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The Aldeburgh Poetry Festival celebrates its 21st with a record-breaking year

Tom Paulin said it was ‘the best poetry festival - indeed, literary festival’ that he had ever been to, and with a record overall attendance figure of 4,630, there was certainly something of a buzz to the 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. Thank you to all of you who made it and also those who completed the online Festival survey. An overwhelming 92% of you rated your Festival experience as either ‘excellent’ (49%) or ‘good’ (43%). Philip Levine was chosen as the ‘favourite’ Festival poet, his reading was described by one attendee as ‘an inspirational visual and auditory experience’. Other highlights included: Geoffrey Hill, who showed a surprisingly lighter side when explaining a ‘tum-tutty, tum-titty’ rhyme scheme and asking the audience not to snigger; Roger Robinson delivering ‘one of the most energetic readings Aldeburgh has ever seen’ and the ‘witty, acerbic and kooky’ Kate Fox causing hysterics with her Geordie take on existentialism, ‘Why I?’

Congratulations to Lucius Redman who has won the Festival questionnaire Prize draw and will receive a year’s subscription to Poetry, the leading US magazine from the Poetry Foundation in Chicago.

If you couldn’t make it to Aldeburgh this year or if you’d like to share your Festival highlights, join in conversations on Facebook and Twitter. Keep an eye on The Poetry Channel where you will soon be able to listen to some Festival favourites. Enjoy the story of 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in photos. And have a read of the lively Guardian Online ‘Female Poem’ blog from the Festival.

...and lastly a date for your diaries…The 22nd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, 5 - 7 November 2010.

 

Watch Philip Levine in conversation with Naomi Jaffa

Enjoy Philip Levine - one the most significant US poets of the last 50 years - in conversation with The Poetry Trust director Naomi Jaffa. Levine received a long ovation following his sell-out reading at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival - his first UK appearance for over 30 years. In this short film Levine touches on growing up in Detroit, ‘needing a larger world’ and the impact of ‘the greatest teacher he ever had’ John Berryman. A big thank you to Neil Astley, Founder and Editor of Bloodaxe Books for producing this short film, recorded live during this year’s Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. Click to watch

 

Issue six of The Poetry Paper – Order your free copy

Where else can you find exclusive interviews with Sharon Olds and Alan Brownjohn, new poems by Tom Paulin, Philip Levine and David Morley, the poetry CVs of Kate Fox and Richard Price and a ‘questioned by poems’ feature with Ciaran Berry, Peter Blegvad, Imtiaz Dharker and John Hegley? Issue Six of the beautifully designed Poetry Paper is now making its way to poetry lovers across the globe. The Poetry Paper is entirely free (we will even drop it though your - UK only - letter box for no charge!) To order a copy for yourself or several for a reading group or writing course, simply complete an order form

 

Short Cuts Cabaret & Open Mic Night, The Cut, Halesworth, Friday 22 January 2010

Join us for Suffolk’s cult status variety show and find out what all the fuss is about. In January, Short Cuts welcomes special guest ‘Madame Galina New Forces Sweetheart’ - a burly Welsh bloke in a tutu - whose fans include Joanna Lumley, Madonna and 42 Commando. Clearly not a night to miss! The evening will also feature the dazzling array of strange or stupendous Open Mic talent with its heady mix of comedy, music, spoken word, live poetry and audience participation. Hosted by Dean Parkin (think Eric Morecambe crossed with Philip Larkin), with jazz and boogie-woogie maestro Maurice Horhut at the piano. Food and drink will also be available at The Cut, contemporary arts venue, café & bar.

To apply for a slot, contact Dean on 01986 835950 or .(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

 

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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 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. To join, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we’ll do the rest.