Anniversary stage show 26 April 2020

The next stage of Simon Kovesi’s Clare 1820-2020 anniversary project – ‘The Meeting: Reading and Writing Through John Clare’ – will see a one-off musical stage show ‘The Fallen Elm’ performed on 26 April at Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush, London, starring Toby Jones as Clare, with original music by Julian Philips and the script by Stephen Plaice.

Tickets from https://blogspot.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7e59bdcb2ef74b2d29cfb65dc&id=5bc916933c&e=d3aa665e67

John Clare’s Scraping on Radio 4 Sunday 12 Jan at 4.30pm

The musician Jon Boden investigates John Clare’s involvement in folk culture and the influence this had on his poems. The programme website can be found here.

John Clare: an anniversary celebration with Toby Jones

Marking 200 years since the publication of his first book in January 1820, join acclaimed actor Toby Jones for an evening of poetry and music celebrating the poet’s life and work. On 2 February 2020. In the Oxford Brookes University Main Lecture Theatre. Book here.

Book Launch

Ellis Hall and Bridget Somekh launch the release of their book ‘Love’s Cold Returning’, based on Clare’s journey out of Essex. At the Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden at 7pm on 15 November 2019. Detail here.

Carry Akroyd 2020 Calendar

Carry’s Bird of the Month Calendar 2020 with illustrations from The Oldie is selling at £10 per copy including p&p. Order from www.carryakroyd.co.uk.

The Poetry Workshops Project

Simon Kovesi’s 1820/2020 project now has a website. Visit it to find out more, at https://www.brookes.ac.uk/the-meeting/

‘The Meeting – Reading and Writing through John Clare’, in Keighley

At Keighley Local Studies Library on Saturday 13 July, there is a workshop involving the reading of John Clare poems, readings from poet Sarah Corbett and also poems inspired by the work of John Clare written and read by project participants. Free event and all welcome. Starts at 6pm. Refreshments served.