Thank you for supporting Cheltenham Poetry Festival in it's second year and ensuring it was a great success.

The festival, which was described as a ‘Triumph’ by acclaimed Gloucestershire-based poet Alison Brackenbury when it launched last year, was even bigger and better in 2012

We offered almost 50 events and free workshops and readings. Our programme included a High School slam, music, theatre, rap and hip-hop, animation, workshops, live literature events and even a theatre show featuring a live graphic novel!

The line-up included acclaimed poet Penelope Shuttle, Stroud poet Adam Horovitz, Cheltenham Comedy Festival headliner Monkey Poet, acclaimed poet Luke Kennard, slam-champs Ash Dickinson and Jack Dean, the graphic comic show Under Stokes Croft, a showcase of poets from Worcester Literary Festival, a four team slam, prize winning poet Cliff Yates, a stage play by Martin Figura entitled Whistle, Helen Ivory, Helen Mort, James Bunting, ‘The Brewery Bard’ Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Bobby Parker, Dan Burt, Alison Brackenbury plus free readings and children’s poetry workshops.

We featured showcases from prestigious publishing houses such as Carcanet and Nine Arches and local poets enjoyed having the opportunity to performing next to highly acclaimed international names.

The festival also included events with a local flavour such as a talk about Edward Thomas by local poet and Cheltenham College Head of English Tim Brewis, a showcase by the Stroud Poets, a reading by local poet Angela France who runs Buzzwords poetry night and a performance by Cotswold Life’s resident poet and Bard of Gloucestershire Peter Wyton.

We programmed showcases of poets which include some of the top names in the poetry world – for example our Tribute to Charles Tomlinson included not only the great man himself but David Morley, Elaine Feinstien and Michael Schmidt.

Many of our poets have already requested the opportunity to return and read at the festival again.

One of the highlights of the festival was a reading by Cheltenham Poetry Festival Patron Owen Sheers.
Owen is the presenter of A Poet’s Guide to Britain and the author of the novel Resistance, recently made into a film staring Michael Sheen.

Owen read a newly commissioned work in the ambient surroundings of Cheltenham College.

A huge thank you to every who took part - whether you were in the audience or on the stage, or perhaps both - we really appreciate your support!


Anna Saunders
Chief Executive Festival Director and Founder