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Join us this weekend at the 22nd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival

The finest national and international poets from eight countries and across the UK are currently making their way to Aldeburgh for the ultimate poetry weekend. Join us for an inspirational and sustaining three days. Highlighted as a pick of week in The Guardian, The Independent & The Times, Aldeburgh is the only place to be this weekend. Immerse yourself in the full-on poetry experience or dip a toe into whatever takes your fancy. Certain events are sold out of course, but here’s a snapshot of some fabulous readings & performances you wouldn’t want to miss…

Festival launch
It all kicks off with the Festival launch reception at the Peter Pears Gallery, Aldeburgh at 6pm. Informal readings from several international writers & a chance to enjoy an exhibition preview of the work of Suffolk landscape artist Moss Fuller. Wine. Canapés. Poetry. All welcome.

Friday highlight
Family Reading: Mandy Coe
6 - 7pm, Friday 5 November, Jubilee Hall
Reading at Aldeburgh from her first book of poetry for children - the infectiously engaging Mandy Coe, with poems to excite the imaginations of poetry fans of all ages. And before Mandy takes the stage, the winners of the Suffolk Young Poets competition read their outstanding poems. Always a heart-warming Festival treat.
£6 / £4 (concessions)
Box Office: 01728 687110

Saturday night in Aldeburgh (better than Strictly & X-Factor!)
Two high-energy performances make for a great evening out (plus plenty of time for Aldeburgh’s famously fantastic fish and chips, a pint of Adnams and maybe even a starlight walk on the shingle beach, weather permitting!)

Performance: Untitled by Inua Ellams
5.45 - 7pm, Saturday 6 November, Jubilee Hall
Presented by Fuel and SOHO Theatre
Described by The Times as ‘London’s hottest new spoken word talent’, Inua Ellams brings his new one-man show to Aldeburgh. The magical realist story - set in Nigeria and England - tells of two identical twin boys separated at infancy and what happens when one child is left unnamed. Watch the trailer.
£8 / £6 (concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 01728 687110

Performance: Elvis McGonagall
10.00 - 10.45pm, Saturday 6 November, Jubilee Hall
The ideal late-night shindig performer, top stand-up poet - Elvis McGonagall - brings his armchair revolution to Aldeburgh. The BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live regular is described as the love-child of Elvis Presley and a star-struck airport baggage handler. Laugh out loud funny.
£8 / £6 (concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 01728 687110

Sunday highlights

Exchange: The Subversive Poet
11.00 - 11.45am, Sunday 7 November, James Cable Room
One of Sweden’s finest writers and a Nobel Prize nominee, Lars Gustafsson, joins London’s Bernard Kops to address the ‘writer’s responsibility to call the establishment to account’. As two poets with impeccable ‘awkward squad’ credentials, they should have plenty to say on the subject. And don’t miss Lars Gustafsson on Radio 4’s Start the Week at 9am the following morning when he discusses this timely topic with Andrew Marr and fellow guests.

There are still tickets for two events featuring former Poetry Laureate and all-round Poetry Advocate Andrew Motion:

Discussion: Other Writing
9-10am, Sunday 7 November, Jubilee Hall
A one-off and stimulating conversation between four exceptional writers. Inua Ellams, Elaine Feinstein, Bernard Kops and Andrew Motion discuss the demands of other genres - plays, novels, short stories, memoirs, biographies - and how these affect their poetry.
£8 / £6 (concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 01728 687110

Talk: The Poetry Archive
2.15-3.00pm, Sunday 7 November, Jubilee Hall
Offering a personal website tour and unique selection of audio clips, Andrew Motion tells the story of The Poetry Archive, launched five years ago to re-affirm the value of sound in poetry and to conserve today’s voices for future generations. Already the UK’s leading connection with poetry audiences worldwide, how will it develop?
£8 / £6 (concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 01728 687110

Late programme change

Selima Hill has gone down with gastric flu and has very sadly had to withdraw from this year’s Festival. Imtiaz Dharker has happily agreed to read in her place at the Saturday morning reading 10.45am - 12.30pm (PF6) and will also deliver the final Short Take on Sunday at 1.30pm.

Poet & founder of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival Michael Laskey will take Selima Hill’s place for the Exchange with Bill Manhire about ‘Happiness Writes White’, on Saturday at 1.45pm (PF10). Michael will interview Manhire on the subject and feed into the conversation some of what Selima had been planning to say.

We are hugely grateful to Imtiaz for stepping in at such short notice, and rather amazed at the extraordinary felicity of it all - given that Imtiaz herself had so sadly to withdraw from last year’s APF due to the untimely death of her husband Simon. We are all thrilled that she will, at last, get to enjoy the Aldeburgh experience.

The Poetry Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of all sponsors and funders - without whom the Festival would not be possible. Full list.

 

Hugh Thomson blogs the Festival weekend

We’re delighted that the award-winning travel writer and contemporary poetry enthusiast Hugh Thomson will be our blogger in residence throughout the Festival weekend, in partnership with Writers’ Centre Norwich. According to the New York Times ‘Everywhere Thomson goes, he finds good stories to tell.’ So don’t miss his reflections on Aldeburgh and share your own thoughts and Festival reviews on his blog (anyone can comment and you don’t need to register). Blog site: www.thewhiterock.co.uk

Photo: Hugh’s electric blue Oldsmobile 98 - will he bring it to Aldeburgh?

 

Hot off the press – Issue 7 of The Poetry Paper

Featuring exclusive interviews with Seamus Heaney & Don Paterson, Bill Manhire on how to keep writing, an introduction to Marie Howe - plus new poems from Jack Underwood, Caroline Bird, Toon Tellegen and more. The Poetry Paper is back and it’s the best yet. Aldeburgh Poetry Festival audience members will be the first to get their hands on this perfectly packaged triumph of content and style. And if you can’t make it to the Festival, for the first time you can enjoy The Poetry Paper online through an interactive flipbook. The not-for-profit Poetry Paper is made possible because of advertising revenue generated from the literature/arts sector. The Poetry Trust would like to thank these organisations for their support.

 

I must go down to the seas again…

Throughout the weekend, many Festival poets will spend a solo reflective hour in our specially-commandeered Look-out Tower. With stunning views across the shingle and out to the North Sea, this will be a rare chance to retreat from the street-level buzz of the Festival to think and possibly even write.

Poets will then share their non-ivory tower experience with BBC producer Nick Patrick to create a series of podcasts for our Poetry Channel.

 

Finally….  Hambling for Poetry!

Acclaimed Suffolk artist Maggi Hambling - famous for Scallop on Aldeburgh Beach - has come up with an inspiringly generous way to support Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and the work of The Poetry Trust. Hambling has donated a stunning jewel of an oil painting - ‘Wave Curling’ - to be sold through online auction, either later this year or in early 2011. To receive auction details, please contact Katie Burroughs at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with ‘Maggi Hambling auction’ in the subject heading, or call 01986 835950.