The annual Inspire Poetry Festival is back for another year, bringing acclaimed poets to local libraries across Nottinghamshire. This year, the festival brings audiences an array of reasons to enjoy poetry, and especially invites those who may have shied away from the genre previously to delve in and discover a love of literature.
Poets gracing libraries across Notts include stand up poet, spoken word artist and broadcaster, Kate Fox, who will be bringing her show, ‘Bigger on the Inside’, to West Bridgford Library. The smart, funny spoken word show looks at neurodiversity and autism through the theme of Doctor Who.
For fans of the local poetry scene, Beeston Library will host two exciting poetry launches – Paper Crane Poets with their collective anthology First Flight, and Trish Kerrison with her first pamphlet, Beyond Caring, published by Five Leaves. Local favourite, Andrew Graves, will be hosting a masterclass in performance poetry at Inspire’s Buttermarket venue in Newark, bringing the poetry festival to the venue for the first time.
Children and families are also in for a treat this year as award-winning poet Alex Wharton – the new Children’s Laureate Wales (2023-2025) – will be performing at both Beeston and West Bridgford Libraries. Families can also enjoy a new Small World short film screening and poetry activities at Sutton-in-Ashfield Library, to kick-start your little one’s love of poetry!
Peter Gaw, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire, said: “The Inspire Poetry Festival goes from strength to strength, and I’m excited at the opportunities to enjoy high quality cultural events in a library venue – from stand-up performances to workshops to films. Southwell Library, the original home of the festival, plays host as well as many other venues from Worksop in the north to Beeston in the south, making this a truly inspiring countywide festival.”
Other workshops, screenings and performances across the county include Cathy Grindrod, Leanne Moden, Michelle Hubbard, Sian Tower, and more.
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