Wordsmiths line up to give Much Wenlock festival recitals
Shropshire's Wenlock Poetry Festival is going on the road for the first time, it was revealed today.
As part of the festival, a new Anthology Tour is being introduced which will see poets reading their favourite pieces at venues across the county prior to the main three-day event in Much Wenlock in April.
Festival spokeswoman Helen Stallard said: "As far as we know, Wenlock Poetry Festival is the only festival that also publishes an anthology each year. Now, for the first time, we are going on the road with the anthology."
The roadshow will go to the George and Dragon Pub on Monday, from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.
Poets Andrew Fusek Peters, David Bingham, Jean Atkin, Jeff Phelps, Tina Cole and Paul Francis will recite poems during the evening.
Simon Fletcher, Nick Pearson, Paul Francis and Nadia Kingsley, along with a recital by Wenlock Books owner Anna Dreda, will be at Clungunford House on Wednesday, the home of Jane Roberts, from 8pm until 10pm, including a half hour break at 9pm for music.
The Shakespeare pub in Bridgnorth will be the next venue on March 17, from 8.30pm, followed by a visit to The Bulls Head in Whitchurch on March 19.
The Highwayman in Oswestry will welcome poets on March 24 between 7.30pm until 9.30pm, followed by the Housemans Bar on March 31, from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. Mrs Dreda will host a poetry breakfast on April 10, at Tea on the Square, from 9am until 10am.
More than 70 events will take place at this year's main event from April 25 until the 27th.
Simon Armitage has been announced as the headline act and he will be joined by a plethora of the UK's leading writers and artists including John Hegley, Frieda Hughes, Olivier award-winning actor Alex Jennings, David Morley, Elaine Feinstein and emerging young talent including the Shropshire Young Poet Laureate, Mia Cunningham.
Celebrated writers Daljit Nagra, Anna Saunders, Sarah Law, Andrea Hollan, Andrea Porter, Kiran Milwood Hargrave, Helen Tookey and Rebecca Goss will also be on the bill.
The fifth festival looks set to be the biggest to date and will feature live performances, readings, workshops, literature, art, music and film.
Mr Armitage will headline the event on April 27 reading extracts of his latest work Walking Home: Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way.
It recounts his travels along the Pennines without a penny in his pocket, while he gave poetry readings en-route in village halls, churches, pubs and living rooms.
The anniversary of the start of the First World War will also be the theme for this year's festival, with the work of Shropshire war poets A E Housman, Wilfred Owen and Mary Webb being celebrated.
Children's events will include Cargo of Creativity workshops with poet Sally Crabtree and the opportunity to make tiles engraved with Haiku poetry.
For a full programme of events or for further ticketing information visit www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org or call (01952) 726829.
