Beeston Poets returns with a bang

The Nottinghamshire poetry series that ran for many years at Beeston Library returns on Saturday 20^th October with the major poet Jackie Kay, and monthly events throughout the winter.

Beeston Poets ran for about twenty years – in its day the only regular series of poetry readings in Nottinghamshire. Those who read included the biggest names in British poetry, including the current Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, the “Liverpool Poets” including Roger McGough, and Britain's best-selling poet Wendy Cope. Many of the readers were spotted early in their career, before they went on to become national figures.

Now Beeston Poets returns, again featuring nationally known figures. The series starts with the Scottish poet Jackie Kay who headlined at Beeston last time on its fifteenth birthday. She is followed by Neil Astley, editor at Bloodaxe Books, Britain's liveliest poetry publisher, and in December Andy Croft is reading – fresh from a poetry tour of Siberia!

Beeston Poets is organised by Nottingham Poetry Society, Five Leaves Publications and Nottinghamshire Libraries.

Ross Bradshaw, from the Nottingham publisher Five Leaves, said “I developed my own passion for poetry as an audience member at Beeston Poets and ended up running the series. Since then poetry has developed all over the county, but it'll be great to return to Beeston.”

All events take place in Beeston Library and are ticketed.

Full details on www.beestonpoets.wordpress.com or from Beeston Library.