Residents can immerse themselves in the world of poetry, with acclaimed poets and new emerging talent featuring in a series of free events organised by the University of Worcester.
Poet Liz Berry. Second photo shows poet Luke Wright
Established poets Liz Berry and Luke Wright will be speaking to audiences at The Hive in Worcester this month. This will be followed by a session with recent graduates of the University’s Creative Writing course, who will perform some of their published work.
These events are part of the Creative Writing and Reading Series at The Hive, organised by the University’s Creative Writing team. The series runs throughout the academic year for the benefit of both students and the wider community.
Award-winning poet and author, Liz Berry, will be speaking about her latest work, a novel in verse called The Home Child, on Wednesday, November 15, from 6.30pm-8pm. She will also be giving a reading from the book and answering audience questions, as well as setting some writing exercises for the audience, who are advised to bring paper and pen. Liz Berry has received the Somerset Maugham Award, Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and Forward Prizes. Her poem ‘Homing’, a love poem for the language of the Black Country, is part of the GCSE English syllabus.
Renowned poet and raconteur, Luke Wright, will then be at The Hive delivering his Silver Jubilee touring show on Wednesday, November 29, from 6.30pm-8pm. Luke specialises in live spoken word poetry and will be delivering an hour of poems and stand-up about his life, combining emotional material with comedy. Topics he will touch upon include the frustrations of the family, politics and masculinity in 21st century Britain.
After a quarter of a century on stages across the world, Luke provides regular tour support for fellow poet John Cooper Clarke and has won four Saboteur Awards.
Finally, on December 6, at 6.30pm, the University has organised a Poetry on Fire! event celebrating the recent graduates of the Creative Writing course whose poetry has been published. Six former students will be giving readings of their work. Hip-Hop, pastoral landscapes, social history, feminism and female characters of Greek mythology are all topics that these writers have explored in their work.
Event organiser Ruth Stacey, Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University, said: “This is a good opportunity for people in the City to hear some of the most successful poets in the country, while getting a taste of the future talent coming through our Creative Writing course. We are always keen to open up learning opportunities to the public as well as our students. For those out there either wishing to just enjoy some live poetry on their doorstep and for others wanting some tips on their own verses, they should definitely check out what the University has on offer. The fact that we’re able to offer sessions with some very well-known faces in the industry completely free, compared to the cost of attending a literary festival to see them in action, is also fantastic.”
Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.
For tickets visit The Hive What's On webpage and select the ‘Author Talks’ tab.