Guest Speaker, Barry Smith, who grew up in Biggleswade before moving to Sussex, where he is now director of the South Downs Poetry Festival and was previously Co-ordinator of the Festival of Chichester. Barry’s poems encompass being inspired by the early music of the Beatles, taking part in the notorious Biggleswade UFO hoax of the 1950s, girlfriends and Kennedy’s assassination, the Ivel River Boys, nature and the environment, CND protests in the 60s….and lots more!

Praise for Barry’s poems:

‘really remarkable’ – Steven Berkoff (actor, playwright)

‘rich in imagery, narrative and feeling’ – Louis de Bernieres (novelist)

‘full of performative energy’ – Penelope Shuttle (poet)

‘deft and playful but serious – Wendy Klein (poet)

‘a masterpiece’ – Andrew Geary (poet & critic)

‘a wordsmith’ – Mandy Pannett (poet/editor)

Barry’s poems have been runner-up for the BBC Proms Poetry competition, shortlisted for the Bread & Roses Songwriting and Spoken Word Award and nominated for the T.S. Eliot Prize. His collections are ‘Performance Rites’ (Waterloo Press) and ‘Reeling and Writhing’ (Dempsey & Windle). 

An intimate, open minded spoken word and poetry open mic night, welcoming poets, and all spoken word performers of any style, genre or level of experience to share their creativity before a warm and receptive audience. 

Turn up on the night, sign up and connect with emerging writers, artists and poets in this relaxed and inclusive open mic night. 

If you'd rather sit and listen you're very welcome too.