6th Woodstock Poetry Festival 10-12 November 2017

Booking is now open for the festival - it is advisable to book early for all events particularly those in the Town Hall as numbers are limited. The flyers have been published and are available in the bookshop:

6^th WOODSTOCK POETRY FESTIVAL

Friday to Sunday 10-12 November 2017

Friday 10 November

7.30 pm Douglas Dunn & Jim Carruth. £10

The Noise of a Fly is Douglas Dunn's first collection since The Year's Afternoon (2000). He was awarded the Queen's gold medal for poetry in 2013. 'It is hard to think of many poets who can equal his combination of imaginative ambition, formal resource and range of tone' – Sean O'Brien; 'The most respected Scottish poet of his generation' – Nicholas Wroe. Jim Carruth was appointed the poet laureate of Glasgow in July 2014. His most recent collection is Black Cart, published this year. 'Many of these narratives make the reader think of Robert Frost: there is no higher praise for the modern pastoral' – Bernard O'Donoghue

Saturday 11 November

11.15 am – Free children's event, Woodstock Library. Richard O'Brien reads from The Noisy Classroom – poems about school aimed at children aged 7+. Tickets from the library, advance booking essential

2.30 pm The Emma Press & Nine Arches Press. £8

Two of the best independent publishers of poetry discuss their work and introduce some of their poets: Jane Commane, founder of Nine Arches Press, is joined by Rishi Dastidar & Jacqueline Saphra, with Emma Wright, Andrew Wynn Owen and Rachel Piercey.

4.30pm Anne Stevenson. £10

Highly acclaimed Anglo-American poet, critic and biographer who has lived most of her life in Britain. Her Poems 1955-2005 are published by Bloodaxe and In the Orchard, her most recent collection, by Enitharmon: '...a contemporary Emily Dickinson, a poet who works on a small canvas, quietly, with big themes' – Jay Parini; 'She is wise without portentousness, her technique faultless and her imagination fiery, political and fresh' – Carol Rumens, Independent

6pm George Szirtes & David Harsent. £10

George Szirtes, distinguished translator and poet, came here from Hungary as a refugee at the age of eight. Reel won the 2004 T.S.Eliot prize – 'a brilliantly virtuosic collection of deeply felt poems concerned with the personal impact of the dislocations and betrayals of history' – Douglas Dunn. His most recent collections are How to be a Tiger, for children, and Mapping the Delta (Bloodaxe).

David Harsent is reading from his latest book, Salt (Faber). His previous collection Firesongs won the 2014 T.S.Eliot Prize. He has worked with composer Harrison Birtwistle on many opera collaborations. 'It is hard to think of any poet working in this country today who is so demanding, both of himself and of the reader; harder still to think of one who is as morally and imaginatively rewarding' - John Burnside

Sunday 12 November

2.30 pm Pamphlets and open mic. £5

Jenny Lewis, of The Poets House, Oxford introduces three new pamphlets by Adnan al-Sayegh, Sarah Watkinson and Gina Wilson followed by an open mic - please book ahead if you would like to participate.

4.30pm Caroline Bird & Keith Jarrett. £8

A great performer on page and stage, playwright and poet Caroline Bird introduces her fifth Carcanet collection, In These Days of Prohibition: '...irrepressible; she simply explodes with poetry' - Simon Armitage. Keith Jarrett, former London and UK Poetry Slam! Champion, published his first collection Selah with Burning Eye Books this year. Regular Woodstock Festival goers who heard him at the StAnza festival were so impressed they begged us to book him. No higher recommendation!

6.30pm Four Quartets – Woodstock Methodist Church. £10 
T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets with Ashley Ramsden and Flora Pethybridge - a beautiful and revelatory tandem telling of Eliot's masterpiece.

8.30pm Peggy Seeger, Bernard O'Donoghue & DellyWellyBoot Band. £10

Peggy Seeger, legendary singer and songmaker, joins us in Woodstock Social Club on the publication of her new memoir First Time Ever. Nick Hooper, guitar, Susanna Starling, bass, and Judith Hooper, fiddle, play and sing an eclectic mix of traditional and self-penned music. Bernard O'Donoghue reads from recent work.

Tickets and information: 01993 812760.

Festival ticket giving entry to all events - £50, children and students half price

Tea and cakes are included in the price of all afternoon events

Readings are held upstairs in Woodstock Town Hall unless indicated

info@woodstockbookshop.co.uk