Public events

Poetry postcards

04 Oct 2018

Gaining inspiration from Quex Park Gardens.

This was a free event for anyone visiting that day.

We wrote poetry and positive words on postcards and decorated them ready to be given out on National Poetry Day free to passers by in Margate.

Free

View Quex Park Gardens website

School events

Overton Poetry Prize

20 Dec 2018

The School of the Arts, English and Drama offers the annual Overton Poetry Prize for a sequence of poems, in memory of former lecturer Professor Bill Overton (1946-2012).
Anyone is welcome to submit a series of poems on any subject, up to 300 lines in length. The winning entry will be published in a chapbook form.

The deadline for entry is 20th December 2018.

To enter follow the link: https://bit.ly/1NMUBIS

Prize

View Loughborough University - School of Arts, English and Drama website

Public events

The Front Room

04 Oct 2018

Running for 2 years now, The Front Room is a monthly spoken word event with dabs of original music and comedy.

On National Poetry Day we are at Hunter Gatherer Coffee in Southsea and start from 7.00pm We have an expanded open mic session to allow poets the opportunity of being part of the day. There's also a slam showcase featuring Southampton's Jayne Ede and Portsmouth's Emily Priest and Prince Brandon on themes of Travel, Celebrity and Romance.

Performance, Open mic

View The Front Room website

Public events

ALL CHANGE

29 Nov 2018

A one-off spoken word event by BirminghamLive in partnership with Virgin Trains.

Performance, Free

View BirminghamLive website

Public events

Vinyl Head Open Mic

05 Oct 2018

On the first Friday of every month, there is a wonderful open mic night at Vinyl Head Cafe and Record Shop in Ramsgate, Kent. The styles are wide-ranging and everyone is very supportive and appreciative. Everyone who comes shares a love of words. Please come!

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Vinyl Head Cafe and Record Shop website

School events

Harvest Celebration & National Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

Reception parents, Year 6 and new parents to the school are invited to have a light lunch before attending the Harvest Celebration where all girls are performing poems, songs and readings.

Performance, Free

View Stormont School website

Public events

Wincanton Poetry Day 12th October 2018

12 Oct 2018

Free, Library, Prize

View Wincanton Museum & Historical Society website

School events

Slow Down Yoga with Poetry

04 Oct 2018

Come and take time to move, stretch, breathe and deeply relax, creating space in body and mind, while listing to some beautiful poetry on National Poetry Day. This yoga class includes gentle slow-flowing yoga postures, simple yet effective breathing techniques to really connect to our breathe, deeper stretching postures to release deeply held tension, and will finish with a restorative yoga posture and a deep relaxation to allow the body to yield and soften, and the mind to become stiller and calmer.
All this with beautiful candlelight to add to the feeling of tranquillity, and gorgeous poetry reading, creating calmness and restfulness in this lovely space.

Reading, Performance

View Yoga For Modern Life website

School events

Poetry Evening: Tutor Time

04 Oct 2018

Students are exploring the Poem ' I am a Parrot' by Grace Nichols. Reading and discussing the poem in tutor time, students will have the opportunity to enjoy the genre and discuss their favourite poem and poets!

Performance

View The Rosedale Hewens Academy Trust website

Public events

Rain on the river

04 Oct 2018

Sitting on a bench in the rain eating chips beside the River Cocker reading any poem we choose

Reading, Free

View River Cocker website

School events

Open Evening

04 Oct 2018

The Romsey School open evening happens to fall on National Poetry Day so what better way to show off how amazing our Library is by showcasing some fantastic poetry books and poems written by Readers Club.
There will be a large poster display and colourful display board with books laid out for all to see and enjoy.

Free, Library

View The Romsey School website

School events

Poetry Reading and Writing

04 Oct 2018

Pupils are reading and writing poetry. Staff are sharing their favourite poems.

Reading, Free, Library

View Smithills School website

School events

National Poetry Day Scavenger Hunt Quiz

04 Oct 2018

Around the LRC are clues and poems about our staff's favourite poems, what poetry is, the types of poetry and different poets. Students have a list of questions and they need to 'scavenge' the answers. Certificates for all participating and prizes for winners!

Free, Library, Prize

View North Durham Academy website

School events

Whole school poem performance

04 Oct 2018

Every class in our school have learnt a poem off by heart. Today they are going to perform their poems in a whole school assembly.

Reading, Performance, Free

View Panshanger Primary School website

Public events

Kids Poetry Slam

06 Oct 2018

Celebrate Poetry Day and National Bookshop Day! Join us to perform your own poem, your favourite poem, or a selection from our poetry karaoke list. Perform on your own, or as a group! Anything goes 😁

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Rogan’s Books website

School events

Family poetry workshop – A First Book of the Sea

04 Oct 2018

Coastlands School is holding its first poetry workshop for families. It will be based around poems from Nicola Davies’ A First Book of the Sea.

Free

View Coastlands CP School website

School events

Inter-House Poetry Competition

04 Oct 2018

The children have signed themselves up to represent their House in the Inter-House Poetry Competition. There are five different rounds, including one which involves the children having to write their own poem based on 'Change' and then performing it in front of the whole school.

Performance

View St Laurence In Thanet Church of England Junior Academy website

Public events

Poetry and Prosecco

04 Oct 2018

As part of St Michael's Arts Festival in Stockwell.

An evening of seemlessly blended sparkle, profundity and joy, with performance poet and inspirational story-teller Sarah de Nordwall, back at the 2018 Festival by popular demand.

Sarah held us spellbound last year with her wisdom and wit, poetry and sheer delight at the universe, and StMaf18 is thrilled she has agreed to come back to charge our glasses for a second time...

Performance, Exhibition

View St Michael's Arts Festival website

Public events

Emotional Literacy, Poetry, and Your Community: Cultivating Connection in an Individualistic Society

11 Oct 2018

TEDx speaker and poet Crystal Stone will discuss the ways poetry can help us develop our emotional literacy. We'll close-read some modern examples and then find out ways we can make poetry more visible in our communities. Sign up for this FREE virtual talk here: https://www.nationalconversationproject.org/justlikeastone/emotional_literacy_poetry_and_your_community_cultivating_connection_in_an_individualistic_society

Free

View National Conversation Project website

School events

Poetry Gig in the LRC

04 Oct 2018

Poetry gig to allow everyone to read their favourite poems aloud in the LRC!

Performance, Library, Open mic

View Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College website

School events

NPD Extravaganza

04 Oct 2018

Our school library will be celebrating with a huge National Poetry day display and lunchtime workshop to encourage the reading and creation of poetry. During the day KS3 English lessons will all be about Poetry. We will be focusing this year on change so we are changing our use of old books by creating Black Out Poetry.

Free, Library, Exhibition

View Kettering Science Academy website

Public events

Cyrenians OPAL:older people, active lives

01 Apr 2018

I will read from my copy of “The Lost Words”, as well as some of my own poems on the theme of “change”, at an afternoon group for older people at Longcroft Hall Linlithgow.

Performance

View Cyrenians website

Partner events

National Poetry Day Metro Takeover

04 Oct 2018

To celebrate National Poetry Day, the Poetry Book Society are joining forces with some of the most exciting new poets from local literary organisations to launch a major poetry takeover across Newcastle’s Nexus transport system.

Watch out for:

• Pop-up poetry performances by a dynamic range of emerging and established poets.


• The first-ever NPD Metro Poet in Residence, Sunderland born poet and popular Youtube Vlogger, Jen Campbell, will travel the metro tweeting poetry and sharing stories on Nexus Instagram @My_Metro via the hashtag #poetryforachange.


• Thousands of exclusive postcards featuring Lemn Sissay’s “Anthem of the North”, commissioned by the Great Exhibition of the North, to celebrate our region’s national role at the heart of positive social “change”.

Share your own postcard poem on the theme of “Change” on social media @PoetryBookSoc #Poetryforachange for a chance to win poetry goodies throughout the day.

Don't forget to share your poetry encounters throughout the day @poetrybooksoc @PoetryDayUK or follow the action on #poetryforachange

Let’s make a positive change through poetry in Newcastle, on National Poetry Day!

Performance, Free, Prize

View Poetry Book Society website

Public events

Glass Mountain Poets Open Mic

04 Oct 2018

Afternoon Poetry reading by local poets Glass Mountain Poets, led by John Gosnell poet and artist, with an opportunity to join in on an open mic event to celebrate national poetry day at Crystal Peaks Library (library in a shopping centre) 2.00-4.00pm Free refreshments

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic

View Sheffield City Libraries website

Public events

Poetry competition & recitation

04 Oct 2018

A poetry competition on the theme of ice cream. Winner will be given their choice of Sundae at the ice cream cafe in Strabane, NI.
Cafe Scoop customers will take part and it will honour a famous writer and poet from our area - Flann OBrien.

Prize

View CaféScoopStrabNe website

School events

Open Mic Poetry

04 Oct 2018

An in-school open mic poetry event - pupils and staff will share their favourite poems, read their own, read a few about Change and celebrate the beauty of the written word in verse.

Performance, Library, Open mic

View Wycombe Abbey School website

Public events

Call for poems!

04 Oct 2018

Middlewich Town Council are looking for short poems - written by the local community - to feature in their commemorative Roll of Honour as part of their Great War Centenary Project. All works must be submitted by 22nd October 2018, and should reflect what you think of the Great War.

Free

View Middlewich Town Council and Middlewich Heritage Trust website

Public events

Wisbech Reads Poetry Festival

04 Oct 2018

Poetry Trail around the town
Poetry writing by local school children
Visits to library by local schools for listening to poems and exploring the poetry section of the library

Performance, Free, Library

View Wisbech Reads website

Public events

Geevor Tin Mine with Sally Crabtree

04 Oct 2018

On National Poetry Day Geevor tin mine will be welcoming Sally Crabtree as their poet in residence for the day. Sally is an international poet and children's author and she also devises installations and performances to engage and delight the public. The latest of these is the Poetry Postie who has delivered poetic inspiration to the Nation and beyond - including to the United Nations. On Thursday Sally will be on the rounds as the Poetry Postie and visitors will also have the chance to hop on the bike and help create an instant sing o gram, become part of the walking stamp collection and delve into the postbag to see if there is a special delivery for them.

The day celebrates the culmination of an Arts Council and Cornwall Heritage Trust funded project that saw Sally delivering a Communities Communicating scheme linking the community of Pendeen with that of El Cobre in Cuba where some of the Cornish miners went in the 1800's. Sally worked with the children in Pendeen school who helped create the contents of her postbag - including poetry postcards, sing o grams and parcels of Happiness and delivered these to the community of El Cobre in Cuba. El Cobre means copper. A special tin of poems to commemorate the project has been manufactured and will be stacked up at the tin mine!

Reading, Performance, Spectacular

View Geevor Tin Mine website

Public events

National Poetry Day: A Celebration

04 Oct 2018

Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes....

Join us this National Poetry Day as we explore its theme of 'change'. With a headline set by Forward Prize-winner Vahni Capildeo, we'll explore change via poems about drag queens and Doctor Who.

Plus our open mic session invites you to read a poem of your own or a classic on the theme of change. Bring along 5 minutes of words, we'd love to hear it.

Celebrate NPD in style!

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Scottish Poetry Library website

Public events

National Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

We are going to celebrate National Poetry Day by reading poems around the theme Change and talk about them. We encourage everyone to bring their favourite poem(s) as well as poems that they have written.

Children are most welcome to draw a picture inspired by a poem we would read.

Everyone is welcome!

Reading, Free, Library

View Highlife Highland website

School events

Nook Lane National Poetry Day Assembly

05 Oct 2018

We have had a NPD hour long assembly for 5 years now. We put together an anthology based on the theme, and a week prior to the event the children read and perform the poems in class and vote for their favourite poem, which is announced on the day. The Assembly itself involves each class performing a poem, the staff reciting their favourite, as well as you tube performances of poetry from good quality poets. We finish by kicking off our Nooker Poetry Prize competition by an adult reading a poem they've written to inspire the children to write. For the next 3 or so weeks we write in class and we judge the best poems. A Nooker Prize Assembly follows where children read and the winners are announced and prizes given.

Performance, Prize

View Nook Lane Junior School website

Public events

The Premier Poetry Club

10 Oct 2018

The Premier Poetry Club....“Bridging the gap between all poets and spoken word artists”

The Premier Poetry Club begins on Wednesday 6.30pm on October 10th 2018 at The Windrush Bar & Kitchen, 184 High St, Stoke Newington, London, N16 7JD.

It will then take place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.

6.30pm - Doors open.
7pm - The Premier Poets Podcast launches with the topic being 'World Mental Health Day'.
8pm - Performances from...

@emypmate
@woodzygram
@yossi_spokenword
@1jamalkhan
@poetikah
@ameliapoamz
@kinkaybae
@burning_poet
@tevinvassell
@aaronjamespoet
@moak_tp
@germanethinkin
@m.artz
@brokenpen_
@errolmcglashan
@a.j_king26
@djspoony
@jaytooo
@peachespresents
@dj_marqeezlawes

If you would like to perform at any of our events please send a sample of your work and social media handles to premierpoetry@outlook.com.

@PremierPoetry - Instagram & Twitter

#PremierPoetry

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Premier Poetry website

Public events

Writing from Reading: Poetry Workshop

04 Oct 2018

Clephan Building, De Montfort University, Leicester (Room TBC)
02:00 to 04:00 pm

Have you ever wanted to read more contemporary poetry? Do you need fresh ideas for your own writing? In this workshop writer Pam Thompson will introduce you to a range of contemporary poems for you to enjoy and also stimulate new poems of your own.

Free

View Everybody's Reading Festival website

Public events

Poems in the Fun Palace

06 Oct 2018

Part of Exeter Central Library's 'Fun Palace' event: Free family event making poems by crossing out the stuff you don't need and choosing the words that sing to you. If you need a prompt or a prod in the right direction, Jan Dean - poet-in-schools is on hand to help.

Free, Library

View Exeter Poetry Festival website

Public events

Lunchtime Poetry Reading

04 Oct 2018

Join us for a celebration of National Poetry Day with poetry throughout the shop and a lunchtime reading from local poets.

Poets and their books include Adam Crothers Several Deer, Claudine Toutoungi Smoothie, Rebecca Watt The Met Office Advises Caution, Caron Freeborn George Perec is my Hero, and Patrick Worsnip translation of Propertius.

FREE event.
All welcome.

