Welcome to Stuff. The Poetry Trust's latest news, events, podcasts and publications.

The 22nd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival – programme now available

5-7 November 2010

Come and relish the power of live poetry at the 22nd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, featuring 23 world-class writers across 44 events. An original and absorbing programme is guaranteed with poets from America, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden and all over the UK converging on the inspirational east Suffolk coast.

Former UK poet laureate Andrew Motion shares the poems he can’t live without, Forward Prize winner Don Paterson offers a new interpretation of Robert Frost, and Elaine Feinstein confides in her relationship with The Beats. With plenty of international perspectives from New Zealand’s inaugural poet laureate Bill Manhire, Sweden’s critically-acclaimed Lars Gustafsson and two scintillating Americans, Marie Howe and Dorianne Laux. And award-winning travel writer and contemporary poetry enthusiast Hugh Thomson will blog the Festival weekend.

Click for full programme, including readings, workshops, craft talks, discussions, performances, Masterclass, exhibition and lots more.

If you’d like a hard copy of the Festival programme, please contact Katie at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 01986 835950.

Booking for Friends of The Poetry Trust opens on 17 August (if you join as a Friend now for just £15 a year you will be able to take advantage of priority booking) Click to join

Public booking opens 25 August.

With thanks to all the Festival funders and supporters

 

New on The Poetry Channel – Poem Show summer special

We’re having our own Fringe Festival on The Poetry Channel this August with a new Poem Show celebrating three of the UK’s most entertaining poets. Enjoy the late, great Adrian Mitchell with ‘A Puppy Called Puberty’ - which was premiered at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival 2005 on R4’s Kaleidoscope (back in those pre-Front Row days) and ended up on BBC Pick-of-the-Year. Matt Harvey celebrates the joys of office pilfering in his hilarious poem ‘Works Perks’ and Helena Nelson finds more words to rhyme with banana than you would think possible in a poem originally recorded at her triumphant Poetry Prom in 2007. Click to listen.

The Poetry Channel now attracts over 1,500 downloads a month: have a listen to this and 30 other shows - including craft talks, discussions and behind the scenes documentaries at: www.thepoetrytrust.org/poetry-channel

...and if you’re up in Edinburgh for the real Fringe Festival be sure to catch The Poetry Trust’s ever-creative Dean Parkin with his new one-man show Dean’s Dad’s Ducks at the Zoo Southside (Cabaret Bar)

 

Record 95 entries for the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

Judges Michael Laskey (Chair), Jo Shapcott and Neil Rollinson have a tough job on their hands given the record 95 submissions to the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize. The exciting shortlist will be announced on National Poetry Day 7 October 2010 and the winner will be revealed at the Festival in November. Catch last year’s winner J O Morgan reading alongside Don Paterson and Matthew Caley at the opening Friday evening reading at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival 2010.

 

Short Cuts, The Cut, Halesworth, Friday 17 September 7.30pm

The theme of Short Cuts - our cult status variety show - this September is ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ as we welcome special guest Jude Simpson. Witty, charming and a brilliant stand-up poet, she promises a recession-busting guide to happiness. As always the show will offer a heady mix of comedy, music, spoken word and live poetry along with the usual unabashed Open Mic talent. Will everything be all right on the night? Join us in September to find out. Matchless entertainment guaranteed whatever!

To apply for a performance slot (3 minutes), contact Dean on 01986 835950 or at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tickets cost £5, Call The Cut Box office on 0845 6732123

Supported by The Co-op Community Fund

 

Advertise in The Poetry Paper

There are still a few advertising spaces available in The Poetry Paper - our annual triumph of style & content - launched at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and distributed widely to arts & cultural audiences throughout 2010/11. This year the paper will feature an exclusive interview with Seamus Heaney and new poems, interviews and articles from many of the Festival poets. To reserve one of the remaining spaces, contact Alice Kent at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Further details

 

Making Sense of Our Lives: Martin Hayden & David Healey

Two Suffolk-based poets launch their new pamphlets
The Cut, Halesworth, Tuesday 21 September, 7.30pm

Martin Hayden A humane, observant and refreshingly outward-looking poet, reads from Meeting the Pilgrimage Halfway - celebratory autobiographical poems from his Dorset childhood.

David Healey Honesty and wit from the former chairman of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, reading from Slowing the Afternoon Down, a collection of heartfelt and heartening poems charting his recovery from the loss of his first wife.

Tickets £6 (includes a complimentary drink)
The Cut Box office on 0845 6732123

Garlic Press in association with The Poetry Trust

 

Seamus Heaney, 8th Poetry Prom – new podcast coming soon

The 8th Poetry Prom - a partnership between The Poetry Trust & Aldeburgh Music - featuring Seamus Heaney has been completely sold out for weeks (nearly 800 tickets). However for all those unable to get a seat or get to Suffolk, we’ll be recording the evening and producing a podcast for The Poetry Channel. To receive the podcast as soon as it’s available, subscribe to The Poetry Channel on iTunes.

 

Become a ‘Friend’ of The Poetry Trust & secure priority booking for Aldeburgh Poetry Festival

Popular events at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival do sell out so to make sure you get the tickets you want, you need to be a Friend of The Poetry Trust. For just £15, as well as enjoying a two-week priority booking period, you’ll also be helping us deliver our year-round programme of live events, prizes, publications, creative education opportunities and more. Distribution of the Festival programme has started and Friends priority booking opens on 17 August 2010. Friends’ subscriptions make a real difference so why not join.
Full details

 

Other STUFF you might like…

Last Chance to Enter Arvon’s Poetry Competition closing date 16 August

The Woodstock Bookshop & Tower Poetry present - Jo Shapcott & Daljit Nagra, 25 August, 8pm, Woodstock, Oxon, £4 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Poetry Book Society - Autumn Pamphlet submission deadline 1 September

The Academy of American Poets presents The 2010 Poets Forum October 28 - 30, New York

Iota Shots & Templar Poetry - three new poetry prizes, closing date 14 November http://www.iotamagazine.co.uk and

Café Writers open poetry competition 2010, closing date 30 November