Much Wenlock Poetry Festival launches exciting 2016 Programme

Just a 30 minute drive from Shrewsbury, the medieval town of Much Wenlock will host its 7th poetry festival on the 22 - 24 April 2016. The festival aims to bring the best of contemporary poetry in rural Shropshire. Festival patron Carol Ann Duffy has described historic Much Wenlock as “the perfect place for poetry.”

This year’s dazzling line-up includes Gillian Clarke (National Poet of Wales), Lemn Sissay (MBE), Daljit Nagra (R4 Poet in Residence), Don Paterson (T.S. Eliot Prize nominee), Hollie McNish (Arts Foundation Spoken Word Award winner) and Andrew McMillan (Guardian First Book Winner). Local poets will also be performing at the festival, including Shrewsbury’s Liz Lefroy (Roy Fisher Prize Winner). 

Andrew McMillan (winner of the 2015 Guardian First Book Award) says:

"This will be my third visit to Wenlock, and every time I'm blown away by the scope, ambition and depth of programming on offer from a relatively small place- for the weekend of the festival Wenlock feels like the centre of the world and ties in well to other events happening in the region, such as the regular poetry nights in Shrewsbury- it's always a delight and a joy to be there.”

This year’s festival atmosphere will be creative and vibrant, featuring a free children’s marquee, writing workshops, art, music, the poetry busk, and a prosecco bar on the church green. As well as the usual programme of fresh, contemporary poetry, this year’s celebrates the roots of this art form with Shakespeare themed events to celebrate 400 years of William Shakespeare’s legacy.

Tickets go on sale on 1 February, with an early bird priority booking period for Friends of the Festival. Plenty of parking is available over the festival weekend at The Edge Arts Centre in Much Wenlock. Full details are online at www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org, and you can follow Wenlock Poetry Festival on Twitter @WenlockPoetry.