Festival of Suffolk Poetry History

The Festival of Suffolk Poetry began in 2014. For its first 10 years, the Festival Director was Colin Whyles, who was also the instigator of the festival. The festival was held at the John Peel Centre for Performing Arts in Stowmarket, chosen for being central to Suffolk.

The COVID pandemic forced a break in 2020. The following year, the festival was held online, and this was so successful there has been a virtual element ever since. Live performance continued at the John Peel Centre.

Headline Poets

1: 2014: 31 May

Luke Wright
Luke Wright
Kate Foley
Kate Foley

2: 2015: 30 May

Michael Laskey
Michael Laskey
Angela Locke
Angela Locke

3: 2016: 28 May

Myra Schneider
Myra Schneider
Dean Parkin and Maurice Horhut
Dean Parkin and Maurice Horhut

4: 2017: 27 May

Nancy Mattson
Nancy Mattson
Gregory Warren Wilson
Gregory Warren Wilson

5: 2018: 26 May

Blake Morrison, headline poet
Blake Morrison, headline poet
Susan Utting, headline poet
Susan Utting
Rebecca Watts, headline poet
Rebecca Watts

6: 2019: 11 May

Kate Foley
Kate Foley
Grevel Lindop
Grevel Lindop
Michael Laskey
Michael Laskey

7: 2021: 8-9 May

George Szirtes
George Szirtes
Elisabeth Sennitt Clough
Elisabeth Sennitt Clough

8: 2022: 13-14 May

Rebecca Goss
Rebecca Goss
André Mangeot
André Mangeot
John Greening, reading
John Greening

9: 2023: 12-13 May

Martin Figura
Martin Figura
Helen Ivory
Helen Ivory
Mina Gorji
Mina Gorji

10: 2024: 10-11 May

MW Bewick
Annie Freud
Annie Freud
Sue Burge
Sue Burge

Headline Poets

1: 2014: 31 May

Luke Wright
Luke Wright
Kate Foley
Kate Foley

2: 2015: 30 May

Michael Laskey
Michael Laskey
Angela Locke
Angela Locke

3: 2016: 28 May

Myra Schneider
Myra Schneider
Dean Parkin and Maurice Horhut
Dean Parkin and Maurice Horhut

4: 2017: 27 May

Nancy Mattson
Nancy Mattson
Gregory Warren Wilson
Gregory Warren Wilson

5: 2018: 26 May

Blake Morrison, headline poet
Blake Morrison, headline poet
Susan Utting, headline poet
Susan Utting
Rebecca Watts, headline poet
Rebecca Watts

6: 2019: 11 May

Kate Foley
Kate Foley
Grevel Lindop
Grevel Lindop
Michael Laskey
Michael Laskey

7: 2021: 8-9 May

George Szirtes
George Szirtes
Elisabeth Sennitt Clough
Elisabeth Sennitt Clough

8: 2022: 13-14 May

Rebecca Goss
Rebecca Goss
André Mangeot
André Mangeot
John Greening, reading
John Greening

9: 2023: 12-13 May

Martin Figura
Martin Figura
Helen Ivory
Helen Ivory
Mina Gorji
Mina Gorji

10: 2024: 10-11 May

MW Bewick
Annie Freud
Annie Freud
Sue Burge
Sue Burge

1: 2014: 31 May

James Knox Whittet
James Knox Whittet
Caroline Gilfillan
Caroline Gilfillan
Pam Job
Pam Job with Judith Wolton
Florence Cox
Florence Cox

2: 2015: 30 May

Mike Bannister
Mike Bannister
Anne Boileau
Anne Boileau

3: 2016: 28 May

Alfie and Alex Davis
Alfie and Alex Davis
Mervyn Linford and Clare Harvey
Mervyn Linford and Clare Harvey