Reading, Performance, Free

View Waterstones Bookshop website

Public events

Poetry evening at Riverside Library, Derby

04 Oct 2018

Come and join us for a FREE evening of poetry to celebrate National Poetry Day Thursday 4th October at Riverside Library 6pm to 7.30pm

Headlining will be the fantastic Nafeesa Hamid, a finalist in the BBC Edinburgh Fringe Slam 2018.

Also joining Nafeesa will be a range of poets showcasing their work to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Poets include:
Aoife O’Connor
Daron Carey
Dwayne Reed
Margaret Gosley
Noam Livne

Performance, Free, Library

View Derby Libraries website

Public events

Poetry Reading with Bobby Parker and Holly Magill

04 Oct 2018

Come and celebrate National Poetry Day at The Hive Library in Worcester.

7.30pm for open mic and headline poets on at 8.00pm. Followed by a Q and A.

The Glass Room in The Hive, Worcester.

Performance, Open mic

View University of Worcester website

Public events

National Poetry Day @ London Bridge Station

04 Oct 2018

10 top-notch poets performing 4-7pm at London Bridge Station, including Paul Lyalls, Shade Joseph, Rue Gumbochuma, Mr Gee and Bella Cox.

Performance, Free

View Team London Bridge website

Public events

Poetry Workshop

12 Oct 2018

Join Roz a former poet laureate for a poetry workshop on the theme of reminiscence/personal memories.

If you are interested in poetry or like creative activities then why not book a place on the workshop.
Places are free but are limited to 15 participants.

Light Refreshments will be provided.

Book a place with library staff.

Shard End Library, All Saints Square, Ownall Road, B34 7AG.
Tel: 0121 464 6779 E-mail: shard.end.library@birmingham.gov.uk

Free, Library

View Shard End Library website

Public events

Poetry from the lookout

04 Oct 2018

A chance to read your poems from the iconic Lookout tower in Aldeburgh. The event is supported by the Suffolk Poetry Society but open to all and free.
We shall as last year be sharing our poems
with our our poet friends at Sip This Long Island USA.
An informal friendly gathering of poets and people who love to hear poetry read aloud and we can guarantee plenty of gulls will be on hand to witness the event.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Suffolk Poetry Society website

Public events

Purely Poetry Open Mic

05 Oct 2018

Purely Poetry welcome readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to old pros, to the Crescent Arts Centre.

We foster an open, laid back and encouraging atmosphere for people to read their work, and to listen in comfort.

To take part, just sign up at the start of the night. All names are drawn out from our Magical Hat of Randomness by hosts Geraldine O'Kane and Colin Dardis, and each person has seven minutes max to read.

Sign-up for readers 8.10pm, Start 8.30pm.

Open mic

View Poetry NI website

Public events

Guildford Poetry Walk

04 Oct 2018

Free poetry walk from The Tunsgate Quarter leading through the Castle Grounds and finishing inside Guildford Museum - The Guildford Poetry walk has worked closely with local community groups to create a community project like no other. Displaying poetry that sits innovatively within its surroundings - be inspired to write your own poetry or take five minutes from your day to experience some calm and tranquility.

Free, Exhibition

View GEEYOU. website

Public events

Fire & Dust

04 Oct 2018

Live poetry performances from Matt Black, plus open mic slots in both halves! All welcome - bring friends, bring poems, or just come along to listen and enjoy.

Doors open 7.30PM, finishes around 10PM

The Big Comfy Bookshop ('Fargo Village')

Tea/coffee/beer/wine/pop and cakes available for purchase. (And books!)

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Here Comes Everyone magazine website

Public events

Lyrix Organix: UnFOLD x Tate Britain

05 Oct 2018

Lyrix Organix's innovative spoken word live show UnFOLD performs an exclusive show at Tate Britain to celebrate the release of EP2 and National Poetry Day - as a warm up to their forthcoming UK tour.

Featuring Sophia Thakur, Kieron Rennie and Chloe Florence accompanied by London String Collective + live musicians.

Performance

View Lyrix Organix website

Public events

SHAREHope

04 Oct 2018

Poetry aloud at Waterstones Oban!

We aim to challenge and change negative perceptions about people experiencing rural homelessness.

Performance

View SHAREArgyll website

Public events

Lunchtime Poetry in the Cafe with Natalie Ann Holborow

04 Oct 2018

We are thrilled to welcome award-winning Swansea-born writer of poetry and fiction, Natalie Ann Holborow, for our first ever (completely free) Poetry in the Cafe event! Coffee, cake and poetry. Does it get any better than that?

Performance, Free

View Waterstones website

Public events

The ‘Berlin Blues’ Cabaret

04 Oct 2018

Cabaret at Brixton Library at 7pm on National Poetry Day (close to Brixton tube station).

Celebrating the poetry of Beata Duncan and her collection Berlin Blues, her reverie for her childhood in the Berlin of the twenties. Performed by the Duncan family and the celebrated singer performer Andreas Demetriou and musician friends who will sing songs he has composed from Berlin Blues in a cabaret style.

Included in the National Poetry Day Anthology. #nationalpoetryday

Performance, Library

View Brixton Library website

School events

Poetry Picnic & Staff Poetry Competition

04 Oct 2018

Enjoy a flavour of National Poetry Day on Thursday 4 October at Elgin Academy. During interval we shall be hosting a Poetry Picnic, with hot chocolate, poems and an opportunity to participate in the Tongue Twister Competition. Th eresults of the Straff Poetry Competition will be revealed and the winning poem read aloud. Lots of chat, fun and sharing poetry.

Performance, Free, Library, Prize

View Elgin Academy website

Public events

Poetry against Slavery Tours

04 Oct 2018

The ‘London, Sugar & Slavery’ gallery at Museum of London Docklands is a unique resource for exploring London’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, and for understanding the trade’s present-day legacies. On this one hour guided tour of the gallery, learn how poetry has galvanised resistance against oppression of African, Caribbean and Black British people. From Africa’s rich heritage, through preservation of cultural legacies during slavery, to recent political activism, you will encounter and discuss poems that give voice to objects and images in the museum. Discover how African cultural origins have influenced language and poetry in the Caribbean, how poems inspired anti-slavery action in the Caribbean and the U.K., and how later poets have drawn upon this history to oppose continuing racial injustices. The spoken and written word will emerge as a powerful way to build solidarity among and between communities. No advance reading required – all texts will be provided on the day.

Free, Exhibition

View Museum of London Docklands website

Partner events

Celebrating Poetry

04 Oct 2018

The book shop window display will be dedicated to poetry for ten days from Saturday 29th September.

Free, Exhibition

View The Book Shop Liskeard website

School events

Suffolk festival of performing Arts Speech/drama section

04 Oct 2018

50+ children aged 7 -11 years performing poetry and prose readings throughout the day.
A competitive festival with the emphasis on sharing, learning and enjoying performance.

A small entry fee to watch.
Kesgrave Community Centre

Performance

View Suffolk Festival of Performing Arts website

School events

Poetry recital

04 Oct 2018

Students and staff sharing poetry reading in the Chiu Libray 13.00hr -13.30hrs. A poetry focus for the whole week.

Performance, Library, Open mic

View Harrow International School Bangkok website

Public events

Coffee House Tour for Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

Join us for our special @Stonycoffee Coffee House tour on Thursday 4th October to celebrate @PoetryDayUK and hear local poets performing pieces from #TalesfromtheFoodBank - we will be in #Stony Stratford, #Newport Pagnell and #Olney . Details at mkfoodbank.org.uk/upcoming-event…

Performance

View MK Food Bank website

Public events

Street performance

04 Oct 2018

Stamford poets will be reading in Red Lion Square from 10am-12pm and then at The Poetry Stone 1-3pm.

Reading, Free

View Pint of Poetry Stamford website

Public events

One-to-one library readings

04 Oct 2018

Drop in to Canada Water Library between 6pm and 8pm and choose a book from our selection for a free poetry reading from Elder Bard of Glastonbury, Wes White.

Reading, Performance, Free, Library

View Southwark Libraries and Heritage website

Public events

Bardic Walk

04 Oct 2018

Starting on the ground floor of Canada Water Library and venturing out to the docks and beyond, this new walk - led by Elder Bard of Glastonbury Wes White - aims to bring the history of the area to life with some carefully chosen open air poetry readings.

Please come prepared for the weather on the day and in suitable footwear for an outdoor walk.

Performance, Free, Library

View Southwark Libraries and Heritage website

School events

Poetry Breakfast

04 Oct 2018

A poetry breakfast taking place in the school library first thing, open to all students and staff. Come and share breakfast and read poetry.

Every teaching period throughout the day in KS3 and KS4 will begin with reading a poem and finding out a little about the poet.

There will also be poetry writing competitions!

Reading, Performance, Free, Library, Prize

View Trinity School Sevenoaks website

Public events

Poetry as Therapy – a FREE workshop with local poet Jane Seabourne

28 Sep 2018

Join Jane Seabourne for a ‘poetry as therapy’ writing workshop at Codsall Library on Friday 28th September between 10am and 11am.

Jane’s visit, funded by the Poetry on Loan group, is just before National Poetry Day on 4th October and World Mental Health Day on 10th October. This workshop brings the two together and will help people discover how poetry can help with positive thinking and good mental health.

Friday 28th September
Codsall Library
10:00am – 11:00am
FREE – Booking essential

Contact Codsall Library via the Contact Centre on 0300 111 8000 for further information to book your place. For more information about Poetry on Loan please visit: www.poetryonloan.org.uk/

Performance, Free, Library

View Staffordshire Library and Arts Service website

Public events

Poetry day

04 Oct 2018

Residents reading out the poem they have wrote.

Performance

View Care UK website

Public events

Her 100 Cerdd

04 Oct 2018

To celebrate National Poetry Day, Literature Wales has once again challenged four poets to compose 100 Welsh-language poems in 24 hours.

Each poet will need to write at least one poem every hour to complete the challenge within the timeframe. This is the sixth edition of Her 100 Cerdd, with the five previous teams reaching the target with just seconds to spare.

The public are invited to send subject suggestions and messages of encouragement via social media during the 24 hours. Since its inception in 2012, this innovative digital project has provided a unique snapshot of Wales on that specific day – its politics, interests, news and culture. Amongst the 500 poems published are love-songs, poems welcoming new babies, verses of praise and satire, a poem about selfies and two about bananas.

Free

View Literature Wales website

Public events

Poetry at Y Lolfa

04 Oct 2018

Add your favourite poem to the Poet Tree in the Library, and create haiku using dice rolls with our poet in residence. Drop in between 2 and 4.30.

Free, Library

View Y Lolfa Community Library, Gwaun Cae Gurwen website

Public events

National Poetry Day Celebration

04 Oct 2018

An evening of readings with the Wokingham Library Poetry Group to celebrate National Poetry Day.Free event with refreshments

Performance, Free, Library

View Wokingham Borough Libraries website

Public events

Poetry readings at the Life Rooms

04 Oct 2018

For the third year running we have a poetry marathon at the Life Rooms in Walton, Liverpool - organised by North End Writers working in partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. Readings all day from 11 am - 4 pm. Come along and share your work. Led by poet Pauline Rowe.

Performance

View North End Writers website

Public events

Poetry Breakfast

04 Oct 2018

Westray writers are gathering at Hagock Field for a poetry breakfast and for the grand opening of the Westray Poetry Library.

Library

View Westray Writers website

Public events

Visit to Columbia Primary School

04 Oct 2018

I will be visiting Columbia Primary School in Tower Hamlets, London, to perform poems, run workshops and promote my new book I Bet I Can Make You Laugh

Performance

View Joshua Seigal website

Public events

The Writer’s Room

04 Oct 2018

The Writer's Room programme on NHSound in Abergavenny will feature readings by and interviews with poets Ann Drysdale, Ric Hoole and Angela Platt. You can listen in on line from 10.00 - 12.00 on October 4th.

Performance

View NHSound website

Partner events

Poetry@3

04 Oct 2018

Poetry @ 3 is the first Thursday of each month at the beautifully air-conditioned Poetry Cafe – an open mic for poets who like to come out and play during the day. Hosted by the Poetry Society’s Paul McGrane.

Bring poems on the National Poetry Day theme of CHANGE or just bring your lovely poems.

No booking required, just turn up. FREE, donations welcome.

Sign up between 2.30 and 3 to read.

NOTE: Due to the popularity of this event, only poets who sign up before 3 will get to read.

Reading, Performance, Free, Open mic

View The Poetry Society website

Public events

Coffee with Samantha Wynne Rhydderch

04 Oct 2018

Join poet Samantha Wynne Rhydderch reading from her latest poetry pamphlet for Rack Press, Ling di Long 11.00 - 12noon, MoMA cafe, Machynlleth

Reading, Performance, Free

View Penrallt Gallery Bookshop website

Public events

National Poetry Day at Birmingham Literature Festival

04 Oct 2018

As part of our National Poetry Day celebrations, we are delighted to present three of the best contemporary poets from across the West Midlands – Liz Berry, Roy McFarlane and Jane Commane – who will be reading poetry from their latest collections. We will also be announcing our new Birmingham Poet and Young Poet Laureates 2018 – 2020.

This event will be hosted by Jonathan Davidson.

Time: 5:30pm

Tickets: £10, £8 conc

Performance

View Birmingham Literature Festival website

Public events

Redder

04 Oct 2018

Writer and performer Gus Watcham will deliver an informal reading from her work-in-progress live literature show Redder.
Red Riding Hood is 65 years old.
Who is she now?
Free poetry performance event 5.30 - 6.30 Jubilee Library

Performance, Free, Library

View Brighton & Hove Libraries website

Public events

Garry Chilton Poetry Reading

04 Oct 2018

Poet and author Garry Chilton will be reading excerpts from his publication “The Lonely Landlord” at Llandudno library on Thursday 4th October at 6pm.

Garry is a local author whose love of natural history has inspired him to write a book of poetry dedicated to our planet.

Copies of his book will be available to purchase on the night.

Reading, Free, Library

View Llandudno Library website

School events

Lunchtime Poetry Read in the Library

04 Oct 2018

Students and staff are invited to the Library at lunchtime to read aloud/perform a poem they have written or their favourite poem or they can just drop by to listen. This has become an annual event and is growing in popularity every year.

