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.
BBC Radio 4, The Ballad of Eldon Street – an unnatural history. A new form of radio ballad to mark the centenary of Radio Drama on the BBC. The story of this iconic Barnsley street told by the people who know it best, interwoven with specially composed songs written by LYR – Simon Armitage, Patrick J Pearson and Richard Walters.
2023
Simon Armitage’s poetry readings or his performances with LYR are listed here when the host has announced and ticket sales are live or have a pending date.
Wed, Sept 20 – Simon Armitage at Jersey Festival of Words, The Freedom Centre, Jersey JE2 4SU. Tickets on sale.
Fri, Sept 22, BBC Contains Strong Language 2023
3.30pm – The Laurel Prize for Nature and Ecopoetry Prizegiving, For this year’s Laurel Prize ceremony, expect words of power, beauty, sadness, hope and activism, with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, and judges Pascale Petit, Nick Laird and broadcaster Reeta Chakrabarti. Howard Assembly Room, Leeds.
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- admission is FREE to this live event but a ticket is essential
- OR — you’re welcome to join the livestream from 3.30 – 5.00 pm (BST) on the homepage of the Laurel Prize website: https://laurelprize.com/livestream/
6.00pm – The World in Words: An International Gathering of Poets, Simon Armitage comes together with poets from around the world celebrating Leeds as an international city through the lens of the 175+ languages spoken in the city, including Felene M. Cayetano, Chris Tse, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Andre Bagoo, Ramya Jirasinghe and Lebo Mashile. Howard Assembly Room, Leeds. FREE admission but a ticket is essential.
Sat, Sept 23, BBC Contains Strong Language 2023
10.30-12.30am – Young Laureates Prize, A morning of performances from shortlisted young poets and the first-ever Young Poet Laureates for West Yorkshire, with the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Leeds Central Library (Room 700), Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3AB. FREE but a ticket is essential
Sat, Sept 23, 8.00pm – LYR on tour in Leeds, Howard Assembly Room. Tickets on sale. Sold out
Sun, Sept 24, 7.30pm – LYR on tour in Manchester, The Deaf Institute, M1 7HE. Tickets on sale. Sold out
2024
Sat, Jan 20, 7.30pm – The Poet Laureate In Conversation with Amanda Dalton, Hebden Bridge Town Hall (Waterfront Hall), HX7 7BY. Tickets on sale.
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