed by Poet Laureate Carole Ann Duffy reading from her latest work ‘Bees’ her first collection since accepting the laureateship, at 7.30pm.
And its not only in the arts centre that poetry will be taking hold, the Wirral Alliance of Poets will be busking in the streets, whiles the cart-wheeling, bingo-playing, edible poem maker Sally Crabtree will be wowing the crowds.
Also on hand will be Emergency Poet Deb Alma, whose vintage ambulance equipped for a mobile first-aid service for poetry and Pauline Prior-Pitt who will host ‘reading, tea and scones’.
Poetry workshops and readings with and for Children will be held throughout the weekend. They include Mandy Ross with children’s reading at 10am on Saturday April 14, Chrissie Gittins Leaping Poems for seven to 11-year-olds at noon and a children’s workshop with Mandy Ross at 1.30pm at the Much Wenlock Library.
The poems on hands in the tree as see above right were all written and donated to the festival by Brown Clee Primary School.
Listen to Chris Pritchard chat to Anna Dreda, Wenlock Poetry Festival Founder and Artistic Director.
To see all of the activities taking place during the festival visit www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org.