(This is not open to the public)

Performance, Free, Library

View Northfield School & Sports College website

Public events

Electrosonic Poetry Experiment

04 Oct 2018

Electronic music promoter Switch Hop and local poetry promoter Getonthe SoapBox are joining forces on National Poetry Day 2018 to bring to you this evening of sonic adventure. A variety of musicians, beatboxers, singers, poets, spoken-word artists and musicians will be thrown together for an evening of audio collaboration.

Performance, Open mic

View getonthesoapbox website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: Poets on the Hill Takeover

05 Oct 2018

Following the success of their riotous takeover at last year’s Swansea Fringe, Poets on the Hill are back once again – and this time they’re bringing friends. Head down to The Hyst to catch readings from the poetry collective first seen on the BBC documentary ‘Ugly Lovely Swansea’, alongside performances from honorary POTH members Rufus Mufasa and Karen Gemma Brewer.

This is poetry of the people, for the people and by the people. Expect laughs, tears, outrage, energy, love and realness from the group that Benjamin Zephaniah called rough, ready, heavy and honest: “I love them as I love cake; I love them in the way I love Bob Marley and Bob Dylan; Dylan Thomas and Janis Joplin. I love them because they are true.”

Performance, Free

View The Swansea Fringe website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: A Slam Showcase

05 Oct 2018

The last few years have seen a number of events shine a light on the staggering creative output in poetry and spoken word from Wales – Do Not Go Gentle Festival and the Swansea Poetry Slam notable amongst them – and we thought we'd take a few of the luminaries and exciting new voices that have surfaced and showcase them at this year's Swansea Fringe!

So why not join Gwion Iqbal Malik, Unity, Karl Beer, Emily Williams and Mark Curtis at The Grand Hotel, Swansea, for a selection of spoken word performances. Hear the new voices of Wales at the Fringe.

Performance

View The Swansea Fringe website

Public events

Author James Robertson reads from a selection of his poems

04 Oct 2018

We have filmed author James Robertson reading 8 of his short poems which we will posted throughout the day on our Facebook page

Performance, Library

View ANGUSalive website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: Poets on the Hill Blackout Poetry Workshop

06 Oct 2018

Have you always fancied having a go at writing poetry, but never know where to start? Then come along to this Swansea Fringe workshop and join the Poets on the Hill for a fun and easy introduction into poetic verse.

This POTH workshop will focus on ‘blackout poetry’ – a poetic form that’s been seen on Instagram, Snapchat, in traditionally-published poetry collections and even as street art. Blackout poetry is all about creating poems by removing words from existing texts like books and newspapers.

This workshop is aimed at anyone that has an interest in writing creatively. So come give blackout poetry a go with Swansea’s own Poets on the Hill!

Free

View The Swansea Fringe website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: Diary of the Last Man

06 Oct 2018

'Diary of the Last Man' is an imaginative, intimate film-portrait of the poet Robert Minhinnick, created by director Eamon Bourke. The film charts a walk between the mouths of the rivers Cynffig and Ogwr on the south coast of Wales. A beguiling cinematic experience that shifts and turns with the tide following the poet and his alter egos deep into the hidden and threatened landscapes illuminated in this award-winning collection which won the Wales Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the T.S. Elliot Prize.

This event comprises of a film screening followed by a poetry reading from Robert Minhinnick and a Q&A.

Performance

View The Swansea Fringe website

Public events

Launch of Poets’ Corner competition

04 Oct 2018

Launch of Poets' Corner competition for Horsham's Year of Culture 2019. Poets' Corner will be a circle of 12 tree trunk seats in Horsham Park displaying poetry to celebrate our local culture and heritage (Shelley). Get your own poem displayed by entering the competition: write a short poem (max 14 lines) on a theme related to parks and submit it to poetscorner@friendsofhorshampark.co.uk by 1 March 2019

Free

View Friends of Horsham Park website

Partner events

While you wait

04 Oct 2018

We are distributing to all waiting rooms in the district an easily readable booklet of our poems entitled 'While You Wait'

View Barton Muse Poetry Group website

Public events

National Poetry Day Celebration

04 Oct 2018

Bolton Central Library and Museum will host a celebration of poetry to mark National Poetry Day on Thursday 4 October, from 2pm to 4pm. We welcome people to read poems in the relaxed setting of Bolton Museum’s new Art Gallery. Join fellow poets and get a chance to read your poems or just come along and listen to the poetry. The theme for this year’s National Poetry Day is ‘Change’ and poems on this theme are welcomed. Light refreshments will be provided.

Thu 04 October , 2pm to 4pm

Admission: FREE

Free, Open mic, Exhibition

View Bolton Library and Museum Service website

Public events

Poetry Karaoke @ Gwisgo Bookworm

04 Oct 2018

Bring a poem of your own or your favourite poem and join us for a fun day of Poetry Karaoke to celebrate National Karaoke Day.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Gwisgo Bookworm website

Public events

Taking Note – poetry in moments

04 Oct 2018

The power of poetry to uplift and inspire will be celebrated in a showcase of new poems created for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on National Poetry Day (4 October).

A new booklet of poems ‘Taking Note - Poetry Moments’ has been specially commissioned for the hospital community. Offering glimpses into some of the extraordinary worlds found in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, these poems are for everyone whether visitor, patient or member of staff.

The project has been produced for the Addenbrooke’s community by Addenbrooke’s Arts and arts and well-being charity Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination, with the support of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. Taking Note has also been supported by the lottery and Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.

Free

View Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination and Addenbrooke's Arts website

Public events

Celebrate Literature: An Introduction to Poetry

01 Oct 2018

In advance of National Poetry Day, this course will consider rhythm, language and rhyme in a wide range of poetry on the theme of 'Change'.

View Inspire Culture, Learning and Libraries website

Public events

All Change!

04 Oct 2018

A poetry encounter with Andrew Sclater, award winning poet from the beautiful Port Logan in Dumfries and Galloway.

Andrew will read his own poetry as well as some special favourites by great poets all on this year's theme - CHANGE.

Andrew would be pleased to have you join in by introducing us to your favourite poem, whether written by yourself or another - he will even read it for you if you would prefer.

At the end of the event, Andrew will sign copies of his recent pamphlet 'Dinner at the Blaws-Baxters'.'

Reading, Free, Library

View Lockerbie Library website

Public events

National Poetry Day Celebration

04 Oct 2018

Celebrate National Poetry Day with readings, tea and cake. We will be joined by student poets from Heart of England School and guest speaker Chris Burleigh.

Please contact the library on 01676 532590 if you would like to do a reading.

Presented by Balsall Common Writers.

Reading, Free, Library

View SMBC Balsall Common Library website

Public events

Northampton John Clare poetry

04 Oct 2018

(16th Year)
A reading of John Clare’s poetry - bring your John Clare Poem.

Thursday 4th October at 7pm in the Guildhall Courtyard by the John Clare statue.

Performance, Free

View Local poetry group website

Public events

National Poetry Day Lunch

04 Oct 2018

Pam Zinnemann-Hope and a local poet or two will be reading at the Stur of the Moment café. Tickets must be pre-booked and cost £12 per head to include tea or coffee on arrival at 111am, followed by the readings and a two course lunch. Tel. 01258 471808 for availability.

Performance

View Friends of Sturminster Newton Library website

Public events

Autumn in Malvern Festival Worcestershire Poet Laureates

04 Oct 2018

As part of the Autumn in Malvern Festival National Poetry Day sees 5 Poets Laureate reading their work:
Tim Cranmore, Heather Wastie, Suz Winspear, Nina Lewis & Betti Moretti.

Performance

View Autumn Malvern Festival website

Public events

The Space Between Us with Neil Elder – Celebrating National Poetry Day

01 Jan 1970

In the gorgeous Pitshanger Bookshop, Neil Elder reads from his award winning collection The Space Between Us, as Ealing celebrates National Poetry Day. Wine served from 6.30pm, reading at 7.00pm.

Performance, Free

View Pitshanger Books website

BBC Local Radio

Poems on Andover Radio

04 Oct 2018

Local people have a chance to submit their poems on national poetry day’s theme of change and hear one of their poems played from 7am until 12 midnight on national poetry day.

Performance, Free, Exhibition

View Andover Radio website

School events

National Poetry Day @St Andrew’s Juniors

04 Oct 2018

The whole school will be enjoying poetry during the day and writing our own poems on the theme of 'Change'.

Reading, Performance

View St Andrew's C.E. Junior School website

Public events

A POETRY REMEDY

04 Oct 2018

To celebrate National Poetry Day 2018, Newcastle University teaching fellow Sue Spencer will be providing a poetry pick me up at the Walton Library, Medical School. Come along and participate for a poem that might help clarify, illuminate, soothe or comfort.

Library

View Newcastle University website

School events

Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

KS1 & KS2 will be exploring a range of poems from the 'Poetry For a Change' anthology. Poems will be written, recited and read while each class will also produce a topic page documenting their poetry adventures.

We will also hold a whole school assembly in which children will share their work.

Performance

View Estcourt Primary Academy website

Public events

Poetry, pie and a pint

04 Oct 2018

An evening of relaxation, libation, music and readings to celebrate National Poetry Day. Local poetry enthusiasts and musicians have come together to enjoy poetry in our community-run library.

Performance, Library

View Kinghorn Library website

Public events

Poetry Collection Submissions

04 Oct 2018

​To celebrate National Poetry Day on 4th October, we will be opening submissions for short poetry collections. Check our SUBMISSIONS page for details of how to submit poetry.

Prize

View Wild Pressed Books website

Public events

National Poetry Day Event

04 Oct 2018

Come and join us from 5:30pm to celebrate National Poetry Day! We will be reading out our poems and discussing our favourite poems, all about change!

Performance, Free

View Waterstones website

Public events

Logos The Third

11 Oct 2018

Echoing Word… from the infinite to the world, from the world to the human, from the human to the self.” The journey is fulfilled. A poetic trilogy of the contemporary Greek poet and philosopher Dimitris Kakalidis.

A poetic trilogy, three stations of the humans’ journey, of every human, of the entire humankind towards the revealing of the greatness within and around it.

First stop is the narration of the Creation’s miracle;

the second one is the point where the entire physical world is elevated to its true, spiritual nature;

and the third stop, the poetic work “Logos the Third”, to which this presentation is dedicated.

There, the human being passes into another state, deep, internal, unwavering. There, it sees that it is One with Nature, with the Creation, with the other Humans, with Life. The spiritual world of Greece has stated about this work: “Once more enchanted we admired the radiant and deep Word of the Poet-Intellectual. We studied with absorbing attention its timeless content. It is illuminated in its entirety by a bright and reviving light of inconceivable spirituality and beauty.”

The presentation will be held in Greek and English.

Performance, Free

View Omilos Eksipiretiton website

Public events

Poetry, Tea and Cake

04 Oct 2018

Browse our poetry books and chat about your favourite poem whilst enjoying tea and cake. Free drop-in event from 2-3 pm

Free, Library

View Lichfield Library website

Public events

National Poetry Day with Scarlett Sabet + Rishi Dastidar

04 Oct 2018

Round off your National Poetry Day at one of London's most iconic venues, The Troubadour in Earls Court, with three sparkling poets: Scarlett Sabet, Rishi Dastidar and Oakley.

From 8 - 11pm (Doors open 7.30pm)

£9

Performance

View The Troubadour website

Public events

Poetry Portal at Tetbury Library

01 Oct 2018

Come along and add a single line of poetry to a communal poem that anyone in the community can add to.

The aim being to create a unique and interesting poem that will hopefully transport people into imaginary lands……

This free activity is open to anyone, of any age and ability. Simply pop in to the library between the 1st and 6th October.

Free, Library

View Tetbury Library website

Public events

Black Spoken Identities: Performance, Poetry and Debate

04 Oct 2018

Join some of London's top poets at the National Theatre's Clore Learning Centre from 6pm, as they share their work and discuss what the artform means to them. We hear from artists Keith Jarrett, Ekow Otoo, Sharla Smith and Lorianne Tika-Lemba.

Programmed as part of the National Theatre BAME Network’s celebration of Black History Month.

£7 - concessions £5

Reading, Performance

View National Theatre website

Public events

Poems in the Park

04 Oct 2018

Join our community and education team at Wicksteed Park in Kettering for a cup of tea and to learn more about changes in the park. The poems selected for this year will be available to read and pencils available if you are inspired to write!

Time: 11:00-13:00
Price: £2 (Normal car parking charges apply)
Venue: The Learning Space (aka Grey Porta Cabin)

View Wicksteed Park website

Public events

Poetry in Art Exhibition

04 Oct 2018

Culcheth Hall Artists, a local Art Group, are holding an exhibition of their artwork inspired by poetry at Culcheth Library.

4th - 22nd October

Free, Library, Exhibition

View Culcheth Hall Artists website

Public events

New Light on Old Texts: Gilgamesh Retold

04 Oct 2018

Poet Jenny Lewis talks about her award-winning doctoral research into the Epic of Gilgamesh and shows how new ways of interpreting old texts can help us experience them afresh and open them up to new audiences. Discussion and reading from Jenny's new book, Gilgamesh Retold, Carcanet Press, October 2018.

2-3pm at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Free event, all welcome.

Reading, Free

View Ashmolean Museum website

School events

National Poetry Day Celebration at Christchurch CE Primary

04 Oct 2018

A day in which all our children get the opportunity to read and perform poems of their choice in front of the rest of the school.

Performance, Library

View Christchurch CE Primary website

Public events

The Lost Words

04 Oct 2018

Join us for a 'lost words' creature challenge. Can you find unscramble the words to discover all eight creatures hidden around the children's section? Find all eight creatures to win a prize!

Free

View Waterstones booksellers Ltd website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: More Poetry Is Needed

07 Oct 2018

Submitting your poems to a publisher can be intimidating, but The Swansea Fringe is here to help! Three of Wales’ leading poetry editors – Emily Blewitt (New Welsh Review), Nia Davies (Poetry Wales) and Susie Wild (Parthian Books) – join The Crunch’s Adam Sillman for a panel discussion focused on the world of publishing and poetry.

What do these three editors look for when they open up submissions? Are there any pitfalls to avoid when sending your work for consideration? And has being an editor changed their approach to submitting their own poetry to magazines and publishers? All of these questions and more will be answered during a lively panel discussion and audience Q&A, revealing exactly what happens when editors decide that more poetry is needed.

View Parthian Books website

Public events

Lunchtime Poetry in the Cafe with Natalie Ann Holborow

04 Oct 2018

October 4th is National Poetry Day!

