Costa's Liverpool Bold Street hosts poetry events and readings on the second Monday and fourth Thursday of each month for the remainder of 2008 to celebrate Liverpool's European Capital of Culture status.
The Costa Liverpool Poetry Cafe venture is the brain child of Alex Scott-Samuel, a passionate poetry enthusiast and public health researcher at Liverpool University.
"Ever since we became the European capital of culture, I've been keen to badge Liverpool as England's poetry city," comments Alex. "Liverpool already has a thriving poetry scene but no focal venue for poetry events. Costa's link with poetry through its sponsorship of the Costa Book Awards and the Costa Poetry Award, coupled with its number of stores throughout the city, made it the obvious partner for the poetry cafe idea."
The Costa Liverpool Poetry Cafe concept has been modelled on the Poetry Society's poetry cafe in Covent Garden, London.
A programme of events ranging from readings, discussions and open mic sessions is currently being developed and already includes events with well-known local poets Gladys-Mary Coles, Aileen La Tourette, John Redmond and Deryn Rees-Jones.
It is hoped the poetry cafe will also attract authors and poets, such as Roger McGough and Brian Patten, already coming to Liverpool to participate in Capital of Culture events.
Alex Scott-Samuel is working with poetry groups and societies throughout Liverpool to develop themes and content for events. The project has had strong support from the city's libraries who will also be involved in generating content and ideas for events.
For more information, contact Alex Scott-Samuel on 0151 724 2777 or alexss@liv.ac.uk or drop into Costa?s Bold Street store for local publicity.
Listings Information:
Monday 8th September:
Dead Good Poets Society poets Colin Watts, author of poetry collection Human Geography; theatre director, script writer and performance poet Alison Down; author of Butterfly in a Snowstorm, Jacqui Dunne; and the simply indescribable Ray undertake readings compered by Sarah Maclennan. The Dead Good Poets Society is a Liverpool-based organisation that promotes poetry including open mic events and poetry guest nights in Liverpool Central Library and the Merseyside region.
Two sets of open mic sessions will be included in the session providing the opportunity for poets to perform their own work.
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Thursday 25th September:
Dead Good Poets Society poets Chris Clarke, possibly the world?s only belly dancing poet; Clare Kirwan, runner-up in the Liverpool Poetry Slam 2007; Dead Good Poets Society favourite David Bateman and popular performance poet, Aaron Murdoch undertake readings compered by Sarah Maclennan.
The Dead Good Poets Society is a Liverpool-based organisation that promotes poetry including open mic events and poetry guest nights in Liverpool Central Library and the Merseyside region.
The evening will also include two sets of open mic sessions with opportunity for poets to perform their own work.
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Monday 13th October:
Windows Poets including Windows project co-ordinator Dave Ward, author of Candy and Jazz, Jambo and Tracts; Glyn Wright, writer in residence for Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and winner of the Aldeburgh Festival Prize; Dinesh Allirajah, founder member of Asian Voices, Asian Lives; Eleanor Rees, former Eric Gregory Award Winner and Poet in Residence for Chester Zoo; and poet, songwriter and performer Michelle Sakim.
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Thursday 23rd October:
An evening of local and European poetry with George and Gosia McKane and young people from Liverpool?s internationally renowned Yellow House; an innovative community group that helps to develop young people through the arts. For more information on their work, see www.yellowhouse.info
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Monday 10th November:
Homotopia Festival poets Gerry Potter, actor, playwright and creator of Chloe Poems; Club Lash co-founder and glamorous Poet Without a Licence, Cath Nichols and Queer Vegan performance poet Dominic Berry all read from their work.
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Thursday 27th November:
Wild Woman Clare Campbell hosts an evening of poetry readings. Clare is the innovative leader of Liverpool based social enterprise Wild Woman and runs the acclaimed Wild Transformation Course which helps people find a route out of unemployment and depression to follow their dreams. Expect magic, affirmations, soulful irreverence and poetry penned by Clare and her friends Jackie Kay, David Whyte, Rumi and Mary Oliver. For more information on Wild Woman, go to www.wild-woman.co.uk
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Monday 8th December:
Liverpool night! Bring and read your own work or a published poem about Liverpool. Contact Alex Scott-Samuel with advance notice of your intention to read.
7.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission
Jean Sprackland, winner of the 2007 Costa Poetry Award, reading in May 2008:
