The Ted Hughes Festival will return to Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd for another year.
Over three days, the festival promises to showcase some of the best poetry talent from across the country, in a homage to Ted Hughes’ connection to the Calder Valley.
Opening on the afternoon of October 24, poet Katrina Naomi will announce the winner of the Ted Hughes Young Poets Award and will read a selection of her own work at The Erringden Room at St Michael’s Church, Mytholmroyd.
Top performance poets Hollie McNish and Anna Freeman will follow at Hebden Bridge Town Hall and the day will close with a ‘Ted Hughes Festival Shindig Special’ poetry night - also at the town hall.
Guest readers will include Charlotte Wetton, David Simms and David Nixon.
On Saturday October 25, the Festival’s poetry café at The Erringden Room, St Michael’s Church will present a talk by Terry Gifford on the greening of Ted Hughes, as well as some thoughts on Hughes and World War 1 from Nick Wilding, David Blanchard and Jonathan Timbers.
The Elmet Poetry Prize will then be presented and there will be poetry readings from Lucy Burnett, Helen Calcutt, Nadia Kingsley, David Calcutt, Daniel Huws, and the visionary writer and poet, Penelope Shuttle.
The evening offers an acoustic set from New Model Army’s Justin Sullivan, with poet Joolz Denby at Hope Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge.
Sunday will include writing workshops as well as guided walks designed to follow the footsteps of Hughes.
For information about the programme of events, including times and locations, visit www.theelmettrust.org/festival
Tickets for all events are available at www.wegottickets.com/TedHughesFestival or from the Hebden Bridge Visitor Centre.