To celebrate it, we are thrilled to welcome award-winning Swansea-born writer of poetry and fiction, Natalie Ann Holborow, for our first ever (completely free) Poetry in the Cafe event!

Natalie's debut poetry collection And Suddenly You Find Yourself was published by Parthian in 2017, and she is currently working on her first novel with her awarded Literature Wales Bursary.

Coffee, cake and poetry. Does it get any better than that?

Performance, Free

View Parthian Books / Swansea Waterstones website

Public events

‘Poetry for a Change’

04 Oct 2018

We have invited a selection of local poets to give a reading from their own work, and would love listeners to join in; either by sharing a favourite poem or something they have written. The evening starts at 7pm. Tickets are available in store at Chesham Waterstones- £2 to simply listen but free if you plan to give a reading.
Refreshments provided.

Performance, Open mic

View Waterstones Chesham website

Public events

Swansea Fringe: New Poetry from Parthian

07 Oct 2018

Parthian Books celebrate their 25th year in publishing with a showcase of their latest poetry publications at The Swansea Fringe.

Poets Rhian Elizabeth, Kate North and Rhys Owain Williams will all read from their highly-anticipated new poetry collections, covering diverse subjects such as mental health, Roman mythology, pop culture, Welsh history, the mysteries of the body, internet dating, the inside of an MRI machine, and love, loss and everything in between. Christina Thatcher joins them to celebrate the first reprint of her stunning 2017 debut 'More than you were'

Performance

View Parthian Books & The Swansea Fringe Festival website

Public events

Steyning Poets Celebrate National Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

Come down to the Steyning Bookshop on the evening of Thursday 4th October, and celebrate National Poetry Day with local poets Simon Zec, Marilyn Martin, and Judy Krolick.

Sit amongst the book-lined shelves, sip a glass or two of wine, and enjoy verses read by Simon, Marilyn and Judy, interspersed with musical accompaniment.

Simon Zec recently published his debut volume of poetry 'Death of the Suburb', which will be on sale on the night, alongside our special Poetry Day offer of 15% off all poetry books.

We would love audience members to bring along a favourite poem to share, too.

Tickets are £4, to include wine /soft drink and nibbles. Start time is 7.30pm.

Performance, Open mic

View Steyning Bookshop website

Public events

National Poetry Day Open Mic Night at Deptford Lounge

04 Oct 2018

A Open Mic event in celebration of poetry and creative writing with performances by Lewisham Multicultural Creative Writers' Group. This event is free and everyone is welcome. Anyone wishing to read their own poetry please email deptfordlibrary@lewisham.gov.uk. Thursday 4 October, 6-8pm, at Deptford Lounge, Giffin St, London SE8 4RJ.

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic

View Lewisham Libraries website

Public events

The Changing City: a poetry walking tour for National Poetry Day

01 Jan 1970

Change is in the air in Dundee, but that's nothing new. People have been finding inspiration in the changing landscape of Dundee for centuries, charting the rise and fall of bridges and jute mills and technology's effect on daily life. Join Local History's Erin Farley on a walking tour around central Dundee to discover how the people of Dundee, past and present, have embraced, resisted and remembered change through poetry and song.

Meet at 3pm at the Victoria Road entrance to Dundee Central Library. The walk will end at approximately 4.15pm outside the Old Steeple. Please wear comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. The walk will avoid flights of stairs, but please be prepared to walk or stand for the duration.

Reading, Free, Library

View Leisure and Culture Dundee website

Public events

Poetry at the Chatterbox Tearoom

04 Oct 2018

Poets and visitors are welcome to join our elderly residents for an afternoon of poetry in the Chatterbox Tearoom located within Oxton Grange Care Home, 51 - 53 Bidston Road, Oxton, Wirral.

2.30pm - 4pm.

Bring a favourite poem or one you wrote yourself.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Oxton Grange Care Home website

School events

Poetry Writing Competition

04 Oct 2018

We are having a poetry writing competition in which students can vote for their favourite poem. The winners will be announced on National Poetry Day and prizes given out.

Library, Prize

View Barnsley College website

Public events

New Light, Old Texts: Gilgamesh Retold

04 Oct 2018

Poet Jenny Lewis talks about her award-winning doctoral research into the Epic of Gilgamesh and shows how new ways of interpreting old texts can help us to experience them afresh and open them up to new audiences.

Free, no booking required.

Performance, Free

View Ashmolean Museum website

Public events

Poetry Party & Limerick Competition

12 Oct 2018

Join us in celebrating Vita & Live Poets 15 Progressive Poetry Years at Blackpool Central Library.
We will be having a POETRY PARTY
with poetry readings, mocktails and cake!

Friday 12 October 1:45-4:15pm
All are welcome at this FREE event.

Celebrate National Poetry Day with our fantastic FREE Limerick Competition. Pick up an entry form at any Blackpool Library, email reader.development@blackpool.gov.uk, or share your limerick with Blackpool Libraries on Facebook or Twitter. All limericks must be on the theme of change. There will be a prize giving
ceremony for the best three limericks at the poetry party.

Performance, Free, Library, Prize

View Blackpool Council website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: Official Launch

04 Oct 2018

Join the Swansea Fringe team in Unit Nineteen on the 4th October (National Poetry Day) for a relaxed evening of spoken word, headlined by the illustrious and inimitable Hollie McNish.

A true rising star in the UK literary scene, Hollie is one of our absolute favourite contemporary poets, and we're sure this will be an evening to remember.

On the night, Hollie will be supported by clare e. potter & Unity.

£5 OTD or FREE ADMISSION with any Fringe ticket purchased.

Performance

View The Swansea Fringe website

Public events

Art of Life Spoken Word Event + Joan Day Painting Bursary At South Square centre

05 Oct 2018

Art of Life: Poetry and Spoken Word Event + Joan Day Painting Bursary Exhibition
Friday 5th October

6.00-9.30pm

A celebration of Poetry & Art for National Poetry Day

South Square Centre will hold its first open mic spoken word and poetry event. We welcome writers, speakers and artists from Bradford to share with us your artwork and poetry and stories. Open mic sign up on the evening. We are excited to be joined by Simon Widdop, Dionne V Hood, David Driver and Kevin Flaherty who will be judging the evening’s performances. Express your interest now for the chance to win one of three poetry prizes; 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20. The event will be a friendly and relaxed environment welcoming experienced and new performers to the stage.

Performance, Free, Prize, Open mic, Exhibition

View South Square centre website

School events

All day poetry celebrations

04 Oct 2018

Starts at 8.30am with Guerrilla Poetry in assembly.

Workshops and performance by very special guest poet, Theresa Lola

Live Lounge - music and spoken word event in the evening

Reading, Performance

View Benenden School website

Public events

Write & Shine—morning writing workshop

04 Oct 2018

Join Write & Shine for a bright & early morning writing workshop on 4 October to celebrate National Poetry Day 2018, using the theme of change as inspiration. We'll look at poets who adapt & writers who transform, and consider how our own work can evolve.

Come along! Our workshops are open to everyone, whether you're new to writing, have some experience or simply want more creativity into your working day.

Date: Thursday 4 October.
Time: 7.15am-9am
Location: Westminster Quaker Meeting House, Leicester Square
Booking: £19 including light breakfast.

https://write-and-shine.com

View Write & Shine website

Public events

National Poetry Day Open Mic

04 Oct 2018

Calling All Belfast Poets!

Celebrate National Poetry Day on Thursday 4 Oct by coming to our special open mic event from 6:30pm.

This years theme is the power of poetry, plus a few odes to autumn to celebrate the time of year

So, get writing! Free entry and refreshments

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Waterstones, Belfast website

Public events

Slam for Justice

04 Oct 2018

Through poetry, school kids from across London share with the Home Office what citizenship means to them.

Performance, Exhibition

View Citizens UK website

Public events

Future of Poetry Translation: Workshops, Summit & Readings with Fiona Sampson, WN Herbert & others

04 Oct 2018

Workshops 11-1pm (£5)
Summit 2-6pm (FREE)
Reading 6-8pm (FREE)

** open to all, register via link**

The Court Room, Senate House, London

Experience Collaborative Poetry Translation with leading British and Dutch poets, NO DUTCH NECESSARY
Workshops with Sean O'Brien, WN Herbert, Fiona Sampson, Hélène Gelèns, Elma van Haren, Willem Groenewegen and Francis Jones

Summit featuring leading lights from across cultural institutions and organisations in the UK discuss strategies to ensure a lively, diverse and inclusive future for poetry in translation.

Evening reading and drinks featuring British, Dutch, Korean and Romanian poets.

Performance, Free

View PoetTrio Project website

Public events

Art of Life Open Mic

05 Oct 2018

Art of Life: Poetry and Spoken Word Event + Joan Day Painting Bursary Exhibition
Friday 5th October

6.00-9.30pm

A celebration of Poetry & Art for National Poetry Day

South Square Centre will hold its first open mic spoken word and poetry event. We welcome writers, speakers and artists from Bradford to share with us your artwork and poetry and stories. Open mic sign up on the evening. We are excited to be joined by Simon Widdop, Dionne V Hood, David Driver and Kevin Flaherty who will be judging the evening’s performances. Express your interest now for the chance to win one of three poetry prizes; 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20.

The event will be a friendly and relaxed environment welcoming experienced and new performers to the stage.

Join us for a drop-in zine making workshop, add in some poetry of your own or write a page with a friend in this workshop led by Jean McEwan.

The event has been organised by local Poet Sharena Lee Satti & South Square Programme Manager Alice Withers.

Snacks and Drinks will be available to purchase on the evening

 

Performance, Free, Open mic, Exhibition

View South Square Centre website

Public events

The Quality of The Mersey

04 Oct 2018

Groups of poets from all these events and organisations have come together for the construction of Liverpool’s longest continuous poem, to be recited at the Liverpool Central Library this National Poetry Day (6pm, Thursday, 04/10/2018). The idea came from John Gorman, Wirral-based comedian and poet from 60s comedy band The Scaffold, who has done much for the Merseyside Arts scene in the last couple of decades. The Quality of the Mersey, the collection that details the cultural, spiritual and physical journey of the river from mouth to source, was curated from many submissions by Birkenhead poet and editor Barry Woods.

Performance, Free, Library

View A Lovely Word website

Public events

Constructing Voices

03 Oct 2018

Work by young creatives from the Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning programmes presented in a new exhibition at the Barbican Library.

Questioning our tendency to focus on finished products, Constructing Voices subverts a more traditional exhibition format and examines the steps taken in the creation of written word. The show, curated by the Young Visual Artists, pays closer attention to the processes and practices that feed the work, using both new and archive pieces from the Barbican Young Poets. Photography, created by the Barbican Young Photographers, establishes a visual dialogue between the written word, performed sound and captured image. The exhibition serves as a celebration of 10 years of the Barbican Young Poets programme.

Free, Exhibition

View Barbican Young Poets website

School events

Toby Thompson – Performing Poet visit

03 Oct 2018

Toby Thompson Performing Poet will be visiting Somervale School on Wednesday 3rd October to launch our NPD celebrations. Toby will be entertaining our Key Stage 3 students with a poetry performance in the main hall, followed by poetry writing workshops in the library.

Performance, Library

View Somervale School website

Partner events

ArtJam @ Bombed Out Church

05 Oct 2018

Weekly Concert Open Mic:

Hosted by
Tanvir Ratul and Peter O'Neill

Verse
Lyric
Music
Drama
Painting
Sculpture
Graffiti (completed, no spray cans allowed inside)
or
Any other form of fine arts you can think of, bring along.

Access to all

Performance, Free, Open mic, Exhibition

View Antivirus Publications website

Public events

Give Poetry Ago!

05 Oct 2018

Have ago at Blackout Poetry just turn up and let your imagination run with the ink! Also pick up your Free secret poetry scroll one for every reader! Why not borrow one of our new poetry books we have many new titles!

Free, Library

View Ryde Library website

Public events

Soapbox

04 Oct 2018

Poetry and Performance by Tanvir Ratul, Peter O'Neill, Aaron Murdoch and Gerry Clarkson. Plus open mic.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Antivirus Publications website

Public events

National Poetry Day with Gráinne Tobin & Mel McMahon

04 Oct 2018

FREE |Admission is free with donations for The City Chapter welcome.

The City Chapter in association with The John Hewitt Society invites you to celebrate National Poetry Day with two acclaimed Co. Armagh poets Gráinne Tobin and Mel McMahon who will read from and talk about their work.

Gráinne Tobin grew up in Armagh. She taught for many years in further and adult education in Lurgan and in Shimna Integrated College in Newcastle, Co Down. She has published two books, Banjaxed and The Nervous Flyer’s Companion (Summer Palace Press). A third collection, The Uses of Silk, is due in November 2018. She has won poetry competitions and contributed to magazines and anthologies. Her work is included in Poetry Ireland’s archive and Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s online Troubles Archive, and one of her poems is on permanent display as a public sculpture in Down Arts Centre.

Mel McMahon was born in Lurgan and is currently Head of English at the Abbey Grammar School, Newry. His work has appeared widely in journals and anthologies and has been broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster. He has been shortlisted for several literary prizes and was a prize-winner in the Funeral Service of Northern Ireland Poetry Competition (2015). His work has been nominated twice for the Forward Prize for best individual poem. His first book of poems, Out of Breath, was published by Summer Palace Press in 2016. His second book of poems, Beneath Our Feet, was published in 2018.

Performance, Free, Library

View The John Hewitt Society website

Partner events

Highgate Library Poetry Event

04 Oct 2018

Highgate Library presents a Poetry Reading in memory of John Horder (the Hugging Poet) on National Poetry Day, Thursday 4th October, 6-7pm.

The event will take place in the new poetry corner at Highgate Library, Chester Rd, London N19 5DH

Performance, Free, Library

View Friends of Highgate Library website

Partner events

Change! A workshop for National Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

To celebrate National Poetry Day and the launch of the brand new Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Stanza, we will be introducing a series of poetry workshops. Like National Poetry Day itself, our first workshop has the theme of 'Change!'. Please bring a poem that addresses change - be it positive, negative, sudden, incremental, welcome, feared, small or great - or even a poem on another theme which you want to explore, to consider how it might change and you might develop it. Led by local poet Steve Kendall, this will initiate a series of further workshops to be held in December ('Writing from History'), February (Sound and Rhythm), April (tbc) and June (tbc). Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Entry is £5 to meet the costs of room hire, etc.

View Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Stanza website

Partner events

The Bright Field: Poems of Faith and Doubt

30 Sep 2018

1 pm: A seminar with Dr Gregory Leadbetter exploring poems of Welsh poet R S Thomas and others followed by a reading from ROBBIE BURTON, ROY MCFARLANE and EIRA MURPHY at 5.30 pm. Contemporary, challenging and real-life poetry to super-charge your thinking!

Refreshments, art exhibition, gardens open all day at Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, Newtown, Powys.

Performance, Exhibition

View Mid Wales Arts Centre website

Partner events

Hardy’s Jude and Larkin’s Jill – A Comparison by Rob White

04 Oct 2018

In celebration of National Poetry Day, Retford Library is hosting another wonderful talk by local literary enthusiast Rob White. Rob previously gave a well-received talk comparing Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles with DH Lawrence's The Virgin and the Gipsy as stories about two young women stepping out into the world. Now he looks at Jude the Obscure and Larkin's early novel Jill as examples of two young men's experiences of Oxford. Contact Retford Library on 01777 708724 or retford.library@inspireculture.org.uk to book a place.

Performance, Library

View Retford Library website

Partner events

Retford Library’s Poetry Cafe

01 Oct 2018

Share a poem on the NPD theme of Change at Retford Library's informal Poetry Cafe or simply enjoy listening to others.

Library

View Retford Library website

Partner events

Poetry Breakfast with the Troubadour of the Hills

04 Oct 2018

Join poet Jean Atkin as LPF launches its first ever Troubadour of the Hills (jointly with Malvern Hills Council). Jean will read at 10am, Ledbury Books and Maps Bookshop, 20 High Street, Ledbury HR81DS, and there will be refreshments. Invitations will be open to write your own hills inspired poetry and upload it to the Festival website for possible inclusion in the 2019 Festival

Performance

View Ledbury Poetry Festival website

Partner events

NOT National Poetry Day

03 Oct 2018

To celebrate National Poetry Day (albeit a little early), Rough Trade Books brings a selection of their poets and friends along to Brick Lane. Hear from Olly Todd, Harriet Moore, Salena Godden, Scarlett Sabet as well as Will Burns accompanied by guitarist Adam Chetwood on what promises to be a wonderful night of poetry.

Performance

View Rough Trade Books website

Public events

Armistice 100 Days

04 Oct 2018

Every day from 5 August to 12 November the Imperial War Museum will publish a 'centena' - a 100-word poem in which the first and last three words repeat - in commemoration of someone who was alive at the start of the First World War. Each of the 100 centenas has been written by a member of the writing organisation 26.

Free

View 26/Imperial War Museums website

Public events

Verses and Vampires

04 Oct 2018

To celebrate National Poetry Day, Say Owt are teaming up with The Big City Read and inviting you to a special open mic. This very special event will be set outside under the skies of York in the Shambles Food Court. Here you’ll hear poetry on the theme of ’vampires’. Poets are welcome to share their verse. For more details email info@sayowt.co.uk

Free, Library, Open mic

View Explore York Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Pop-up poet in residence at Rowntree Park Reading Cafe

04 Oct 2018

Come along to our informal Poetry afternoon and enjoy, discover and share poetry this National Poetry Day 4 October 2018. Meet and hear from Leeds poet Hannah Stone and share the poetry which inspires you.

Free, Library

View Explore York Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Poet – TEA at New Earswick Folk Hall

04 Oct 2018

Come along to our informal Poetry Tea, see our newest library in New Earswick Folk Hall and enjoy, discover and share poetry this National Poetry Day 4 October 2018. Meet and hear from two stunning local poets Mary Ann Dearlove and Patrick Lodge and share the poetry which inspires you.

Free, Library

View Explore York Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Finding the Words poetry evening

27 Sep 2018

Enjoyment guaranteed! Listen to poets from Yorkshire and beyond with a glass in your hand, at our relaxed and welcoming poetry evening.

Doors open 6.45pm

September's event features poets Nick Allen, Katharine Goda and Pauline Kirk.

Performance, Library

View Explore York Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Poetry Cafe at Acomb Explore

04 Oct 2018

Come along to our informal Poetry Cafe and enjoy, discover and share poetry this National Poetry Day 4 October 2018. Meet and hear from some brilliant local poets and share the poetry which inspires you.

Free, Library

View Explore York Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Poetry Cafe at Tang Hall Explore Library

04 Oct 2018

Come along to our informal Poetry Cafe and enjoy, discover and share poetry this National Poetry Day 4 October 2018. Meet and hear from some brilliant local poets and share the poetry which inspires you. Featuring Janet Dean, Mary Ann Dearlove, Patrick Lodge and Hannah Stone.

Performance, Free, Library

View Explore York Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Poetry Coffee Morning with Pauline Kirk

04 Oct 2018

Join Pauline Kirk and the Friends of Dringhouses library to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Free, Library

View ExploreYork Libraries and Archives website

Public events

Sgwad Sgwennu / Writing Squad

06 Oct 2018

Sgwad Sgwennu Gwynedd / Writing Squad yn cael ei gynnalgyda Malachy Doyle yng Nghanolfan Ysgrifennu Tŷ Newydd, Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd ar Hydref 6ed 2018

Performance

View Canolfan Ysgrifennu Tŷ Newydd/ Llenyddiaeth Cymru website

Public events

Poetry Cafe at Tang Hall Explore

04 Oct 2018

Come along to our informal Poetry Cafe and enjoy, discover and share poetry this National Poetry Day 4 October 2018. Meet and hear from some brilliant local poets and share the poetry which inspires you. Featuring poets Janet Dean, Mary Anne Dearlove, Patrick Lodge and Hannah Stone.

Performance, Free, Library

View Explore York Libraries & Archives website

Public events

Poetry Event :The Bright Field: Poems of Faith and Doubt

30 Sep 2018

Join us in Mid Wales for a one-off reading from 3 surprising, challenging and beautifully-inspired contemporary poets: Robbie Burton, Roy McFarlane and Eira Murphy. Each will explore their own personal response to the single, incendiary words: 'faith' and 'doubt'.

Reading, Performance

View Mid-Wales Arts website

Public events

The Poetry Village

04 Oct 2018

The Poetry Village together with Friends of Marsden Library are delighted to present a very special evening of poetry to celebrate this year’s National Poetry Day. Direct from the poetry town of Otley, we will be showcasing some of the most exciting new poetry published by local community interest company, Half Moon Press.

The evening will feature readings and book launches from poets including Andy Armitage, Barbara Howerska, Rachel Kerr, Nick Allen and Alicia Fernández.

The event will be hosted by local poet and artist, David Coldwell.

Performance, Library

View The Poetry Village website

Public events

FORKED!

04 Oct 2018

Join Apples and Snakes for a super special FORKED in celebration of National Poetry Day!

We welcome two headline acts plus a selection of speed date style workshops to get your poetry paws into. Join Deanna Rodger, Rosy Carrick and Alexander Rhodes for three 30 minute power workshops followed by Artists talks and Q&A. Subjects will range from publishing, performance and writing tips to setting up and getting tech savvy.

Performance

View Apples and Snakes website

Public events

Gilgamesh Launch: Jenny Lewis & Philip Terry

03 Oct 2018

Book launch of Gilgamesh Retold by Jenny Lewis and Dictator by Philip Terry introduced by Michael Schmidt

The book launch and readings by the poets are part of a private view of the major 'Touching Mesopotamia: Text and Texture' exhibition of poetry, art, music and film collaborations by Jenny Lewis and Adnan al-Sayegh from their six year, Arts Council- funded 'Writing Mesopotamia' project. The exhibition features new Gilgamesh-related work by artist/ printmaker Frances Kiernan and images by photographer, Tom Hatton.

Please register your interest by emailing jazmine@carcanet.co.uk

Jenny Lewis has produced a versatile and inventive retelling of Gilgamesh which brings alive a story that is as resonant today as it was when first composed in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) four millennia ago. In 2012 she was awarded a Hawthornden Fellowship to study cuneiform and she has worked with the British Museum, the Ashmolean Musem, Oxford, and Pegasus Theatre, on seminars and performances. Her approach relocates Gilgamesh to its earlier, oral roots in a Sumerian society where men and women were more equal, the reigning deity was female (Inanna), only women were allowed to brew beer and keep taverns and women had their own language - emesal. With this shift of emphasis, Lewis captures the powerful allure of the world's oldest poem and gives it a fresh dynamic while creating a fast-paced narrative for a new generation of readers, students and scholars. She is the first practicing woman poet to produce a full poetic translation.

Performance, Free, Exhibition

View Carcanet Press website

Partner events

Poetry and the Political

03 Oct 2018

Four poets from Carcanet, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Robert Minhinnick, Rory Waterman and David Herd, discuss what kind of difference poetry can make.

In a discussion chaired by Drew Milne, the poets read from their latest collections and talk about the urgent topics that inform and colour their writing.

Their poetry calls attention to issues from the impact of uncaring governments and environmental change to the current displacement of peoples around the world.

Poetry can alert and inform, challenge fixed ideas and prejudices. In this conversation, four socially conscious writers ask what constitutes the political and what place can be found for the imagination in a world of hard facts.

Library

View Carcanet Press & National Poetry Library website

Public events

Poetry for a Change

06 Oct 2018

Poetry readings at Oundle Library by the Oundle U3A Poetry Group. They'll read a selection of their favourite poems and some of their own verse. And audience participation is encouraged! So if you'd like to read a poem, please just tell one of the organisers when you arrive.

Refreshments will be available.

Performance, Free, Library

View Friends of Oundle Library website

Public events

Word Central

04 Oct 2018

Open mic & spoken word hosted by Tony Curry. With special guest Kieren King. In association with Flapjack Press and Manchester Library and Information Service.

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic

View Flapjack Press website

Public events

WHAT ARE YOU AFTER?/ PATTERN BEYOND CHANCE/ THE WARD at Poetry Swindon Festival

04 Oct 2018

Three of Swindon’s favourite poets celebrate making the big time with a special reading. Nine Arches debutante Josephine Corcoran, who has read many times in Swindon over the years, brings us her fantastic debut collection, What Are You After? Stephen Payne has shared a bill this year with Carol Anne Duffy, Gillian Clarke and other top poets. Louisa Campbell poet and activist, uses her work to fund good causes. Sales of her latest collection, The Ward, will help fund the rescue and care of dogs.

This event will take place at 19:00 - 20:00 at the Tent Palace of the Delicious Air.

Performance

View Poetry Swindon website

Public events

Menna Elfyn on her biography of Eluned Lewis

04 Oct 2018

Join award-winning poet Menna Elfyn in discussion about and reading from her biography of Eluned Phillips: 'Absolute Optimist'

Eluned Phillips was a passionate woman who ignited equally passionate responses in others. The second woman ever to wear the National Eisteddfod crown – Wales’ most prestigious Welsh language literary prize – she is the only woman to have won it twice.

This is an affectionate and yet critical biography of an unsung heroine of Welsh literature during a time of great change – taking her from rural Carmarthenshire to bohemian Paris and urban Los Angeles. She was often frowned upon, but never less than true to herself.

Award-winning poet Menna Elfyn examines Phillips’ life and work and argues convincingly that Eluned’s poetry is undoubtedly hers and more than worthy of two Crowns. Absolute Optimist was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year on publication in Welsh. It has been translated for Honno by Elinor Wyn Reynolds.

Performance, Free

View Penrallt Gallery Bookshop website

Public events

The Artery

04 Oct 2018

The Artery at MAP Cafe in Kentish Town has traditionally been a music open mic event, but for National Poetry Day the emphasis will be on Spoken Word, in collaboration with musicians. It is an informal and spontaneous evening with booked performers and floor spots, hosted by Laurence Wood and Alan Wolfson.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View The Artery, MAP Cafe website

Public events

Birmingham Literature Festival

04 Oct 2018

Happy National Poetry Day! Join us for a fantastic evening of poetry to mark this annual celebration that inspires people throughout the UK to enjoy, discover and share poems.

As part of our National Poetry Day celebrations, we are delighted to present three of the best contemporary poets from across the West Midlands – Liz Berry, Roy McFarlane and Jane Commane – who will be reading poetry from their latest collections.

We will also be announcing our new Birmingham Poet and Young Poet Laureates 2018 – 2020.

Come and be part of our 2018 National Poetry Day celebrations and enjoy an evening of inspiring and thought-provoking poetry, from some of the most exciting established and emerging contemporary poets from across the region.

This event will be hosted by Jonathan Davidson.

Tickets from £8.

Performance, Spectacular

View Birmingham Literature Festival website

Public events

Poetry Workshop

04 Oct 2018

A morning of sharing and reading favourite poetry and verse.

Performance, Free, Library, Prize, Open mic, Exhibition

View Friends of Loftus Library website

Public events

FOPL After School Story and Craft Session- National Poetry Day Event

04 Oct 2018

Free! A poem themed story and craft session for children.

4pm to 5pm.
No Booking Required.
All Welcome x

Free, Library

View Friends of Penketh Library website

Public events

A Celebration of Poetry with Carrie Etter

04 Oct 2018

Join award-winning American poet Carrie Etter reading from her new collection, The Weather in Normal. Carrie's credits include the London New Poetry Prize and a shortlising for the Ted Hughes Award.

'Deeply moving and richly inventive' - Cole Svenson (US poet)

Live music from Linda Kelsall-Barnett on classical guitar and open mic poetry combine to offer a stimulating mix of words and music. Readers and listeners equally welcome.

Thursday 4 October 7.30pm, Chichester Library, Tower Street, Chichester PO19 1QJ.

Tickets: £7 ( to include a glass of wine) available from the library: 01243 777351

Performance, Library, Open mic

View Chichester Library website

Public events

Comics meets Poetry

04 Oct 2018

Gnash Comics is hosting an evening of poetry by local artists who work with visual illustration and the written word. Creators/Poets /artists supreme so far attending Donya Todd, Tom Hirons more to be announced ...

Performance

View Gnash Comics website

Partner events

First Thursday with Marianne Burton & David Llewellyn

04 Oct 2018

First Thursday is a monthly celebration of new poetry and fiction. Falling on National Poetry Day, October’s event features poet Marianne Burton with her new collection, Kierkegaard’s Cupboard, which is inspired by the life and failed love of Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. David Llewellyn will read an extract from his new novel, A Simple Scale.

There will be two additional special guests reading: poets Chad Norman and Emily Blewitt. After this we will have our famous Open Mic – all are welcome to read a poem or a short piece of prose.

