Ledbury Poetry Festival 2025
Tickets are only available from ledburypoetry.org.uk, by phoning 01531-636232,
or in person from: The Poetry House in the Barratt Browning Institute, Bye Street HR8 2AA.
They are not available from the Theatre box office or phone.
Friday 4th July
Diversion - featuring Maria Ferguson plus Ceri Baker and Lily Redwood. 7pm to 9:30pm £10
Maria Ferguson was a finalist of the Montreal International Poetry Prize 2024: her début collection Alright, Girl? was Highly Commended in the Forward Prizes. On the stage, her one-woman show Fat Girls Don’t Dance won the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show.
Ferguson is a poet for the people, washing her dirty poems in public and holding your eye as she does so. We need more voices like hers, democratic and challenging. Clever, funny, frank and uncompromising. A warrior - Joelle Taylor
Ceri Baker and Lily Redwood perform an extract from their shared collaboration - Ceri and Lily both like to challenge life’s taboos. Join them as they approach the awkward edges of life with honesty, tenderness and a smattering of playfulness.
There is an open mic. session to kick the night off. Sign up on the door, or by email
Saturday 5th July
Ledbury Poetry Slam! 7:30pm £15
It’s Ledbury’s premier knockout night as poets take the page onto the stage to compete for points that lead to prizes! In this ever-popular contest, brave bards present their poems in a bid to reach the hearts and hearing parts of the public.
Judges rate the quality of writing, performance and warmth of the applaudience, so who will become Ledbury's Poetry Slam Champion 2025?
Your heavenly hosts Elvis McGonagall and Sara-Jane Arbury preside in style over an evening of good verbal vibrations, so come and lend your support for those aiming to stanza and deliver.
To enter the Slam as a competitor, please contact Sara-Jane on 07814 830031 or by email
Be warned! The Slam may contain adult language and subject matter.
Tickets are only available from ledburypoetry.org.uk, by phoning 01531-636232,
or in person from: The Poetry House in the Barratt Browning Institute, Bye Street HR8 2AA.
They are not available from the Theatre box office or phone.