Festival News

One of Britain's best known poets, Jackie Kay will be the Festival Poet in Residence for 2008. She will judge the Poetry Competition.

Poets booked so far include:
Gillian Allnutt
Michael Rosen presenting his 'A-Z of Poetry' with Francesca Beard and Jackie Kay.
Vicki Feaver
Luke Kennard
Eleanor Rees
Sebastian Peake talking about his father, Mervyn Peake.
American poets Martin Espada, Jon Anderson and Fred Voss.
Luke Wright: 'Poet & Man'!
Jean Sprackland
Janet Sutherland
William Sieghart & Cressida Connolly on the state of the poetry nation
Aoife Mannix performing 'Growing Up an Alien'.
John Burnside talking about American poet Wallace Stevens.
Leafcutter John
Jane Weir
Norman Buller & David Hart
Brenda Read-Brown
Maurice Riordan talking about American poet Hart Crane.
Tom Hodgkinson, the Editor of The Idler magazine talking about poetry & idleness.
National Poetry Competition Judges, Penelope Shuttle and E.A.Markham, on whether there is a formula for winning poetry prizes.
Pamela Woof and Frances Wilson on Dorothy Wordsworth.
Valerie Bloom
Ian Duhig
Alan Gillis
Blake Morrison
Roger Garfitt on the poet Frances Horovitz.
David Whyte
Carol Ann Duffy
John Agard
Grace Nichols
Recipient of the Library of America 'Neglected Masters Award', Samuel Menashe appearing with Christopher Ricks.
Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread
Polarbear and John Berkavitch
Ann Wroe on Shelley
Marcelijus Martinaitis
Gunnar Harding & Ilpo Tiihonen
Shedman - John Davies
Pia Tafdrup & Katrina Porteous
Roger Lloyd Pack and Jemma Redgrave Poetry Jukebox
Peter Hamilton Dyer performing Milton's Samson Agonistes
Jehane Markham Jazz Trio
Extreme Workshop with Dave Reeves
Hugh Lupton performing The Odyssey
David Morley & Marina Warner
Poetry Breakfast with Peter Wyton & Emily Wills
Anneliese Emmans Dean

Photography by Stephen Bulley