The 2023 Ripon Poetry Festival, which came to a close yesterday evening, proved a success with sell-out performances and a record entry for the annual poetry competition.
The final event, held at the Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate, was an evening with theatre legend Barrie Rutter, the actor and director who founded Northern Broadsides to champion acting talent from the north.
This year’s 11-day festival also featured Internationally-famous children’s author Michael Rosen, who made a return to the city, having helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017.
Festival curator Andy Cross told the Stray Ferret:
“It has been another tremendous year. We’ve had sell-out events from the outset and more than 300 entries for the poetry competition, which is a new record.”
Mr Croft (pictured above, centre) was among the panel of three judges that included Ripon Theatre Festival director Katie Scott and last year’s competition winner Simon Strickland (pictured left) who selected the poem, Newborn, written by Edmund Thomson Jones as the 2023 winning entry.
His entry, which was inspired by the birth of his daughter, now features alongside other entries in the 142-page festival anthology titled Creative Juices.
A separate anthology including entries from children, has also been published.
The festival, which is the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire saw performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops for children and adults there was open mic evening organised by Write-on Ripon and Ripon Writers Group.
A review of An Audience with Barrie Rutter is available here.
Read more:
- Ripon among the winners in Bloom awards
- Ripon and Harrogate to provide more homes to Afghan refugees
Closing date approaches for Ripon Poetry Festival competition
The closing date for the sixth Ripon Poetry Festival competition is fast approaching.
The competition is at the heart of the festival and poets of all ages are being invited to submit their creative work by July 31 for consideration by a panel of judges.
There are three age categories — under-11s, 12 to 18 year-olds and adults — and those judged to be the best will be published in anthologies covering each of the three age ranges.
Those whose entries are included in the anthologies will be invited to read them at Ripon Arts Hub (pictured below) on the evening of Saturday September 23.
Headlining this year’s festival is internationally-famous children’s writer Michael Rosen, who helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017.
The author, whose works include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, features in a packed programme that also includes theatre legend Barrie Rutter, the actor and director who founded Northern Broadsides to champion acting talent from the north.
Running from September 21 until October 1, the festival has grown year on year to become the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire and among this year’s highlights will be performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops and an open mic event, Tim Harrison, former director of music at Middlesbrough Cathedral is joining forces with author, poet and festival curator Andy Croft for the world premiere of a chamber oratorio.
More details about the festival and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
Read more:
- Harrogate district libraries will not censor ‘offensive’ books
- Plans submitted for new Ripon housing scheme
Famous author to return to Ripon Poetry Festival
Internationally-famous children’s writer Michael Rosen, who helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017, is returning to the city to take part in this year’s event.
The author, whose works include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, features in a packed programme that also includes theatre legend Barrie Rutter, the actor and director who founded Northern Broadsides to champion acting talent from the north.
The festival, which will run from September 21 until October 1, is the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire and will also see performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops for children and adults and an open mic evening organised by Write-on Ripon and Ripon Writers Group, Tim Harrison, former director of music at Middlesbrough Cathedral is joining forces with author, poet and festival curator Andy Croft for the world premiere of a chamber oratorio.
At the heart of the festival is a competition for poets of all ages who are being invited to submit their creative work for consideration by an independent panel of judges.
Entries are now open for three categories — under-11s, 12 to 18 year-olds and adults.
Those judged to be the best will be published in anthologies covering each of the three age ranges. More details about the festival and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
Read more: