Bath and Trowbridge Poetry Stanza Groups
Poets and lovers of poetry from the Bath and Trowbridge Stanza Groups have been invited by Poetry Society Stanza representatives SUE BOYLE and NINA PARMENTER to share a CONCERT OF READINGS in the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution in Queen Square BA1 2HN on the afternoon of Saturday 21st June. Up to twenty poets will be reading with a break for a CELEBRATION TEA organised by the Bath Group.
Arrival time 1.30pm for a 2pm start.
Nina and Sue will introduce the readers who are each asked to bring a poem of no more than 300 words which will interest, delight, intrigue, enthral, fascinate and entertain the audience and leave them eager to hear more. ( Remember this is a celebration of poetry, not a workshop, though we are hoping to share some small group workshops in Abbey Green later in the year.)
Please introduce your poem with a very brief account of what made you write it and why you decided to share it with the rest of us today.
We will hear ONE POEM from every reader with a tea interlude part way through. Please bring a second poem if you would like to go into the ballot for a second slot towards the end of the afternoon.
The Attentive Audience
with many thanks to Cardiff Novelist and Poet
Katherine Stansfield for yesterday’s great poem about cats
I was delighted and inspired by sharing the Trowbridge group’s June 7th afternoon of readings by hugely accomplished Cardiff poets KATHERINE STANSFIELD and CHRISTINA THATCHER. Their visit had been scheduled before Covid and only now become possible. While storm rain drummed down on the Drawing Projects’ skylights, both poets gave electrifying readings from their recent books.
Katherine’s poetry is published by Seren. Her most recent collection is We Could Be Anywhere by Now which was awarded a Writer’s Bursary from Literature Wales and was selected by Wales Literature Exchange as a ‘Bookcase’ title: a book from Wales recommended for translation. Learn more on http://katherinestansfield.blogspot.com
Christina Thatcher read from her latest book, Breaking a Mare from Parthian. This is from Parthian’s webpage . Christina Thatcher grew up between a farm and a ranch house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She won a Marshall Scholarship to study in the UK and now lectures at Cardiff University. Her poetry and short stories have been widely published in literary magazines, including Ambit, Poetry Wales, The North and The Poetry Review. She has published two earlier collections, More than you were and How to Carry Fire. Christina has toured internationally, reading her work in the UK, USA, Canada, Costa Rica, Switzerland and Romania. Learn more on https://christinathatcher.com/about/official-bio/
As poetry readings go, this one was about perfect. If ever you get the chance to hear either of these poets, seize it with both hands.
Line up of readers 8 June
Nina’s current list 8 June
Peter O’Grady
Andrew Batty
Andrew Stacey
Gordon Vells
Liz Griffiss-White
Nina Parmenter
John Powell
Sue’s current list 8 June :
Caroline Heaton
*Amanda Saunders (tea)
Alan Davies
Greg Spiro (tea)
*June Wentland (tea)
Miranda Pender
Nick Kearney
Marilyn Francis (meet and greet)
*Ann Preston (tea)
Sue Boyle
The Bath list is full. Trowbridge poets contact Nina if you would like to ask for one of the remaining spaces on her list.
Non-reading guests will be warmly welcomed at this event. Small contributions to Stanza25 blog subscription and printing costs gratefully received at the upstairs door.
Calendar of events
contact Sue Boyle about Stanza25 events in Bath
contact Ama Bolton about Bath Writers & Artists events in Peasedown St John
Saturday 21 June : Summer Concert of Readings Queen Square
Signed up for June Open Mic
Peter O’Grady
Andrew Batty
Andrew Stacey
Gordon Vells
Liz Griffiss-White
Nina Parmenter
John Powell
Caroline Heaton
Amanda Saunders
Alan Davies
Greg Spiro
June Wentland
Miranda Pender
Nick Kearney
Marilyn Francis
Ann Preston
Sue Boyle
Saturday 19 July : Concert of Readings & Presentations Queen Square
Signed up for July Open Mic : Greg Spiro
Saturday 16 August : Concert of Readings & Presentations Queen Square
Signed up for August Open Mic:
Saturday 13 September : Concert of Readings & Presentations Queen Square
Special September presentation inspired by the Radstock Museum of Mining with AMA BOLTON, MARILYN FRANCIS, ANN PRESTON and JUNE WENTLAND. Poem of the Month : suggestions welcome.
Signed up for the September Open Mic:
Saturday 11 October : Concert of Readings & Presentations Queen Square
Stanza 25 
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