Pamphlet Launch & Poetry Party

Friday 23 July, 7:30pm
Bank Street Arts, Bank Street, Sheffield S1 2DS
£5 / £3 / free to Members of Bank Street Arts (and you can join on the door:  £10pa)
Includes free glass of wine and refreshments.

Join the Poetry Business at Bank Street Arts on the 23rd to hear Cathy Benson, Sue Boyle and Alan Payne read from their rather beautiful Smith/Doorstop pamphlets. (Sue and Alan's collections were first-stage winners in the 2009 Poetry Business Competition, judged by Sir Andrew Motion.)

PLUS the launch of the latest North, with brilliant poems from the latest issue of this 'excellent' (Carol Ann Duffy, Guardian) magazine.

If you're in North 44 or the previous issue, come and read your poem(s). If you're not, come and read someone else's poem from the issue, and get a free copy or back-issue.

There will be a free raffle, and the shortest ever poetry and general knowledge quiz - with many marvellous (unbelievable!) prizes, mostly of a literary or confectionery nature. 

William Shakespeare will appear courtesy Ed Reiss, who will be performing a couple of the Bard's midsummer sonnets.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, things on sticks, crisps, twiglets (and jammie dodgers if in season).

On the Poetry Business book stall, we'll be offering Three for Two on all our titles, and you'll be able to browse our wide-range of poetry magazines.

Please email office@poetrybusiness.co.uk (or call 0114 346 3037) if you're planning to attend.

CATHERINE BENSON was brought up in Scotland and lives in Bradford.  Smith/Doorstop publish her pamphlet It Must Have Been A Sunday.  A children's illustrator as well as poet, Cathy is well known in local literary circles for the warmth and insight of her writing. 'In the hup and hoist of these poems is a subtle precision of feeling' - Ed Reiss

SUE BOYLE lives in Bath, where among other things she runs the Poetry Cafe. 'The voice of a true original:  her work has a wit and inventiveness all too rare in poetry today' - Rosie Bailey

ALAN PAYNE was born and grew up in the Caribbean, and is a well-known Sheffield poet. He has worked for many years as a teacher. 'Alan Payne evokes the sensuality and vibrancy of life in the Caribbean' - John Lyons

THE NORTH issue 45, excellent poems and articles, including Ian Gregson on Simon Armitage, Fiona Sampson on Helen Cixous and the Peterloo Poets mini-anthology edited by Harry Chambers; plus the usual outstanding mix of reviews and features, Blind Criticism and Poets I Go Back To. 'Dark and true and tender is The North' -  Alfred Lord Tennyson

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The following Saturday (the 24th) is July Writing Day, from 10:15 am to 4:00pm, with writing exercises in the morning and a critical workshop in the afternoon.

As usual, it will be held in Sheffield in the Conference Room at The Premier Inn (morning) and at our new offices in Bank Street Arts. The Premier Inn is on the corner of Angel Street and Bank Street.

Please bring a poem (and ten copies) for the afternoon workshop - or better still write one up to discuss from the morning session. Places cost £25 (£18 unwaged). Pay on the day - by cash or cheque.

Please let us know if you're planning to attend.