The Wenlock Poetry Festival (www.wenlcokpoetryfestival.org) hitched itself to the vagaries of Easter (it will always be the weekend after) so as to be able to have a regular Spring-time slot without crashing into the bank holidays of Good Friday and Easter Monday. Little did we think, when we came up with this cunning plan, that our second festival would crash straight into the Royal Wedding!
Kate and Wills really might have consulted us, especially as the Poet Laureate is our founding patron!
So - if you are looking for something to do this weekend that doesn't involve wedding dresses, love and poetry (actually we've got all those things - but with a bit of a difference) then why not come along to the beautiful town of Much Wenlock, home to Wenlock Edge, Wenlock Books, and Wenlock Poetry Festival. You'll be assured of a warm welcome - and plenty to do, see, enjoy and chill out with.
Starting with the stars - we have plenty! Our galaxy includes Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Ian McMillan, John Hegley and Jo Shapcott. Carol Ann will also be presenting the winners of our National Poetry Competition with their well-deserved prizes http://bit.ly/dFc4gz and http://bit.ly/e4LY7t and announcing the launch of the Adrian Henry Prize for Poetry in Art.
Miriam Margolyes is to be our Ambassador for Wenlock by giving a sell-out reading from the just-published Wenlock Poetry Festival Anthology 2011 - which every attending poet has contributed to http://bit.ly/gx3Rkk
We also have a host of poets such as Imtiaz Dharker, Jackie Kay, Ann Gray, Clare Shaw - all of whom were fetaured in the Guardian this Saturday http://bit.ly/hhBckd and others: Mario Petrucci, Pauline Prior Pitt, Roger Garfitt, Roz Goddard, Mark Niel (last year's Wenlock Slam finalist) and from Australia, Ross Donlon, winner of the Wenlock Poetry Festival category of this year's Arvon International Poetry Prize.
Our local talent gets a look in too - our very own Paul Evans, Guardian Nature Diary columnist will be giving a workshop and a performance, and local poets will be performing poems from Shropshire.
There'll be fun things to do as well - we're very proud that the Poetry Takeaway, trialled at last year's Edinburgh Festival, is having its first grown up outing in Much Wenlock. http://bit.ly/fF1J8v You'll find it by the Church Green, and speaking of which, be sure to take a look in the church, where you will find three of Sheilagh Jevons' Poetry Sheds.
And also on the Church Green, you'll find our lovely Poetree - a work of art in progress - come and be part of it! All you have to do is to write a line from your favourite poem, or make up a line, or --- well, anything poetic!! Your work will be immortalised (on a luggage lable!) and you'll have helped to make our Poetree 2011!In addition we have a choir: Polly Bolton and the Larks Community Choir singing poems by Gill McEvoy, a fabulous Festival Cafe with the best food around (breakfast, coffees, light lunches, elegant early suppers!) and lots of fun for children too, with our Poetry Club in the bookshop, children's writing workshop, events from John Hegley (yes, really!) and Angela Topping - and make-and-play time in the library for younger ones who fancy a Regal Rhymes session.
Just when you think there can't possibly be more - we have John Gorman and the Wirral Poets descending on the town - all events free, but watch out - anything can happen!!
There are exhibitions at twenty twenty gallery and the Guild Hall, a marathon 'Knit a Poem' session at Ippikins Yarn Shop, and of course, feel free to visit the place where all this started; Wenlock Books!
Only a few booking days left - and some events are selling out now, so don't leave it another minute! Book now at http://bit.ly/dEIMfA or ask us to call you back if you leave a message on 07969253221 or call in at the bookshop. If you like to live dangerously of course, just turn up at the weekend! See you there!
Anna Dreda.
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