The Tuesday Poem: Poetry At The Forefront—WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers’ Festival, 27 – 31 August
This week, from Wednesday 27 – Sunday 31, my home town will be coming alive for the biennial WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers’ Festival — and poetry is going to be well to the fore from the get-go.
So for the Tuesday Poem feature today, I thought I’d run through the poetry programme for you. If a poet has been featured here on the blog, I’ll link through to that, too: just click on the link embedded in the poet’s name
And click on the link in the event title to find out more details, including venue and time.
Wednesday 27:
Rising Voices Youth Poetry Regional Slam (Free)
“Have your preconceptions about poetry rattled at the pinnacle event for Aotearoa’s emerging spoken word talent…Twelve of our finest young poets challenge the status quo, bring to life their experiences and inspire with their talent and passion. “
Friday 29:
Storm Warning
A set of poems by notable NZ poet, Riemke Ensing, entitled Storm Warning has been put to music by composer Alex van den Broek and is premiering as part of the festival: “…explores the boundaries between the genres of classical and jazz to realise the colour and depth of poems rich in the imagery of Aotearoa.”
Poetry Book Launch: (Free)
Publishers Victoria University Press and Random House join forces to launch two new poetry collections and an anthology:
There is a Medical Name for This by Kerrin P Sharpe (VUP)
waha/mouth by Hinemoana Baker (VUP)
Essential New Zealand Poems: Facing The Empty Page edited by Harry Ricketts, Siobhan Harvey, James Norcliffe (Random House)
Saturday 30 August:
Fiercely Hopeful: Anis Moigani
Anis Moigani is a US National Poetry Slam champion and winner of the International World Cup Poetry Slam — as the programme promises, “his delivery will have you on the edge of your seat” and you will “be mesmerised.” Bring it on!
The Catalyst Roadshow: My Republic (Free)
Celebrate the launch of Catalyst (Volume 11) with poets Ben Brown, Andy Coyle, Ciaran Fox, Kimberley Holmes, Grace Taylor, and Doc Drumheller: “be entertained, energised and excited…”
Sunday 31
Poetry For Lunch (Free)
A poetry reading from poets Kerrin P. Sharpe, Bernadette Hall, Alice Andersen, Doc Drumheller, Riemke Ensing, and Juliet McLachlan.
The Intimacy Of Words
An intimate poetry show about love performed by two Lyttelton poets, Sarah Amazinnia and Andy Coyle: the programme calls it a “poetic dialogue” that is “an intimate, sensual and jarring revealtion of what it means to be together in testing times [the Canterbury eathquakes.].”
Poetry & More
Well known NZ poets, Hinemoana Baker and John Pule, read their work and discuss their craft with Jeffrey Paparoa Holman.
Survivor Poetry
Catalyst literary journal, with compere Ciaran Fox and judges Doc Drumheller, Fiona Farrell and Ben Brown, presents a performance poetry competition, cut-throat reality style to find the Survivor Poet 2014 — to end the festival with a bang.
—
What a fabulous poetry line up — now I call that a festival! But wait, there’s more:
Poetry May/Will Also Feature In:
Friday 29:
Happy Birthday, Janet (Free)
Although best known as a novelist, Janet Frame was also a poet and two well-known contemporary poets, Bernadette Hall and Tusiata Avia will join Owen Marshall in celebrating her 90th birthday with a reading from her work.
Saturday 30:
Hagley Readings (Free)
Readings from students from the Hagley Writers’ Institute showcase their work talent
Takahe @ The Festival (Koha)
Literary magazine Takahe is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and incoming poetry editor, Joanna Preston, showcases the journal’s poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and cultural tradition with Bernadette Hall, Owen Marshall, Deborah Rogers, John Ewen, and Greg O’Connell
(And HUGE apologies if I’ve missed anyone at all!)
—
For all those not able to partake in Christchurch this week—you can still check out the featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub and other great poems from fellow Tuesday poets from around the world, click here or on the Quill icon in the sidebar.
Wish I could be there. Good on you getting the word out 🙂
Maybe we could have a Tuesday Poem poets event another year, who knows? And thank you.:)