News

Three Weeks of Poetry and Performance
Seven events, three weeks, all free

Welcome to the first Warwick PoetryFest, a vibrant celebration of energy, creativity, and the freshest voices Warwick has to offer. Across three weeks and seven free events, this new festival brings together Warwick alumni poets, rising student voices, and sessions shaped and led by students, where poetry meets community and every voice matters.

We invite all Warwick staff and students to join us for poetry and performance that inspires, challenges, and delights. Whether you love spoken word, new writing, or want to take the mic yourself, there is something for everyone.

PoetryFest is developed collaboratively with students and hosted by poet Professor David Morley, and forms part of the Warwick Writing Programme’s Warwick Thursdays series in the School of Creative Arts, Performance and Visual Cultures. Please share the word. Everything is free and open to all current students and staff.

Events & Details:

• Thu 26 Feb, 5–6:15 pm | Jane Commane
  OC1.01, Oculus Building
  Coventry-born poet and publisher Jane Commane launches Assembly Lines with opening poet Aanu Akintola.
• Mon 2 Mar, 1–1:45 pm | You Must Not Come Lightly!
  FAB0.20, FAB Building
  Warwick Poetry Society shares readings inspired by Stephen King’s On Writing.
• Thu 5 Mar, 5–6:15 pm | Jonathan Edwards
  OC1.01, Oculus Building
  Costa Award-winning poet and alum Jonathan Edwards reads with opener Fig Leary.
• Mon 9 Mar, 1–1:45 pm | UniSlam Reading
  FAB0.20, FAB Building
  Warwick’s national slam champs perform live, including University Slam Champion Aanu Akintola.
• Thu 12 Mar, 5–6:15 pm | Cathy Galvin
  OC1.01, Oculus Building
  Launch of Ethnology: A Love Song for Connemara by poet and alum Cathy Galvin.
• Thu 12 Mar, 7–8:30 pm | The Agora Poets Invite You…
  JX2.03, The Junction
  Open mic hosted by postgrads The Agora Poets. To perform, RSVP claire.cunningham@warwick.ac.uk.
• Mon 16 Mar, 1–1:45 pm | Concordia: Voices in Harmony
  FAB0.20, FAB Building
  Poetry anthology launch and undergrad student reading.