4: 2017: 27 May

Elizabeth Cook
Elizabeth Cook
Antony Johae
Antony Johae

5: 2018: 26 May

Beth Soule
Beth Soule
John Vaughan, SPS featured poet
John Vaughan

6: 2019: 11 May

Pam Job
Pam Job
Rob Lock
Rob Lock

7: 2021: 9 May

Peter Sandberg
Peter Sandberg
Nicola Warwick
Nicola Warwick

8: 2022: 14 May

Sue Wallace-Shaddad
Sue Wallace-Shaddad
Ian Hartley
Ian Hartley

9: 2023: 13 May

Roger West
Roger West
Sue Mobbs
Sue Mobbs

10: 2024: 11 May

Sheila Lockhart
Sheila Lockhart
Roger White
Roger White

1: 2014: 31 May

James Knox Whittet
James Knox Whittet
Caroline Gilfillan
Caroline Gilfillan
Pam Job
Pam Job with Judith Wolton
Florence Cox
Florence Cox

2: 2015: 30 May

Mike Bannister
Mike Bannister
Anne Boileau
Anne Boileau

3: 2016: 28 May

Alfie and Alex Davis
Alfie and Alex Davis
Mervyn Linford and Clare Harvey
Mervyn Linford and Clare Harvey

4: 2017: 27 May

Elizabeth Cook
Elizabeth Cook
Antony Johae
Antony Johae

5: 2018: 26 May

Beth Soule
Beth Soule
John Vaughan, SPS featured poet
John Vaughan

6: 2019: 11 May

Pam Job
Pam Job
Rob Lock
Rob Lock

7: 2021: 9 May

Peter Sandberg
Peter Sandberg
Nicola Warwick
Nicola Warwick

8: 2022: 14 May

Sue Wallace-Shaddad
Sue Wallace-Shaddad
Ian Hartley
Ian Hartley

9: 2023: 13 May

Roger West
Roger West
Sue Mobbs
Sue Mobbs

10: 2024: 11 May

Sheila Lockhart
Sheila Lockhart
Roger White
Roger White

1: 2014: 31 May

UCS Students

2: 2015: 30 May

In Conversation

James Knox Whittet, Pam Job, David Healey In Conversation with Douglas Coombes
Crabbe Competition Winners James Knox-Whittet, Pam Job and David Healey with Douglas Coombes.

3: 2016: 28 May

UCS Students

Matt Annis – UCS student
UCS students

3: 2016: 28 May

In Conversation

Rodney Pybus, Lorna Tracy Silkin and Douglas Coombes discussed John Silkin
Rodney Pybus, Lorna Tracy Silkin and Douglas Coombes discussed John Silkin

4: 2017: 28 May

In Conversation

Terry Waite In Conversation with Lord Phillips of Sudbury
Terry Waite In Conversation with Lord Phillips of Sudbury

6: 2019: 11 May

Islands of Love

Lynne Nesbit & Colin Whyles
Lynne Nesbit & Colin Whyles performe six songs from the song cycle Islands of Love.
Words: James Knox Whittet, music: Colin Whyles.

7: 2021: 9 May

Poems in the Case

A dramatisation by Mike Bartholomew-Biggs

Poems in the Case performers (L-R:T-B): Rosemary Jones, Caroline Gay Way, Mark Jefferies, Pam Job, Rob Lock, Mike Bartholomew-Biggs with Nancy Mattson, Colin Whyles, Susan Mobbs. Frances Reader represented the audience.

8: 2022: 14 May

Storyteller

Josh Harris

Josh reachng for the sky
Josh Harris, storyteller

8: 2022: 14 May

All Change!

A dramatisation in poetry by Peter Sandberg

All Change! 32
All Change! Richard Spencer, Peter Sandberg, Steve Roche, Monika Pavlikova, Caroline Gay Way and Virginia Betts

9: 2023: 13 May

Storyteller

Dave Tonge

Dave Tonge, Storyteller
Dave Tonge, Storyteller

9: 2023: 13 May

Talk on Ronnie Blythe

Colin Whyles, Anne Boileau, Richard Whiting

Colin Whyles discussing Ronald Blythe’s writings.

10: 2024: 13 May

What the AI can it do?

Colin Whyles

What The AI Can It Do? – Colin Whyles
What The AI Can It Do? – Colin Whyles


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