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

World-class poetry in Suffolk this month

This is definitely worth a special summer trip to Suffolk – The Poetry Prom – at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25 August at Snape Maltings Concert Hall. We’ve lined up three favourite poet/performers for what’s surely the UK’s biggest audience for live poetry – nearly 800 people! National treasure Alan Brownjohn will join forces with South Africa’s scintillating Finuala Dowling and Sharon Olds, ‘America’s greatest living poet’ (The Guardian). With hundreds of tickets already sold, book yours now by calling the box office on 01728 687110.

Catch a preview of this world-class line up by listening to the latest Poetry Channel podcast. Hear The Poetry Trust’s Naomi Jaffa and Dean Parkin discuss this year’s Poetry Prom and introduce poems by the three poets taking part – Alan Brownjohn, Finuala Dowling and Sharon Olds.

 

21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival programme now available

The 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival programme is now making its way to poetry fans (and those in need of conversion!) around the world. Festival artist Peter Blegvad’s illustrations complement the quality and excitement of the line-up. From the family event with comic genius John Hegley through visionary encounters with Geoffrey Hill to readings by richly rewarding Americans Philip Levine and Albert Goldbarth, this year’s programme is designed to entertain, stimulate and engage as never before.

The Festival will also feature a specially-created celebration by the ‘Wonderful Beast Theatre Company’ of one of our best-loved, funny, passionate and political poets – Adrian Mitchell. With a brilliant ensemble of musicians and actors, including Roger Lloyd Pack and Diana Quick, we can promise a riotous evening of words, jazz and rock ‘n roll.

Click here for Festival Programme details.

 

BBC features Michael Laskey poem

The BBC has treated audiences this summer to readings of Michael Laskey’s poem ‘On Giving Up Cricket’. The evocative poem written by the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival founder has been used in radio and television trailers for the Ashes.

The reading has delighted poetry and cricket fans alike and has received a great deal of positive comment in online poetry forums. One viewer remarked ‘Don’t know about anyone else but I adore the poem that the BBC is using to promote the test. I can not find which anthology it has been published in. Does anyone know? I’d like to get a copy’.

So for this viewer and others who haven’t managed to catch the readings on the beeb, the poem which appeared in Michael’s first collection Thinking of Happiness, can be enjoyed at http://www.michael-laskey.co.uk

 

The Poetry Trust hosts an evening with Sharon Olds at the Hampstead Theatre, London

In her native New York people queue around the block to hear her bold, astonishing and deeply rewarding readings. The Poetry Trust is delighted to host a rare solo evening with Sharon Olds at the Hampstead Theatre, London. Described by The Guardian as ‘America’s greatest living poet’ her work has been consistently provocative and controversial over eight collections, including her most recent One Secret Thing.

Sharon has generously agreed to support The Poetry Trust’s fundraising for this year’s Festival by offering an intimate evening ‘in conversation’ with Aldeburgh Poetry Festival founder, Michael Laskey. There’ll be a chance also to talk with Sharon afterwards at a champagne reception.

This is a fundraising event and tickets (£65) are limited and can only be booked through The Poetry Trust. If you’re interested in attending please contact Mary Smyth at The Poetry Trust on 01986 835950 or by email

 

Overwhelming response to Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

The feng shui in The Poetry Trust’s normally harmonious and perfectly aligned office has been thrown out of sorts by an overwhelming number of entries for the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, which closed last week. We’re delighted with the calibre and number of entries - 92! - but we feel rather guilty about the incredibly hard job facing our judges Michael Laskey (chair), David Constantine and Mimi Khalvati. With such a record number of entries, a stunning shortlist announcement is expected in October with the overall winner announced during the 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in November. This unique prize attracts not only a £3000 cash prize but more importantly a week of ‘protected’ writing time on the inspirational Suffolk coast and an invitation to read at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival 2010 - an unparalleled opportunity to reach Britain’s largest and most appreciative poetry audience. For more information see Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

 

A friendly introduction to poetry for anyone aged 16 – 100

The autumn dates for the popular Poetry Trust reading group in Halesworth have now been confirmed. Anyone with an interest in discussing poetry in an informal and friendly atmosphere is encouraged to book a place. Over six evenings the group will be led by expert poet/tutor Esther Morgan to focus on a variety of poems featured in the best selling Bloodaxe anthology Staying Alive. The reading group will run fortnightly on Thursday evenings from 24 September to 10 December at the Halesworth Library. Numbers in the group are limited so advance booking is essential. For more details contact 01986 835950 or email us

 

Friends of The Poetry Trust

If you like The Poetry Trust’s work and can offer a little extra support, then please become a Friend. In return for a £15 annual subscription, Friends enjoy Special Offers (see Poetry at The Cut above) as well as an exclusive priority booking period for the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. As dedicated Festival audiences know all too well, Aldeburgh events frequently sell out: so being a Friend offers a real benefit. If you join now you will receive exclusive priority booking (from 18 - 26 August) to the celebratory 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in November.

To join, email us and we’ll do the rest.