Now the dust has settled...

Thank you to everyone who made Cheltenham Poetry Festival such a resounding success this year!

We enjoyed some wonderful performances from a wide variety of voices – we saw internationally acclaimed names perform with new and emerging poets, fused film with live readings and music with spoken word.

Over 8 days we saw performances from some of the UK’s finest artists as filmmakers, singers, comedians, poets, biographers, and even belly dancers joined forces to celebrate the written and spoken word.

Please take a look at some of the pictures in our photo gallery to see our performers in action. We will also be posting blogs and media reviews very soon.



‘ An excellent festival’ - Nick Drake. Poet

'A truly great festival' - Mark Robbins. Worcestershire Literary Festival Director


















Tickets are already selling fast.  Last year, at some events, it was standing room only.  So why not order yours now on line (www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk)?  Or by phone - 0844 576 2210.

Full printed brochures are available throughout town at venues including Waterstones, Tourist Information and many cafes, bars and shops. Please contact the team here if you would like us to send you a copy, or download it here - by just clicking the Download Festival Brochure tab.  We hope you will enjoy reading it.


Cheltenham Poetry Festival - a 'triumph' of a festival.

Cheltenham Poetry Festival was described as a triumph in it’s first year, and since then has gone from strength to strength.

The festival, which will run for eight days in 2013, offers visitors the chance to experience poetry in all its manifestations, to hear world class poets perform in intimate venues, to sample exciting new fusion events which blend poetry with visual arts, to enjoy workshops, film, rap, food events and for 2013 we even have a little animation!

We have an electrifying line up for 2013 – featuring internationally acclaimed poets such as Fiona Sampson, Christopher Reid, Bernard O’ Donoghue, Elaine Feinstein and Ros Barber, showcases by prestigious publishing houses, a youth slam, animation events, workshops, films showings and much more!

We also have an event dedicated to Bob Dylan, a celebration of American Poetry and the highly reviewed touring show Richard Tyrone has a Big Heart.

Details of the full programme will follow soon and if you would like to go on our mailing list please contact the team here.

Thank you for your support of the festival!

Best wishes,

Anna.

Anna Saunders. Founder and Executive Director.








































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