Tomorrow, I will be heading to the Ledbury Poetry Festival. I’m looking forward to some time out from the busyness of the PhD to swap roles and become the workshop attendee, rather than the workshop facilitator. I really enjoy running writing workshops, but I also love attending them, and often write some of my best poems in the relaxed (but also high-pressured) space of a festival workshop.
I have fantastic memories of previous Ledbury Poetry Festivals, including a hilarious performance from Benjamin Zephaniah, and an extremely moving reading from Owen Sheers. Their ‘Versopolis’ events have always been great too, showcasing poets working in different languages.
There’s something special about sitting in a room full of people writing. It can force you to mine your subconscious and produce unexpected images or ideas. I’ll be attending workshops run by Anthony Anaxagorou, Jessica Mookherjee and Em Strang, and a few of the readings as well. I think there are still tickets available for some events, if you’re looking for something to do this weekend.
Poet Amiina Mohamoud performing at a previous Seren Poetry Festival
I recently attended an inspiring writing workshop led by Rhian Edwards, at the Three Streams Arts Festival in Llantwit Major. The workshop inspired two very different poems, both of which I’m still working on. They also had visual art displays, performances and readings. I was blown away by a powerful performance from Rufus Mufasa and Taylor Edmonds. Keep an eye on their Twitter account and hopefully there’ll be another Three Streams Festival next year…
The Seren Cardiff Poetry Festival takes place in July, with a mix of workshops, readings and panel discussions, and I’ll be heading to a couple of their events as well. You can also watch most of their events online with an online pass.
I’m sure there are numerous other literary festivals and workshops coming up in Wales and further afield, online and in-person. So please do add details and links in the comments below…
Declaration: I have free tickets to attend some of the Ledbury Poetry Festival events.
