Some of the world’s best known international poets are performing in London’s East End next month at the inaugural Globe Road Poetry Festival being staged by Queen Mary University.
They include internationally-renowned poets such as Canada’s NourbeSe Philip (pictured), Linton Kwesi Johnson, Myung Mi Kim, Daljit Nagra and Kaiser Haq giving free public readings themed on ‘translation and technology’.
A poetry slam competition for east London schoolchildren is on the list of events, as well as artificial intelligence workshops with poetry ‘bots’, performance workshops and exhibitions on top of the free readings.
The three-day festival curated by Queen Mary’s Professor of Poetry Andrea Brady showcases the diversity of local and global poetic traditions in the East End.
“We are bringing together poets and performers of all backgrounds,” Prof Brady explaines.
“The East End has always been a melting pot of languages, cultures and literatures—from the anti-fascist Basement Writers of the 1970s to contemporary Bangla and slam poetry scenes.”
Events explore how translation and technology can both create and bridge divides, with new forms of creativity reaching new audiences.
“The programme has a global perspective, but the heart is firmly east London,” Prof Brady adds. “It celebrates the array of poetry on the doorstep of Queen Mary.
“Poetry should be for the whole community, a diverse audience regardless of age, background or language.”
The festival is at Queen Mary University campus in the Mile End Road, close to Globe Road, on the weekend of November 13-15. Most events are free. [Underground: Stepney Green]
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