A series created by Yew Tree Press in collaboration with Dialect
Alice Oswald, in her statement as a candidate for the post of Professor of Poetry at Oxford University, endorsed the staging of “extreme poetry events” such as “all-night readings of long poems, poetry in the dark or in coloured light, even perhaps a Carnival of Translation, A Memory Palace, a Poem-Circus … or an exhibition of mobile poems.” Such a call to action from one of our best living poets could not, of course, be resisted…
The Long Stone at Minchinhampton (credit: Tim Prevett)
Yew Tree Press and Dialect have come together to create this workshop series, offering four sessions to read, discuss, plan and write poetry based on place to be read outdoors. This will be followed a day of ‘extreme poetry,’ reading outdoors in the elements.
The preparatory workshops will take place in central Stroud, followed by a day at Miserden.
On our visit a visit to Miserden we will walk to streams, sacred, garden and woodland sites linked to the themes we’ve explored in workshops.
Bring your own packed lunch and drinks to our day out. Some of the site may have small challengers for the less mobile, but none will be impossible. This is an ‘extreme poetry event’ and therefore appropriate outdoor may be required.
Dates
The workshop sessions will take place on Fridays 10.30am - 12.30pm on the following dates:
14th October
21st October
11th November
25th November
Extreme Poetry Outing: 9th December at Miserden. Exact details to follow.
Venue
Hall of the Church of the Immaculate Conception
Beeches Green
Stroud, Glos, GL5 4AA
Note the venue is easily accessible by bus, train and there is free parking available.
Cost
£125 for all 5 sessions. This can be paid in two instalments if desired.
The workshops will be led by poet and publisher Philip Rush. Philip lives in Stroud, UK, where from time to time he runs poetry workshops, organises poetry readings at the Museum in the Park, and publishes pamphlets by local poets through his indie poetry press, Yew Tree Press.
