7 Wordy Endeavours for National Poetry Day in Nottingham

Notts Does Poems

Those charming chaps and chapettes at UNESCO City of Literature have been busy bees, rounding up a load of Nottingham poets and getting them to read their words in various locations all around the city. Voices include Panya the Poet, DIY’s Frank McMahon, Newstead Abbey’s ex-poet in Residence Becky Cullen, our Mulletproof, Chris McLoughlin and Georgina Wilding. Oo. Err. Indeed. On top of this, they’ve got this proper Notts poem which they’ve divided up and dished out, mashing it back together. Sweet.

#BBCLocalPoets
Our Georgina Wilding is representing Nottingham in all its Goose Fair glory for BBC’s national radio project. The beeb have rounded up forty different poets from forty different cities, and got them to write a poem from the perspective of a landmark, or something that culturally represents their city. Tune in to BBC Radio Nottingham on National Poetry Day for the Breakfast Show at 7am, and the Mark Forrest show at 8.30pm, to catch the absolute blinder from the Mud Press queen, and a little summat summat from me. 

Henry Normal and Matthew Welton
The Baby Cow Production don and the Nottingham Literature Festival wizard have teamed up to launch a couple of collections. We interviewed the pair in our latest issue and they gave us a couple of unpublished belters for the magazine of truth. After setting up the first Nottingham Poetry Festival last year, Henry Normal is kicking out the verses like nobody’s business, and one of University of Nottingham’s finest bards is continuing on his experimental quest. With Ruth Fainlight as a guest, it's set to be a corker.
Djanogly Theatre, 7.30pm, £5 - £8

 

Five Leaves
Get down to the baddest bookshop in town for some discounted stanzas. It's 15% off all poetry books during the day, with free poetry cards for anyone who buys summat from the shop. In the evening, you can catch the troop at Lakeside's Djanogly Theatre for Henry Normal and Matt Welton's performance. There, Five Leaves'll be launching their very own publication - Staring Directly at the Eclipse.

Mouthy Poets
The launch of a regular monthly spoken word night from Nottingham Playhouse’s Associate Artists. Meet new Artistic Director Chris McLoughlin, and have a listen to some of Nottingham’s best up-and-coming poets. Mouthy Poets have boasted headliners like Lemn Sissay, John Agard, and Sabrina Mahfouz, to name but a few. And with Deborah Stevenson as a founder, the troop have been learning from the best. Get their words in your tabs.
Nottingham Writers' Studio, 7pm, free

Poems at D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum
Poke your nose around the recreated miner’s cottage and birthplace of Nottingham’s naughtiest author. You can have a look at some of his original watercolour paintings and pay respects to Lawrence’s headstone. During the museum tour, because it’s National Poetry Day, there’ll be extracts being read and all sorts. Learn a thing or two about the man himsen, and don’t forget to book – the tours are eight-man deep.
Eastwood, all day, various prices

Hockley Hustle
Alright, alright. This is definitely not National Poetry Day related. But if you so found yourself with a belly panging for metaphors once the day is over, fear not. Hockley Hustle is this Sunday, and there’s loads of poetry stuff going off. Get to Edin’s for the Poetry is Dead Good stage, where we’ll be hearing some of Nottingham’s gobbiest, softest, and most detailed poets all in one room. There’ll be a poetry game show kicking off at 1pm, and Broadway’s LeftLion stage features those relentless Mouthy Poets at 4pm.
Hockley, all day, £12

Henry Normal and Matthew Welton on their launch
Mouthy Poets founder Debris Stevenson interview
10 must-see acts at Hockley Hustle this year
D.H. Lawrence and The Lady Chatterley Trial

National Poetry Day website