Programme revealed for Welshpool Poetry Festival

Welshpool Poetry Festival is the latest event on the local arts and entertainment calendar to confirm that it is back to full steam ahead with a strong line-up for its post-pandemic return.

The annual event is set to take place on Saturday, June 11, at the Church House wuith organisers promising full day of the very best in contemporary poetry, with a mix of in-person and on-line elements.

The day starts at 10am with a Saturday Surgery, limited to just 10 lucky participants, so booking is essential. Jonathan Davidson will chair this bespoke feedback session where each poet will get at least 10 minutes with the group discussing their poem and offering constructive suggestions.
Next up is a workshop with award-winning poet Emma Purshouse, looking at how to write poetry with competitions in mind. Plenty of people enter comps, but do they know what judges are looking for and how to elevate our writing and make it stand out? All will be revealed in this session.
The ever-popular free open mic is from 4-6pm and is a brilliant way to try out your work in front of an audience. Pat Edwards, festival curator, will host 20 in-person poets who can sign up on the day, along with 10 on-line poets, who need to book in advance via the website. 
The day concludes with the Poetry Showcase, featuring an exclusive, pre-recorded audio reading by iconic American poet, Mary Ruefle. She will be joined on-line by Mary Jean Chan, and by in-person performances from Abeer Ameer, Jonathan Davidson and Glyn Edwards.

The results of the Open Competition will be announced and the winning poems will be read.

“The festival is grateful to the Mary Hignett Bequest Fund, administered by Oswestry Rotary Club, and to Literature Wales,” said Pat.

“If any local businesses or benefactors want to offer sponsorship, it is never too late to come forward and be part of this fabulous local event.”

For full details and tickets, visit welshpoolpoetryfestival.org.uk.