Welcome to 2012 Wenlock Poetry Festival

Once again we have put together an exciting mix of poetry readings, performances and workshops for adults and children with some of the very best poets writing today.  Our line-up includes Carol Ann Duffy, Liz Lochhead and Gillian Clarke; Jackie Kay, Lavinia Greenlaw and Nick Drake; Mario Petrucci, Paul Henry, Fiona Sampson, Elaine Feinstein, Daljit Nagra and many more.

Mark Niel will curate a day of performance poetry for those of you who prefer your poetry on the stage rather than the page, and we will again welcome Spoz to host the Wenlock Poetry Slam.  Additionally, there will be cart-wheeling poets, poets in ambulances, and poets in cafés – and as always, watch out for the Wirral Poets in our High Street and around the town.

Our programme of talks and workshops crosses a wide range of interests with David Whyte, Gillian Clarke, Ian Duhig and Mandy Ross all offering poetry writing workshops; David Edgar talking about poetry in plays; Muriel Passey talking about poetry all around the house; Sam Ward talking about John Clare and Gabriel Woolf talking about AE Housman.  Wenlock’s own Paul Evans is also leading a walk along Wenlock Edge, ending at Hughley Church with afternoon tea!

WPF 2012 will see the launch of the Adrian Henri Prize for Poetry in Art and we will continue to explore the links between poetry and art.  Our Artist in Residence this year is Sheilagh Jeavons; there will be an exhibition of her work in the Medieval Guild Hall, and her ‘sheds’ will be on display and in progress during the festival. 

Music is important to us too: we are looking forward to welcoming Sarah Gillespie and Gilad Atzmon who will perform for us on our opening night, and offer a workshop next day, and we welcome back Gill McEvoy and Polly Bolton with the Larks choir.

Wenlock Poetry Festival is a small festival with a big heart and the town of Much Wenlock (birthplace of the modern Olympics) will open its arms to you, our poets and our visitors.  We at WPF look forward to presenting our third festival for your enjoyment and inspiration.

Looking forward to seeing you in April,

Anna Dreda,
Founder and Artistic Director

Our patrons:

• Founder, Anna Dreda, Wenlock Books
• Founding patron, Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate
• Gillian Clarke, national Poet of Wales
• Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate

Our Benefactor:

• Tor Cotton