Entry is £3 on the door (redeemable with purchase of a book).

Performance, Open mic

View Seren website

Public events

Poetry Swindon Festival

04 Oct 2018

There's an exciting line-up of poetry events this year at the Poetry Swindon Festival, includig workshops, readings, late-night toast, poetry film, fire-side chats and song, Domestic Cherry partying, piano and soprano, poetry pub quizzing with Carrie Etter, publishers, discussions, and all that is marvelous in the Tent-Palace of the Delicious Air at the Richard Jefferies Museum.

Reading, Performance, Open mic

View Poetry Swindon Festival website

Public events

The Nature of Trees

04 Oct 2018

Join the Crichton Writers at Dumfries Museum at 6.30pm on National Poetry Day for an evening of arboreal celebration with live readings of poetry and prose about trees. Ecology, biology, history, folklore and memory will be explored in a stunning live set. Souvenir poetry postcards will be available, and refreshments will be served.

Performance, Free

View Crichton Writers with Dumfries Museums website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe

04 Oct 2018

The Swansea Fringe Festival returns this year, with a huge number of diverse events at venues throughout city centre showcasing the best in Welsh culture.

Pop it in your diaries - 4th- 7th October 2018.

Performance, Open mic

View The Swansea Fringe website

Public events

The Swansea Fringe: Where I’m Coming From

06 Oct 2018

Join The #SwanseaFringe for performances by young, new and emerging writers from 'Where I'm Coming From'.

Where I'm Coming From is a regular monthly open mic night that takes place at Tramshed, Cardiff. It was founded in 2017 by Hanan Issa and Durre Shahwar to create a platform predominantly for BAME writers in Wales. Over the year, it has evolved to a welcoming environment where writers from all walks of life and all stages of their careers can share their work.

At the heart of WICF is the aim to highlight and confront topical and difficult issues in a safe environment. This special Swansea Fringe event will showcase some of the regular performers from the WICF open mic, who will share new, exciting and challenging work.

Performance, Open mic

View The Swansea Fringe website

Partner events

An evening with Robert Minhinnick

05 Oct 2018

An evening with Robert Minhinnick, winner of the 2018 Roland Mathias Prize for poetry with ‘Diary of The Last Man (Carcanet).

Performance

View The Brecknock Society website

Public events

National Poetry Day Event Kilmarnock

03 Oct 2018

Local poets and new poets from the Poetry for Mental Health Group will get together to read poems on the theme of change to raise funds to help with community activities for the socially isolated.

Open mic

View Kilmarnock Station Community Village website

Public events

NCLA: First Thursday Reading

04 Oct 2018

Join poets Olivia McCannon and David Spittle at this lunchtime reading to celebrate National Poetry Day. The reading runs from 1pm to 1.50pm and will be held at Newcastle University - please check the website for the venue.

Performance, Free

View Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts, Newcastle University website

School events

Schools National Poetry Day Live

04 Oct 2018

Calling all 11- to 18-year-olds – join a poetry revolution in this free event with Southbank Centre and The Poetry Society on National Poetry Day 2018.

This afternoon of poetry in the newly reopened Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer showcases radical poetry, looking at this year's National Poetry Day theme of 'change'.

Join the poets that are bringing about shifts in culture and society through their work and inspiring generations of young poets, including Young People’s Laureate for London, Momtaza Mehri; Raymond Antrobus; Joelle Taylor and Anthony Anaxagorou.

Performance

View Southbank Centre website

Public events

Outdoor learning for educators

06 Oct 2018

This informal training session is aimed at teachers and others who are working, or would like to work, within an education or learning setting.

Join us as we mark National Poetry Day 2018 with a morning of poetry, risk management and nature play in the woods.

We will provide ideas and resources to enhance and expand your outdoor learning work or help get you started! Followed with the option to stay for a campfire lunch weather permitting.

This is a free event but booking is essential on 01577 862355 or email Miranda.shephard@rspb.org.uk

Free

View RSPB Scotland website

Partner events

National Poetry Day – Poetry Translation Duel!

04 Oct 2018

Join Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts on National Poetry Day 2018, to celebrate this year’s theme of Change with a Poetry Translation Duel in association with Modern Poetry in Translation.

Jennie Feldman and Jade Cuttle, hosted by Olivia McCannon, will cross swords by presenting rival translations of the same French-language poem to the audience. Join in the conversation about what makes a poem work in English. No knowledge of French required!

Performance

View NCLA website

Public events

The R.A.P Party

08 Oct 2018

What might eloquent voices from contemporary poetry and spoken word movements have to say about hip-hop's past, present and future? Come chill and find out at Inua Ellams' Rhythm And Poetry Party... a nostalgic, no-clutter, no-fuss, night of hip-hop-inspired poems and favourite hip-hop songs.

This special R.A.P Party gathers the most incredible contemporary poets writing to create and share new verse in response to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, an album released 20 years ago, that changed the face of music. Joins us for fresh perspectives on the timeless songs, journeys, questions and reflections raised by Lauryn Hill.

Performance

View Inua Ellams website

Public events

Thomas Hardy poetry at Max Gate

04 Oct 2018

Readings of Thomas Hardy's Max Gate related poetry and tours of the garden (weather permitting).

Claim a free cuppa if you write a 'poem on a postcard' in Hardy's Poetry Study.

Free to National Trust members, normal admission prices apply.

Reading

View National Trust website

Public events

Thomas Hardy poetry at Hardy’s Cottage

04 Oct 2018

Readings of Hardy's poetry related to his birthplace and where he spent the first half of his life. There will also be a woodland poetry walk (weather permitting).

Write a 'poem on a postcard' for a free cup of tea (just visit nearby Max Gate on the same day to claim).

Free to National Trust members, normal admission prices apply.

Reading

View National Trust website

Public events

Poems In The Kitchen

04 Oct 2018

A community and enthusiast drop-in, 10am-6pm, to celebrate National Poetry Day. Bring ANY poems, published or your own, and share informally over a cuppa or soup. This year's theme is 'Change'. No charges, but donations to Medecins Sans Frontieres appreciated.
Roseyard Cottage, Primrose Lane, Waterbeach. 01223 860214. Please park on Waterbeach Green. Look for lane entrance by new Opticians.

Reading, Free, Open mic

View Living With Integrity Group website

School events

Young People’s Poetry Competition Prizegiving

07 Sep 2018

Prizegiving for this year's Poetry in Tenbury competition is on 7th September in the Regal Cinema Tenbury Wells.

We had almost 300 entrants this year in two categories 7-11 and 11-17. The competition involved 6 local primary schools and 2 high schools.

We have winners, runners up and 9 Highly Commended poems in each category.

Well done to everyone who entered ... the standard was amazing

Performance, Free, Prize, Exhibition

View Poetry in Tenbury website

Public events

National Poetry Day Celebration

04 Oct 2018

CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY DAY
EXPLORE THE THEME OF CHANGE
With leading local poets and musicians
7-15 The Crown and Anchor Eastbourne
Free Entry
Susan Evans, Hugh Dunkerly, Tanaka Mihshi , Keith Willson, Julia Desch,Larry Navon, John Wright, William Chasseaud, Shell Huggett,Flora Sidebottom,Alice Denny,Peter Wathen,Dave Swann,Stacy Mcgrath

Performance, Free

View The Poetry Cafe Eastbourne website

Public events

Poetry as Therapy

28 Sep 2018

FREE workshop with local poet Jane Seabourne

Join Jane Seabourne for a ‘poetry as therapy’ writing workshop at Codsall Library on Friday 28th September between 10am and 11am.

Jane’s visit, funded by the Poetry on Loan group, is just before National Poetry Day on 4th October and World Mental Health Day on 10th October and this workshop brings the two together and will help people discover how poetry can help with positive thinking and good mental health.

Free, Library

View Poetry on Loan website

Public events

Bodenham Arboretum Autumn Poetry Trail

04 Oct 2018

Meander around the wonderful woodland walks of Bodenham, soak up the splendour of the beautiful Autumnal colours and find inspiration with a collection of poems decorating the trees in celebration of the most colourful season of the year!

The Trail will showcase the work of local writing group ‘The Bewdley Bards’ who wish to share their odes to Autumn, as well as featuring the poetry of some of our finest poets such as John Clare, Shakespeare and Keats.

We will also be running a Poetry Competition for anyone wishing to try their hand…details can be found on the Trail. Plus you can pop along and meet some of the members of the Bewdley Bards for some poetry readings on Thursday 4th October, National Poetry Day!

Standard Arboretum Admission fees apply – £6.50 Adults, £3.50 Children (5-16yrs) Under 5s Free. Open every day throughout October 11am – 5pm. Booking is not required.

Reading, Performance

View Bodenham Arboretum website

Public events

Naviar Haiku Fest

06 Oct 2018

The third edition of the Naviar Haiku Fest, a day event exploring the relationship between music and haiku poetry, comes back to London for the second time after our first show in October last year.

The event will start with an introductory workshop to haiku, a traditional short form of Japanese poetry. In the afternoon there will be a series of talks and panel discussions focused on creativity, 'arts-meets-science' and more.

The Haiku Fest will end with a series of live performances by members and friends of Naviar Records, working in the fields of ambient, electronic and contemporary classical music.

More info at http://www.naviarrecords.com/naviar-haiku-fest

Performance

View Naviar Records website

Public events

Infinite Forms

04 Oct 2018

Back Room Poets and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History will be hosting a reading of newly written poetry inspired by the museum's collections, written by local poets.
There will be an open-mic opportunity at the end of the event for anyone who would like to read their poetry on themes of natural history.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Back Room Poets website

Public events

Pin up a Poem

04 Oct 2018

We are inviting people to come in and pin a poem on our Poetry tree.
Thursday October 4th 3:30-5pm

The poems you choose may be a favourite poem or a one you have written.

If it is one you have written, please be comfortable with sharing it in this way as the display of poems will be in a public forum.
This is a Free event and open to anyone wanting to come and share a poem that they love with others.
So, whether you are new to poetry or a connoisseur, please come and see what’s going on.
As well as the poetry-tree we will have some workshop materials for you to have a go at writing your own poem.

Refreshments will be available for a donation and all donations will be used by the church to help others in our Community.

Free

View St. Columba's United Reformed Church North Shields website

Public events

Poetry readings at the Life Rooms

04 Oct 2018

For the third year running we bring people together to read poems on National Poetry Day at the Life Rooms in Walton, Liverpool. This is a partnership event between Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and North End Writers and will start at 11 am and finish at 4 pm. To get involved contact Pauline at northendwriters@gmail.com

Performance, Free, Library, Open mic

View North End Writers website

School events

Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

MerchantTaylors Junior School, Stanfield is taking part by the whole school spending the day reading, reciting and writing poetry. Each Year group is concentrating on a different type of poetry, including haikus, limericks and nursery rhymes.

Performance

View Merchant Taylors Junior School website

Public events

Poetry Spoken Word and Book Launch

29 Sep 2018

Join us for an intimate afternoon of poetry and creative prose. Meet local poets Talesha Chauhan, Richard C. Bower & Joel Hedlund as they share their works with you. Relax over coffee at this wonderful new venue in Leicester ! Bring your own original poems to recite or some of your all time favourites from classic or modern poets. Either way, join us and let's get soulful !

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Soulful Publishing website

Public events

Little Elevations: Close Reading Night

04 Oct 2018

This National Poetry Day, poets Holly Corfield Carr, Rachael Boast and Samantha Walton host a celebration of re-reading. Through relaxed and open discussion they explore how we read our favourite poems and writing by women.

This event is organised in partnership with the National Trust, Tyntesfield as part of Holly Corfield Carr's Women and Power residency, responding to the legacy of 18th-century Bristol poet Hannah More.

Performance

View National Trust and Spike Island website

Partner events

Launch of ‘Any Change?’

04 Oct 2018

The 'Any Change?' poetry anthology comprises work from immigrant communities close to where it will be launched, from 7-9pm on National Poetry Day at Chapel Allerton Library.

With readings by contributors and editor Ian Duhig, Ahmed Kaysher and others.

All proceeds to local charities.

Performance, Library

View David Oluwale Memorial Association website

Public events

Interchange

04 Oct 2018

Interchange
Thursday 4 October
13:12-14:28 Huddersfield to Sheffield
14:35-15:50 Sheffield to Huddersfield

Interchange: Participative Poetry on the Penistone Line for National Poetry Day. Embark at any station on these routes to hear poetry and writing curated by Dwell Time. Join in with some words of your own on provided postcards in exchange for a limited edition pin badge. You can read your own contribution or we will perform your words, credited or anonymous, if preferred.

Interchange
In to change
Change your mind
Change your life
Change your Thursday
Change your head space
Change your view, as the world gently slides on by

All change
Transformation
Train information
Letting off steam
Articulation
All aboard
Onwards journey
Interchange
Next destination

As it says in the song, “Change your heart, look around you, change your heart, it will astound you.” Can we change your heart with Interchange?

Send your contributions in advance to avavprojects@yahoo.co.uk and/or join us on our train journey* to listen and participate. All contributions will be included on the Dwell Time blog http://dwelltimepress.wordpress.com/

*Standard train fares apply

Performance, Open mic

View Dwell Time website

Public events

Unwritten: Caribbean Poems After the First World War

04 Oct 2018

What does it mean to fight for a ‘mother country’ that refuses to accept you as one of its own? Britain’s First World War poets changed the way we view military conflict and had a deep impact on the national psyche. Yet the stories of the 15,600 Caribbean volunteers who signed up to the British West Indian Regiment remain largely unknown.

Co-commissioned by BBC – Contains Strong Language, 14-18 NOW – WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and the British Council, Unwritten invited contemporary Caribbean diaspora poets to write into that vexed space.

Joining us this evening to share their poetry from this new collection are Jay Bernard, Malika Booker, Kat Francois, Jay T. John, Ishion Hutchinson, Charnell Lucien, Vladimir Lucien and Tanya Shirley. The event will be hosted by Karen McCarthy Woolf.

Tickets: £15 (includes a copy of the book)

Reading, Performance

View Verse First website

Public events

Durham Book Festival

06 Oct 2018

Founded in 1990, Durham Book Festival is one of the country’s oldest literary festivals.

Poets appearing this year include Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Helen Mort, Andrew McMillan, Jacob Polley and more.

