Congratulations to this year’s poetry judge for his recent elevation: It was announced on 10 May 2019 that Her Majesty The Queen ‘has been pleased to approve the appointment of Simon Armitage as the next Poet Laureate for a fixed-term of ten years’. We are delighted with this news and wish Simon all the very…

On Monday 15 July local writer and historian Ben Kane will be speaking at Cedars Hall at a very special – invitation only – event for our Friends and supporters. Known chiefly for his hugely enjoyable and engaging historical novels set in Roman times, Ben is also highly respected for his meticulous research and authentic…

Spring is here – and so are the Festival’s hugely popular International Competitions. This year once again we are running four categories so there is a chance for all to get involved – wherever your particular talent lies, and whatever your age. We have some eminent names on our judging panel and are confident of…

After the success of our 2018 Festival, our audiences can rest assured that our 27th festival will not disappoint. It will begin on Friday 18 October and end on Saturday 26 October with a ground-breaking finale that promises to be a sell-out. In between those two days will be a week packed with a range…