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22nd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival - programme announced

Described by Tom Paulin as ‘the best poetry festival - indeed literary - festival’ he’s ever been to the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival is renowned for the quality and independence of its programming.

This year the Festival welcomes writers - established and new voices - from America, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden and the UK to the inspirational east Suffolk coast.

Former UK Poet Laureate Andrew Motion shares the poems he can’t live without; Queen’s Gold Medalist Don Paterson offers a fresh interpretation of Robert Frost; Elaine Feinstein confides in her relationship with The Beats; and Bernard Kops tackles the writer’s responsibility to be subversive. Plus plenty of international perspectives - from New Zealand’s inaugural poet laureate Bill Manhire, Sweden’s critically-acclaimed Lars Gustafsson, Holland’s enigmatic Toon Tellegen, and two scintillating Americans making UK debuts, Marie Howe and Dorianne Laux. The award-winning travel writer, documentary film-maker and contemporary poetry enthusiast Hugh Thomson will blog the Festival weekend.

Further Festival highlights:

• The much-travelled Harry Clifton, newly appointed Ireland Professor of Poetry, discusses the concept of ‘home’ with Hugh Thomson
• Selima Hill and Bill Manhire debate whether sadness is a more natural and even, sometimes, a more pleasurable subject for poetry
• New talent showcase: Caroline Bird, Luke Kennard and Jack Underwood
• Inua Ellams performs his potent new magic realism one-man show, Untitled
• Late-night razor-sharp stand-up poetry from Radio 4’s Saturday Live Elvis McGonagall

Full Festival programme and booking