Performers and fans of poetry are joining forces with Walkers Bookshop in Stamford to promote National Poetry Day this Thursday, October 2nd.
The town is well-known for its thriving poetry scene, where the SKDC-run Stamford Arts Centre supports the spoken word, bringing some of the biggest names to perform all year round.
This builds on the regular Pint of Poetry events at the Arts Centre, which take place on the last Wednesday of the month.
The push with Walkers Bookshop is promoting work by the regular Pint of Poetry performers as the town celebrates the written and spoken word.
The book promotion, hosted at the High Street shop, runs until October 11th, when there is a poetry reading event from 10.30am until 1pm.
Pint of Poetry facilitator Karen Burrows, the Arts Programme Officer at South Kesteven District Council, said: “It’s going to be a fun and relaxed morning with the Stamford poets and their guests.
“Visitors can pop along and ask to hear a favourite poem, step up and read one aloud themselves, to simply listen in and soak up the atmosphere.
“It’s completely free of charge and everyone’s welcome. A collection of the anthologies from those taking part will be on display in the upstairs of the bookshop; there’s a wide variety of verse and certainly something for everyone.”
The collections include compilations by both the current Stamford Poet Laureate Ross Ayres, and his predecessors in the ceremonial role.
The town is also home to the famous Poetry Stone at St Michael’s churchyard, similar to a speakers’ corner, where the public can step up to recite.
The regular open mic Pint of Poetry has been running at Stamford Arts Centre for more than 13 years. And there’s a regular Saturday morning get-together in the bookshop each second Saturday of the month.
The poetry scene in Stamford is back at the Arts Centre with Pint of Poetry on Wednesday 29th October, Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom from 7.30pm: audience participation is not compulsory!
Future poetry events – and all shows, workshops and screenings at the Stamford Arts Centre – can be found online www.stamfordartscentre.com/whats-on/stamford-poetry-events