Event: Join us at the Cornwall Contemporary Poetry Festival 22–25 Nov
A feast of contemporary poetry in Falmouth
You are invited to the Cornwall Contemporary Poetry Festival which takes places in different venues around Falmouth and showcases the most exciting contemporary poetry talent from Cornwall and the rest of the UK.
The four-day festival starts on Thursday 22nd of November and finishes on Sunday 25th, offering a range of events including workshops with leading poets, readings and opportunities to perform your own work.
A few highlights of the programme
Free workshop with Inua Ellams – limited spaces
“Poetry saved my life,” he says. “It is the cheapest way to be free.”
On Thursday 22 November, one of the festival’s star performers, Inua Ellams, is giving a free workshop for Falmouth students at The Poly (3:00–5:00pm). An internationally touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist and designer, Inua’s first play, The 14th Tale, was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and his fourth, Barber Shop Chronicles, sold out its run at England’s National Theatre. He’s currently touring An Evening With An Immigrant and working on The Half God of Rainfall – a new play in verse.
Places on the workshop are limited – if you’d like one, email Tom Scott as soon as possible!
Slam at The Poly with Isaiah Hull – a change to perform
Also on Thursday evening, the exciting young Manchester-based poet Isaiah Hull will be MCing a slam at The Poly (8:00-10:00pm). All performers welcome – and tickets for students are just £3. At just 20, Isaiah has performed with Kate Tempest, Saul Williams and Lemon Sissay, and on BBC Radio I’s Big Weekend Festival, and has made a huge impact on the performance poetry scene.
Inua and Isaiah will also be performing at another event at the Maritime Museum on the Friday evening (7.00-10.00), where there will also be a bar and an open-mic spot.
“Isaiah Hull… took no prisoners with his raw and visceral words.”
A stellar cast
Other poets at the festival include Sean O’Brien, Anne-Marie Fyfe, Alyson Hallett, Penelope Shuttle, Katrina Naomi and – all the way from Iceland – the amazing Gerður Kristný. On Thursday, Falmouth’s own David Devanny will be presenting CoastPoems, his new Cornish audio poetry app, and Anna Cathenka will be launching her new pamphlet, Dead Man Walking. That evening also sees the opening of Seeing Voices – a poetry & illustration exhibition that includes work by several Falmouth students.
The final event of the festival (on Sunday afternoon) is a floating open-mic on a boat on the River Fal – a unique opportunity to perform your work on the waves, or just come along for the ride.
Many festival events are free, and others are at a reduced rate for students. Find out more or book your tickets at the festival website.
by Tom Scott