Events, Recent & Forthcoming

Events & broadcasts

BBC Radio 4, Larkin Revisited. Across ten programmes and ten Philip Larkin poems, Simon Armitage finds out what happens when he revisits and unpicks Larkin’s work in Larkin’s centenary year (2022).

BBC Radio 4, The Poet Laureate has Gone to his Shed in which the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage talks to guests about life, language and music in his shed. New series starts on Feb 5, 2023.

2023

Public events are listed when the host has announced and ticket sales are live or have a pending date. 

Sat, Jan 7, 5.30-7.00pm – The Awakening launches LEEDS 2023,  A big celebration of Leeds’ cultural heritage and future. Hosted by Gabby Logan and Sanchez Payne, this epic showcase of live performance featuring Corinne Bailey Rae, Simon Armitage and LYR, The Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North, Graft, Inder Goldfinger, Testament, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Denmarc Creary and many more. SOLD OUT but join the waiting list. 

Fri, Jan 13, 7.30pm, Enfield Poets Presents: Simon Armitage, Dugdale Centre, Enfield, EN2 6SN. Tickets on sale. STOP PRESS – extra seats made available 12.1.23  SOLD OUT again.

Sat, Jan 14, 7.30pm – The Owl and the Nightingale with Simon Armitage presented by City of London Sinfonia in association with Faber Members. Performed live on stage, this special evening features Simon Armitage as narrator and two actors (to be announced). The performance includes bird-themed music by Janequin, Couperin, Watkins, Vasks and Vivaldi performed by City of London Sinfonia. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London  SE1 8XX. Tickets on sale.  

Sun, Feb 5, 4.30pm, The Poet Laureate has Gone to His Shed, new series starts on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. 

Wed, Feb 8, 5.30pm – Laureate’s Library Tour – Simon Armitage & Imtiaz Dharker at Cambridge University Library (CUL).  Both poets will read some of their poems and be in conversation with Dr Jessica Gardner, Cambridge University Librarian and Director of Library Services. In-library event only, no live-stream. Free but booking is essential.  SOLD OUT

Mon, Feb 13, 7.30pm – Simon Armitage & LYR live in London, St Pancras Old Church, NW1 1UL. Tickets on sale. SOLD OUT

Tues, Feb 21, 6.30pm – Simon Armitage at Faversham Literary Festival, Kent, ME13 8GZ . Tickets on sale. SOLD OUT 

Mar 5-7 – Simon Armitage at Adelaide Writers’ Week, Australia. 

• Sun, Mar 5, 3.45pm, Simon Armitage and Friends
• Tues, Mar 7, 10:45am, Poetry in the Age of Absolutely Everything

Wed, Mar 8, 6.30pm – The Power of Poetry: Simon Armitage, UNSW Sydney’s Kensington Campus, Australia. Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and Adelaide Writers’ Week.  Free, but booking is essential.

Sat, Mar 11, 11.30am – Does Literature Matter? Poet Laureate Simon Armitage joins Aotearoa Poet Laureate Chris Tse. National Library of New Zealand (Auditorium) Wellington 6011. Free but booking is recommended. Fully booked but join the waiting list

Sun, Mar 12, 5.30pm – The Nature of Poetry. Join Simon Armitage and a host of Aotearoa poets in a showcase that celebrates writing on nature and the power of poetry to communicate environmental concerns. Meow, 9 Edward St, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand. Free but booking is recommended. Fully booked but join the waiting list

Mar 17-23, Laureate’s Library Tour – Join Simon Armitage & guests for the E to G Libraries Tour, a week-long series of in-library events! Booking is essential: programme & tickets here.  All tour events fully booked. 

Each spring for the next decade, Simon Armitage will give readings across the UK, from the flagship libraries of the big cities to smaller libraries serving rural and remote communities.  Using the alphabet as a compass, his journey will celebrate the library as one of the great and necessary institutions. The E to G Libraries Tour is kindly supported by the T.S. Eliot Foundation, Mark Pigott KBE and Faber & Faber.

Want to know how your local library can get involved in coming years? Find out here. 

Wed, April 6, 7.30pm – Simon Armitage presents Lip Gloss – an extravaganza of language through music, poetry and spoken word. Barbican Theatre, London. Tickets on sale. 

Wed, April 19, 7.30pm – Simon Armitage at Stamford Arts Centre, Lincs, PE9 2DL.  Tickets on sale.  SOLD OUT

Thurs, April 20, 7.00pm, Simon Armitage Book Launch, Rough Trade East, London E1 6QL. Tickets on sale 

Wed, April 26, 8.00pm – Simon Armitage in conversation with Laura Barton, Guardian Live event, Tickets on sale. 

Fri, April 28, 7.00pm – Simon Armitage at Hexham Book Festival, Queens Hall, Hexham, NE46 3LS. Tickets on sale. Almost sold out, don’t wait. 

Wed, May 3, 7.30pm – Simon Armitage at Weaver Words Festival, Frodsham Community Centre, Cheshire, WA6 7QN.  Tickets on sale. SOLD OUT

Wed, May 24, 5.30pm – Simon Armitage at Charleston Festival, East Sussex, BN8 6LL. Priority booking, Mar 14, tickets on general sale Mar 16. 

Sat. June 3, 7.00pm – Simon Armitage at Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5PJ.  SOLD OUT

Sat, June 17-18, Simon Armitage at Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas, Ireland. Tickets on sale.

Fri, July 7, 6.30pm  – Siouxie, special guests LYR, Mouth of the Tyne Festival, Tynemouth Priory & Castle, NE30 4BZ. Tickets on sale.

Sat, July 8 – Simon Armitage at Timber Festival, Feanedock, National Forest, DE12 6DH. Tickets on sale.  

Wed, July 26, 7.00pm – Simon Armitage at Kings Lynn Festival, St. George’s Guildhall, PE30 1EU, Tickets on sale from April 24, May 2 & 8. Please see webpage for details. 

Wed, Sept 20 – Simon Armitage at Jersey Festival of Words, first names confirmed, watch the festival space for news.