Description
SPS has held the annual Crabbe poetry competition since 1954, which is now open to all who were born, educated or live in Suffolk, Norfolk or Essex, or are SPS members.
We are delighted to welcome Luke Wright as our adjudicator for the 2024 George Crabbe Poetry Competition, the 70th Anniversary of the competition.
After a quarter of a century on stages across the world, Luke Wright is a poet and raconteur at the top of his game.
Both brazen and elegiac, Wright’s poems pull on the tidy hem of responsible existence to unravel the frustrations of the family, politics and masculinity in 21st century Britain.
He marries his inventive writing with breathtaking performance skills to take audiences on an incredible emotional journey. He’s the regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs shows for The Libertines. He is a regular on Radio 4 and has won a Fringe First for writing, a Stage Award for performance, and four Saboteur Awards.
“His performances rumble with rage, passion and humour.” Guardian
“extraordinary and eloquent.” Scotsman
First Prize: £500
Second Prize: £250
Third Prize: £100
plus
Two Highly Commended Prizes of £50
All winning poems (including commended poems not attracting a monetary prize) will be read, preferably by their authors, at a celebratory Awards Event on Saturday, 5 October 2024, and will be included in the 2024 Crabbe Poetry Prize Anthology.
Competition Rules
- Entrants should either have been born, or educated, currently work or be resident in Suffolk, Norfolk or Essex or be a current member of Suffolk Poetry Society.
- Poems should be in English and a maximum of 50 lines.
- Poems must be the writer’s own work, not published, broadcast, on a website, or currently entered in any other competition.
- Postal submission: Each poem must be typed twice on separate pages and submitted with the fee. The poet’s name must appear on only one copy of each poem.
- Online submission: Each poem must be uploaded twice, on two pages of a single file and submitted with the fee. If entering more than one poem, put them all in the same document.
- The poet’s name must appear on one copy only of each poem.
- The adjudicator’s decision is final.
- No entrant can win more than one monetary prize.
- Only winners will be notified. Winners will be listed on the website in September 2021.
- The Press may also be notified of the winning poets and poems.
- Copyright of the poem remains with the poet, with permission to Suffolk Poetry Society to publish any winning poem free of charge.
Entry fees: £4 for each poem.
Closing date: Midnight Friday 14 June 2024.