Sunlight breaking through the trees in the New Forest
Winchester Poetry Festival team
The south of England’s first major poetry festival, Winchester Poetry Festival, is set to make its mark on the literary landscape with the announcement of its full festival programme, which will bring world class voices as well as emerging talents to an exciting three day event in September.
The inaugural festival will feature a mixture of readings by internationally known poets, including Brian Patten and Michael Longley, as well as masterclasses, lectures and workshops to bring enjoyment of poetry to the widest possible audience.
The Festival will also feature poetry local to Hampshire as seven poets from Winchester, Southampton and the surrounding area share their work in a reading which presents the vibrant contemporary poetry scene of the county. In addition students from Peter Symonds and other Hampshire sixth form colleges will have the opportunity to participate in an inter-college poetry slam performance.
The programme also features a guided walk around Winchester exploring locations of poetic significance, plus a poetry competition with the winner to be announced at the final reading led by internationally renowned poet Jackie Kay.
Stephen Boyce, co-artistic director of the Festival said ‘Our aim has been to bring together poets and work that reflect the range and diversity of the contemporary poetry scene today while acknowledging the legacy enjoyed in this country through a long history of poetry in all its forms.’
The Festival takes place between 12th & 14th September and will have a number of events during the months leading up to the main Festival including LiTTLe MACHiNe presenting EPIC, their ‘mad rush though the history of Poetry’ on 14 May at Winchester Discovery Centre, and a reading by Rev David Scott on 11th June at St Lawrence Church as a part of the Space in the City series of lunchtime talks and readings.
The whole programme can be seen on the Winchester Poetry Festival website www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org.
Tickets for all events are available via the Winchester Discovery Centre Box Office Tel: 01962 873603