Reading, Performance

View Durham Book Festival website

Public events

Unlocking Creativity – the Power of Poetry In Business

11 Oct 2018

90 minute taster session where we use poetry to inspire us to think differently about what it means to be successful in business and in life.

An energising and inspiring event - hosted in the office of Eversheds In Manchester.

Anyone 16 or over with experience of the working world can take part - reimagine your future amongst friends!

Performance

View Next Step HR website

Public events

Hidden Garden Haiku Vauxhall

04 Oct 2018

A 90 minute walkshop aimed at adults or children over 12 in discovering hidden gardens minutes from Vauxhall transport interchange in which you get to compose and recite haiku - 3 lined short poem usually associated with Japanese culture.

Novice or expert, join in this fun walking activity in which you get to compose, write and recite short 3 line poems (known as haiku) and see your work published in a 'zine anthology. Be inspired by the beauty and calm of hidden gardens just minutes from the bustle of Vauxhall’s transport interchange.

Find no better way
To be inspired by gardens
Claim calm from bustle

Suitable for adults (£12 in advance) and accompanied children 12+ (free). All materials provided.

View Museum of Walking website

Public events

A Celebration of Poetry

04 Oct 2018

Bring a favourite poem to read with our Shared Reading Group in West Howe Library. 10am to 12 noon. Refreshments. Free street parking outside library.

Free, Library

View Bournemouth and Poole Libraries website

Public events

An Evening with Pam Ayres

04 Oct 2018

Charity show with Pam Ayres, in aid of the Sebakwe Black Rhino Trust, Zimbabwe.

Performance

View Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury website

Public events

The Surrender of Silence: poetry with Jonathan Taylor and Sue Dymoke

04 Oct 2018

Join us on National Poetry day for the launch of two new collections of poetry

Jonathan will be reading from his latest collection, Cassandra Complex, a collection of poems, found poems, found translations, mis-translations, prophecies, pseudo-prophecies, apocalyptic visions and moments of retroactive clairvoyance.

What They Left Behind is Sue Dymoke’s third Shoestring Press collection after Moon at the Park and Ride and The New Girls – new and selected poems.

Free, refreshments included. Please let us know you are coming, on events@fiveleaves.co.uk

Performance

View Five Leaves Bookshop website

Public events

Tongue Fu feat. Boat Poets

04 Oct 2018

Join us for a special Tongue Fu for National Poetry Day at Arnolfini, where we will be delighted with performances from some of the hottest UK poets and spoken word artists performing with the Tongue Fu Band. This show will also be BSL interpreted.

Tongue Fu is one of the UK's leading spoken word and music shows. Poets, storytellers, rappers and comedians perform with jaw- dropping improvised soundtracks from a crack team of improvising musicians whose credits include Nostalgia 77, Jamie Cullum and Beardyman.

Headliners for this show include; Salena Godden - performer, essayist, radio presenter (BBC R4) and activist, she is one of the UK’s foremost poets. Featured regularly on BBC R3's The Verb and BBC R4's Saturday Live, she is regularly anthologised and headlines in festivals nationally and internationally.

Former Boat Poet participant Toby Campion - UK Slam Champion, award winning playwright, artistic director of Uni Slam and resident artist at London's Roundhouse.

Amerah Saleh, one of Birminghams leading spoken word artists, recently performed at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony. She is associate artist at MAC, resident artist at Birmingham Rep and co-founder of Verve Poetry Press.

In addition to this stellar crew Danny ‘Craft D’ Pandolfi from Bristol, Ruth Sutoyé from London and Chris White from Exeter will be performing new work inspired by the Boat Poets talent development project.

It is also supported by Apples and Snakes and produced by Hannah Nicholls in association with the Thames Festival Trust. Follow us @BoatPoets

Performance

View Tongue Fu / Boat Poets website

Public events

Roy McFarlane and Friends

03 Oct 2018

Join the Birmingham and Midland Institute's Poet in Residence for a lively evening of poetry and discussion. Roy McFarlane will give an informal reading to celebrate National Poetry Day and this year's theme of 'Change'. The reading will be followed by a discussion with Roy.

Performance, Library

View The Birmingham and Midland Institute website

Public events

Poetry Jam

04 Oct 2018

A monthly open mic platform to jam, perform and click, every first Thursday of the month.

Since 2013 Poetry Jam has opened its doors every first Thursday of the month, and has grown in love, attendance and adoration ever since. It's a monthly open mic platform to jam and share stories with a community of creatives.

Free entry. Starting promptly at 7pm to fit as many performers in as possible (advised to come early to get the best seats).

Want an open mic slot? Arrive 15 minutes before the night kicks off to sign up to the open mic list.

Free, Open mic

View Beatfreeks website

Public events

National Poetry Day competition

31 Aug 2018

Do you fancy yourself as a poet? This is your chance to show off your writing talents to the rest of North Lanarkshire by entering our National Poetry Day competition.

Open to residents of North Lanarkshire of all ages, the competition opens Wednesday 1 August, 9am and closes on Friday 31 August, 5pm. Entrants are challenged to submit an entry of no more than 500 words of their own work based on Change – the theme of National Poetry Day 2018.

Find out more here.

Library

View North Lanarkshire Council website

School events

National Poetry Day – Time for a Change

04 Oct 2018

Each year group across our family of schools will be sharing the same poem and writing their own in response. As all four schools are following the same poem we hope the day will lead to some fantastic sharing and collaboration between children.

View Woodland Academy Trust website

Public events

Broughton Hall Children’s Literature Festival

29 Sep 2018

This September, Yorkshire’s majestic Broughton Hall Estate plays host to a spectacular weekend of performances, workshops and literary magic for children. The stellar line-up includes poet Tony Walsh who performed at the One Love Manchester concert and World Slam Poetry champion Harry Baker plus Brian Moses and CLiPPA winner Karl Nova.

Performance, Spectacular

View Broughton Hall Children's Literature Festival website

School events

Bath Children’s Literature Festival Poetry Slam

04 Oct 2018

The first ever Bath Children's Literature Festival Poetry Slam will be feature local children and young people and will be hosted by Rebecca Tantony. We have invited local schools to take part in Poetry Slams in their schools in September and the winners will compete in the grand final on the festival stage on National Poetry Day.

Performance

View Bath Festivals website

Partner events

The People versus Poetry at Foyles

04 Oct 2018

Where does poetry stand in 2018? Does it deserve its reputation or are poets having us on, leading us astray, deliberately and wilfully obscuring meaning to keep us not only in the dark but in our place?

Four poets: Craig Raine, Sandeep Parmar, Richard Scott and Victoria Adukwei Bulley step up to defend their art and place their poetry in the firing line ready to face whatever you can figuratively throw at them.

Adjudicators Will Harris and Richard Osmond will oversee readings from each poet followed by a Newsnight-style grilling from the panel and audience on their poetic choices – this is your chance to demand answers and hold poetry accountable or defend it with every fibre of your being.

Reading

View Foyles website

Public events

The 2018 Charles Causley International Poetry Competition

05 Nov 2018

The 2018 Charles Causley International Poetry Competition is now open. First prize is £2,000 plus a 1-week writing residency at Cyprus Well, Charles Causley's former home in Launceston. The closing date is 5 November 2018. We look forward to receiving your entries! Please see our website for full details.

Prize

View The Charles Causley Trust website

Public events

Milestones of Change

07 Oct 2018

Celebrate National Poetry Day at Milestones Museum. Explore the old fashioned streets and become inspired. Attend live poetry readings and have a go at creating your own!

Performance

View Hampshire Cultural Trust website

Partner events

Poet in the City presents: Shifting Dimensions

04 Oct 2018

This National Poetry Day, Poet in the City transports you inside four of Kings Cross’s most fascinating facilities, inviting you to explore the themes of change and transformation through an exciting programme of live poetry performances and discussion. From the societal shifts in attitude and the activists that instigate them, to the blossoming biological patterns of the natural world and the alternating architecture we build upon it, we’ll be using poetry to interpret the meaning of change throughout our environment.

Events at British Museum, The Francis Crick Institute, UCL and The Matter of Stuff exhibition space taking place throughout the day.

Performance, Free

View Poet in the City website

Public events

Peace Poetry at Liverpool Literary Festival

21 Oct 2018

Fiona Sampson reads her newly commissioned peace poem as well as poems by Wilfred Owen, Ivor Gurney and other poets writing through conflicts to find a route to peace.

Public tickets £6/£4

Reading

View Liverpool Literary Festival website

Partner events

Truth to Life

05 Oct 2018

A celebration of Seamus Heaney's poems and his enduring presence in the work of poets writing now. Discussions and readings with Inua Ellams and Sinead Morrissey, chaired by Andrew O'Hagan.

Reading

View Royal Society of Literature website

Public events

Poems on the Tramway: Poetry Competition for children 5-11

21 Sep 2018

Do you enjoy days out in Scarborough? Can you be creative with words and have fun with rhyme? Enter our poetry competition for children aged 5-11. The winner will be announced on National Poetry Day and displayed in the carriages until Christmas.
Write a poem, long or short, about a day out in Scarborough or a ride on the historic Central Tramway. Closing date 21st September.

Free, Prize

View Central Tramway Company Scarborough website

Public events

National Poetry Day Competition Dempsey & Windle

04 Oct 2018

Dempsey & Windle are running a competition for poets who live within reach of our base, Guildford, UK, with the winners announced and a prize-giving in Waterstones Bookshop, High Street, Guildford, at 6pm on National Poetry Day. The first prize will be a voucher from Waterstones and three books from our catalogue.
Runners-up will receive book prizes.
The top 20 entries will be published in a pamphlet with a free copy to each contributor.

Find out more. The closing date is 31st August.

Reading, Prize

View Dempsey & Windle website

School events

National Poetry Day Whole-School Write

04 Oct 2018

We will be exploring the theme of 'Change' and writing our own poems.

View St Andrew's Junior School website

Partner events

Betjeman Poetry Prize Awards Ceremony

04 Oct 2018

The BPP annual awards ceremony invites the top 6 finalists of the Betjeman Poetry Prize to St Pancras International, where the winner of the competition is announced in front of an audience of teachers, pupils, parents, poets and journalists, as well as trustees and supporters of the Betjeman Poetry Prize.

Performance, Free

View Betjeman Poetry Prize website

Public events

Clocking the Changes

04 Oct 2018

'Clocking the Changes'
Reading poems at noon and 1pm members of the Devon and Exeter Institution will be invited to hear poetry read aloud.

Between 2 and 3:30 a new weekly poetry group will be launched and members will be invited to join what will hopefully become a regular opportunity to enjoy sharing poetry.

Performance, Library

View Devon and Exeter Institution website

School events

Great Malvern Primary School Poetry Festival

01 Oct 2018

The children and adults at Great Malvern Primary School will be celebrating a week of fantastic poetry around National Poetry Day. Activities will be based around The Lost Words with inspiration being found in the ever changing landscapes of the Malvern Hills AONB. The events taking place during this week will be invite only.

Reading, Performance

View Great Malvern Primary School website

School events

School assembly

04 Oct 2018

Staff performances of poetry to whole school.

Performance

View Stonar School website

Public events

Writing for Young People with NPD Ambassador Liz Brownlee

04 Oct 2018

Join three published graduates from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People including poet Liz Brownlee as they discuss the creative process with MA Course Leader and author Julia Green. Join the panelists afterwards for a friendly drinks reception for a chance to mingle and ask questions of these and other local published authors.

View Bath Children's Literature Festival website

School events

Creative comedy, poetry and music – with John Hegley

05 Oct 2018

The renowned John Hegley is coming to the Martin Harris Centre this Oct for an exciting event for primary schools! If your pupils would benefit from creative comedy, poetry & music, book now!

11.00 am. Friday 5th October

Performance, Spectacular

View Martin Harris Centre website

Public events

Winchester Poetry Festival

05 Oct 2018

Celebrating the very best poetry and poets from the UK and across the world. Readings, workshops, tours and special events. More than 40 poets and speakers including Liz Berry, Kathleen Jamie, Frances Leviston, Ian McMillan, and popular spoken word poet Hollie McNish. In the spotlight also, exciting new voices.

Performance, Library, Prize

View Winchester Poetry Festival website

School events

Chrissie Gittins Makes A Return NPD Visit to Thomas’s Clapham

14 Oct 2018

National Poetry Day Ambassador Chrissie Gittins is delighted to be returning to Thomas’s Clapham to perform to and worskop with Years 3 & 4.

Performance

View Thomas's Clapham website

Partner events

Rallying Cry

04 Oct 2018

The UK’s leading spoken words artists declare their rebel yell as Battersea Arts Centre is plunged into a rebel rousing rukus.

This is not a moment to keep calm and carry on.

Rallying Cry is an immersive journey across the building, presented as part of Apples and Snakes 35-year celebrations. Presented by Apples and Snakes
Directed by Rob Watt

Age Recommendation: 12+

Performance, Spectacular

View Apples and Snakes website

School events

School assembly

28 Sep 2017

Whole school assembly at 1.20 to celebrate National Poetry Day

Performance

View Cam Everlands Primary School website

Public events

Winchester Poetry Festival 5-7 October

05 Oct 2018

The 2018 programme for the Winchester Poetry Festival draws from the deep well of contemporary writing and performance and features poets from across the UK, Ireland, the USA, Syria, Macedonia, and the Caribbean. Whatever their debt to poets who have gone before, whatever the culture, language or style from which their work springs, these poets are connected by similar concerns of identity and place.

Tickets are available in person or by telephone (01962 840440) from the Theatre Royal Winchester Box Office.

Reading, Performance

View Winchester Poetry Festival website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Dead Poets Society (PG) at Mansfield Central Library

26 Sep 2018

The chance to revisit the 80s favourite that ignited an interest in the wonder of poetry for many.

Set in an exclusive boys’ preparatory school in 1959, a newly appointed English teacher uses unconventional techniques to inspire his students to look at poetry with a different perspective. Poetry, he says, is about, ‘sucking marrow from the bones of life.’

Watch the wonderful Robin Williams at his finest on the library’s big screen, and enjoy poetry from Byron, Frost, Whitman and more.

£2

Booking advised

Please note that this event will take place at Mansfield Central Library, tel: 01623 664 972

Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: The Glummer Twins – Taking it Badly at Worksop Library

27 Sep 2018

David Harmer and Ray Globe have just turned 60. They’re taking it badly. Come and join the irrepressible Glummer Twins as they celebrate the joys, absurdities and indignities of getting older. Stand-up spoken word from the Beat Generation.

