Teignmouth Poetry Festival 2018
The fifth Teignmouth Poetry Festival got off to a harmonious start on Thursday 15th with Miriam Nash and the Woodward Trio both combining poetry with music on a variety of instruments from folk harp to Appalachian dulcimer. Friday saw the celebration of Keats' visit to Teignmouth 200 years ago, with fascinating talks by biographers Nicholas Roe and Lucy Simister, followed by an evening of poetry from Caroline Carver, Sue Boyle and rising star Kayo Chingonyi.
Saturday was competition day, with readings by previous prizewinners, Sue Proffitt and Liz Diamond, followed by the ever-entertaining Brian Patten awarding prizes in our Young Poets Competition, and his headline reading of old favourites and new work to a packed Pavilions auditorium. The evening was rounded off by judges Liz Diamond awarding prizes in our Local Competition and Pascale Petit announcing the winners of the Open Competition before reading vivid poems from her latest collection.
Sunday was a case of poets versus snow! While some performers and audience couldn't make it to Teignmouth, others couldn't get home. Neil Howell gave us a virtual walk round Teignmouth in Keats' Footsteps in the Ice Factory, and the Open Mic, Poetry in other Languages and a 'Slim Slam' went ahead in a spirit of improvisation and fun, with those who found themselves still in Teignmouth standing in for those who couldn't make it!
Alongside all this, five workshops were led by our visiting poets and the exhibition of collaborative poems and artwork at TAAG.
Many thanks to all our hardworking volunteers, Sheila, Edward and Simon on the book stall, the raffle sellers, the stewards, the washers-up, to Martin for the brilliant lectern and to everyone who came along for the poetry.We hope you'll all be back next year.
Saturday was competition day, with readings by previous prizewinners, Sue Proffitt and Liz Diamond, followed by the ever-entertaining Brian Patten awarding prizes in our Young Poets Competition, and his headline reading of old favourites and new work to a packed Pavilions auditorium. The evening was rounded off by judges Liz Diamond awarding prizes in our Local Competition and Pascale Petit announcing the winners of the Open Competition before reading vivid poems from her latest collection.
Sunday was a case of poets versus snow! While some performers and audience couldn't make it to Teignmouth, others couldn't get home. Neil Howell gave us a virtual walk round Teignmouth in Keats' Footsteps in the Ice Factory, and the Open Mic, Poetry in other Languages and a 'Slim Slam' went ahead in a spirit of improvisation and fun, with those who found themselves still in Teignmouth standing in for those who couldn't make it!
Alongside all this, five workshops were led by our visiting poets and the exhibition of collaborative poems and artwork at TAAG.
Many thanks to all our hardworking volunteers, Sheila, Edward and Simon on the book stall, the raffle sellers, the stewards, the washers-up, to Martin for the brilliant lectern and to everyone who came along for the poetry.We hope you'll all be back next year.