A delightfully downbeat double-act with a unique take on stand-up spoken word comedy and music.

Warning: May contain Dad dancing . . .

For more about The Glummer Twins visit their website.

£8 / £6

Booking advised

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult

Please note that this event will take place at Worksop Library, tel: 0115 8044373

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Live at the Old Library – Raphael Blake, Ben Norris and Georgina Wilding

27 Sep 2018

Inspire presents some exciting spoken word talents, live at The Old Library:

Raphael Blake is a spoken word poet and visual artist living in Nottingham. he has performed at LOVEBOX and Splendour Festival 2016 with full six-piece live band, and has garnered support from various BBC radio stations and been playlisted on Kemet FM. he is constantly putting together various video releases, shooting music videos and running creative writing and visual media workshops in schools and the community.

For more on Raphael visit his websiteopens in a new window.

“Nottingham based spoken word prodigy…” Clash

Ben Norris is a poet, playwright and actor. He is two-time national poetry slam champion and has appeared all over the UK including at Latitude Festival and the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. He has also written commissions for BBC Radio 4, Southbank Centre, IdeasTap, and Ditch the Label, among others, and was recently writer-in-residence at Theatr Clwyd. He is currently developing a new show for the Roundhouse. Ben was born and raised in Nottingham.

For more on Ben visit his websiteopens in a new window.

Georgina Wilding is Nottingham born and bred, and the city’s first Young Poet Laureate (2017/18). She has written and performed for radio and TV and has toured her poetry in the UK and Germany. A former member of Mouthy Poets, she is the founding editor of Nottingham publishing house Mud Pressopens in a new window.

Please note that this event will take place at The Old Library Mansfield, tel: 01623 644 377

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Live at the Poetry Cafe – Jo Bell and Georgina Wilding at Worksop Library

26 Sep 2018

Join us for wonderful words and tasty treats live at the Poetry Café! What better way to enjoy the wit and wisdom of two brilliant poets?

Poet, writer and performer Jo Bell is a ‘unique force’ in poetry – she was the director of the UK’s National Poetry Day, and the first-ever Canal Laureate. Her poem The Currency of Kindness features on the Nationwide TV adverts.

Georgina Wilding
Georgina Wilding is a poet and performer who has appeared on TV, radio and the stage. In 2017, she became UNESCO Nottingham City Literature’s first ever Young Poet Laureate.

Includes the opportunity for three poets to take to the stage in the open mic.

£5

Booking advised

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult

Performance, Library, Open mic

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Kei Miller at Southwell Library

28 Sep 2018

Kei Miller is a poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer and broadcaster. His poetry collection The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion (Carcanet, 2014) won the Forward Prize Best Poetry Collection. In 2010, the Institute of Jamaica awarded him the Silver Musgrave medal for his contributions to Literature. He has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Glasgow and is currently a Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Exeter.

£10 / £8

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Poetry Coaching with Cathy Grindrod at Beeston Library

29 Sep 2018

Are you writing poetry and in need of advice, guidance or information about developing your work? Cathy Grindrod is an accredited Coach for writers at all levels and is offering hour-long sessions during which you can chat to her about anything and everything to do with your poetry, including how you feel about it, how it fits into your life and how to take it further.

The sessions do not include detailed feedback on work, but you are welcome to bring 2 of your poems with you to the session if you think it would be useful as an example of your writing. Open to poetry writers at all stages.

Cathy Grindrod is a widely-published East Midlands writer and former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, and is also an experienced facilitator of poetry reading and writing workshops. She specialises in Writing for Wellbeing and is a writer coach and mentor.

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Jo Bell at West Bridgford Library

25 Sep 2018

Jo Bell was born in Sheffield and grew up on the fringes of the Derbyshire Peak District. A winner of the Charles Causley Prize, the Manchester Cathedral Prize and the Saboteur Award, she was the first Canal Laureate for the UK. Her latest book is Kith (Nine Arches Press), other books include 52: Write a Poem a Week and How to be a Poet. She has been commissioned by the National Trust, Canal and River Trust, Stratford Poetry Festival and Glastonbury Festival and has written for Heritage magazine and Country Walking. She is a tutor for The Poetry School, Poetry Society and Arvon Foundation and has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and 6 Music Live. Jo was awarded an honorary doctorate for services to poetry in 2015. She will be familiar to audiences as a poet featured in the current Nationwide TV adverts

£10 / £8

Booking strongly advised

Please note that this event will take place at West Bridgford Library, tel: 0115 981 6506

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: WORD! with Vanessa Kisuule at Beeston Library

26 Sep 2018

WORD! – the longest running poetry night in the Midlands - returns to Beeston Library for this very special festival edition, featuring the mighty Vanessa Kissule. Hear her read from her latest spellbinding collection, Recipe for Sorcery, along with guest poets.

To perform on the open mic, email compere and WORD! organiser, Lydia Towsey in advance via secretagentartist@hotmail.com. Some spots will also be available on the night.

Vanessa Kisuule has won numerous slam titles and featured everywhere from the Southbank Centre, RADA and Radio 4's Woman's Hour to The Guardian, Sky TV and Blue Peter… Lauded by her peers her performance credits include: Glastonbury, Royal Albert Hall, The British Library and internationally - Vienna, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Germany, Bangladesh and New York.

£7 / £5

Booking strongly advised

Age guidance: 16+

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult

Performance, Library, Open mic

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: God Save the Teen at West Bridgford Library

27 Sep 2018

A troubled teenage son and his aloof single father pick their way through a bitterly indifferent relationship in a funny and moving coming of age show about growing up and getting it wrong. Poet and former youth worker Andrew Graves relates a drama of gob-smackingly embarrassing first dates, imagined rock-n-roll supermarkets, divorce, disillusion and working class rebellion. Expect disappearing goths, sadistic PE teachers and a search for the truth and somewhere to belong.

Whether a teen or not, everyone will relate to this honest and nostalgic prayer to that joyously painful, pimple-faced period in our lives where everything and nothing seems possible; where you can be earnest, awkward, beautiful and ridiculous all at the same time.

Supported by funding from Arts Council England.

£8 / £6

Booking advised

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult

Please note that this event will take place at West Bridgford Library, tel: 0115 981 6506

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: How To Be a Poet with Jo Bell, West Bridgford Library

25 Sep 2018

Referring to her book of the same name, Jo Bell leads a session for poets of any level who are serious about their writing. Through exercises and discussion, this workshop will delve into the challenges and realities of writing poetry, with the aim of helping participants become the best poets they can be.

For more about Jo Bell visit her website.

Tickets: £10

Booking Essential

Please note that this event takes place at West Bridgford Library, tel: 0115 981 6506

Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Getting Into Poetry at Worksop Library

25 Sep 2018

New to poetry? Mystified? Interested, but don’t know where to start? Or already hooked?

In this Poetry Reading Workshop, we will have fun looking at a range of poems – approaching them in different ways - and will share our responses and experiences. Led by writer Cathy Grindrod.

Cathy Grindrod is a widely-published East Midlands writer and former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, and is also an experienced facilitator of poetry reading and writing workshops. She specialises in Writing for Wellbeing and is a writer coach and mentor.

£4

Booking Essential

Please note that this event will take place at Worksop Library, tel: 0115 8044373

Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Afternoon Tea with Maura Dooley at Southwell Library

29 Sep 2018

Maura Dooley’s most recent collection of poetry is The Silvering (2016). In 2015 she was Poet-in-Residence at the Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton, and her poems from the residency are published as A Quire of Paper. This year she will publish (with Elhum Shakerifa) versions in English of poems by the exiled Iranian writer Azita Ghahreman, Negative of a Group Photograph. She has been short-listed for the TS Eliot Prize twice and received both the Eric Gregory and the Cholmondeley Awards. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Professor of Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London.

£10 / £8

Booking advised.

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult.

Please note that this event will take place at Southwell Library, tel: 01636 812 148

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Translations with Maura Dooley and Special Guests at Beeston Library

29 Sep 2018

IN ASSOCIATION WITH NOTTINGHAM POETRY SOCIETY, BEESTON POETS AND FIVE LEAVES BOOKSHOP

Join us to celebrate international poetry in a reading featuring translated works from original languages including Farsi, Greek, Russian, and Irish. Members of Nottingham Poetry Society and Beeston Poets will share their favourite poetic voices from around the world, and special guest poet Maura Dooley will talk about her experience of translating the work of Iranian refugee Azita Ghahreman , collected in her new book of Ghahreman’s poetry, Negatives of a Group Photograph.

£5

Booking advised

Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult

Please note that this event will take place at Beeston Library, tel: 0115 925 5168

Performance, Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Inspire Poetry Festival 2018: Poetry Pick-Me-Up at Mansfield Central Library

25 Sep 2018

Always fancied having a go at writing your own poems, or already writing and wanting to do more? In this friendly, supportive workshop led by writer Cathy Grindrod, we will read, write and share poetry, and talk about where you might go with your poetry-writing from here.

Cathy Grindrod is a widely-published East Midlands writer and former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, and is also an experienced facilitator of poetry reading and writing workshops. She specialises in Writing for Wellbeing and is a writer coach and mentor.

Library

View Inspire website

Public events

Neil Curry On Keeping Company With Mrs Woolf

27 Sep 2018

Local Poet and Author Neil Curry reading from his latest collection, 'On Keeping Company With Mrs Woolf'
An informal evening with a chance for questions, discussion and refreshments.

Performance, Library

View Cumbria County Council website

School events

Lincolnshire Schools Poetry Competition 2018

12 Oct 2018

A competition open to pupils of Lincolnshire Schools in 4 age groups - Age 5-7, 7-11, 11-14, 14-16.
A poem on the theme of 'CHANGE' or 'a poem of your own choice' Closing date for entries 12 October 2018.

Prize

View The Willoughby Memorial Trust website

School events

Poetry by stealth….

04 Oct 2018

Students and teachers will be entering into a competition to secretly use poetry across the day in all their lessons.

View Luckley House School website

Public events

Di Castle poetry reading

04 Oct 2018

Join us and Di to hear some of her humorous reflections on life, love and the changing world we inhabit.

Event takes place from 2-3
Refreshments will be provided by Tesco Community Tower Park

Free, Library

View Poole Libraries website

Public events

National Poetry Day at Spring Lane

04 Oct 2018

We are Springlane residential home in Muswell Hill London N10 3PA.

We will be hosting a poetry day with readers and music with refreshments.
Come along and enjoy the poetry on Thursday 4th October 2018.

Performance, Free, Open mic

View Springdene residential homes website

Public events

Women’s Voices

04 Oct 2018

A community event linked to Older Women's Reading Group and a Yemeni Ladies Group.

Opportunity to read local poetry by local people.

Free, Library

View Upperthorpe Library website

Public events

The Maltings and Ambit celebrate National Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

Wells-next-the-Sea will celebrate National Poetry Day in style this year. Starting with workshops at Alderman Peel High School lead by Cheryl Moskowitz, followed by Poet in a Boat with Will Burns and finishing with Strictly Speaking when members of the public will be invited to come and recite their favourite poems in front of a panel of judges with cash prizes!

Performance, Prize, Open mic

View Wells Maltings and Ambit Magazine website

Public events

Pass on a Poem

04 Oct 2018

Reading group for people who love poetry and would like to share the poems they love with others. people can opt to read a favourite poem or just come along to listen. It is very relaxed and informal - you don't need any previous experience of reading aloud. The only stipulation is your poem must be a published work, and can be written by any poet as long as it is not your own work!

Library

View Hartlepool Borough Libraries website

Partner events

Her 100 Cerdd

04 Oct 2018

Literature Wales challenges four poets to compose 100 original Welsh-language poems in just 24 hours, to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Previous Her 100 Cerdd challenges have been completed with only seconds to spare.

Free, Prize

View Literature Wales website

School events

Toby Thompson Performing Poet School Visit

03 Oct 2018

As part of the Bath Festivals Schools Outreach Programme, Toby Thompson local performing poet, will be attending Somervale School to work with and entertain the KS3 students with his fun and unique poetry show. He'll also be working in poetry writing workshops with groups of students to bring out their poetic potential!

Performance, Library

View Somervale School website

Public events

Hull National Poetry Day

04 Oct 2018

Local poets and groups working collectively to celebrate the art of spoken word

Free

View A car load of poets website

School events

Poetry by Heart finals

18 Oct 2018

Students from Years 7-13 at Camden School for Girls will perform their choice of poem from memory to an audience of peers, staff and parents.

Performance, Free, Prize

View Camden School for Girls website

Public events

Malton Poetry Group

04 Oct 2018

Poetry displays and poetry readings by members of Malton poetry group and others.
Readings will start at 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.

Performance, Free, Library

View Malton Poetry Group website

Public events

National Poetry Day Norton Library Event

04 Oct 2018

Poetry displays and poetry readings by members of Malton poetry group and others.
Readings will start at 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.

Performance, Library, Open mic, Exhibition

View Malton Poetry Group website

Partner events

National Poetry Day Live

04 Oct 2018

National Poetry Day Live is back for a free evening of poetry in the newly reopened Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer.

Join us to hear radical poetry that looks at this year's theme of 'change'.

Hear the poets that are bringing about shifts in culture and society through their work and inspiring generations of young poets, including Anthony Anaxagorou, Hannah Lowe, Caroline Bird and Zaffar Kunial.

Presented by Southbank Centre and The Poetry Society.

Reading, Performance, Free

View South Bank Centre website

Partner events

Emergency Poet at Poetry Swindon

04 Oct 2018

Emergency Poet

The UK's best-known mobile poetic first aid service comes to Swindon for the first time, as poet Deborah Alma dispenses poetry prescriptions from her 1970s ambulance. Just turn up!
Richard Jefferies Museum
Marlborough Road (corner of Day House Lane) Coate Water Swindon

Performance, Free

View Poetry Swindon website

Public events

Poetry Evening

04 Oct 2018

A community social evening for all, with readings of poetry, hosted in the ancient All Saints'Church, 'a church in a green romantic chasm', as Coleridge described it, located in the small rural hamlet of Aisholt,Somerset. There will be readings of poems written by local poets as well as historically famous poets associated with the locality with opportunity to discuss and appreciate the works. There will be an attempt to entwine the theme of 'Change' into the poems selected for airing at the event. There will be refreshments of wine, fruit juice, tea coffee and nibbles available.

Performance

View Friends of Aisholt Church website