The annual LitFest, organised by Artfulscribe, has firmly established itself as one of Southampton’s cultural highlights, and this year once again delivered a weekend rich with literature, and written and spoken word (13-15/3/26).
The University of Southampton, supporter and sponsor of the LitFest, curated the opening night with a series of talks entitled Writing and Activism. Toby Litt, Head of Creative Writing, spoke about his involvement with Writers Rebel, part of Extinction Rebellion, describing a growing urgency to act as a writer in the face of the climate crisis.
Dina Lupin followed with a compelling talk entitled Resistance, Writing, and the Reclamation of Law. She guided the audience through feminist and Indigenous efforts to challenge legal systems still shaped by racism and misogyny. She highlighted the barriers to change embedded in the very structure of lawmaking, where only authorised people are allowed to write the law, while the rest of us are written by it, and some even become its victims.
Stephanie Jones closed the evening with a talk titled Writing, Activism, and Writing as Activism, offering a powerful reflection on how the written word can become a catalyst for social change. She centred her discussion on the work of C.L.R. James, using his life and writing to illustrate the many ways a writer can inhabit the role of activist.
The second event of the evening, Acts of Resistance, displayed performances by Amber Massie-Blomfield and Louise Fazackerley.
Amber Massie-Blomfield read excerpts from her book Acts of Resistance, which explores how artists across history have turned protest sites into creative spaces, using music, writing, performance, and visual art to challenge oppression and spark social change. Early in the event, she invited the audience to reflect on a performance or artwork that had genuinely shifted their perspective or left a lasting impact their lives. A few attendees shared their stories, revealing just how powerful and transformative those creative moments had been.
Louise Fazackerley delivered a powerful performance, blending socially conscious themes with her vivid, movement-infused language. A dynamic and compelling presence on stage, she closed her set with the poem that first brought her national attention, I Want My Country Back, a fierce, resonant response to the surge of flag-waving patriotism that swept the country.
Saturday unfolded with a mix of showcases, workshops, and talks. Although I couldn’t attend all events it’s worth highlighting a morning of workshops with Louise Fazackerley’s Voice as Resistance session; followed by, Ellora Sutton’s Imagine Better: Poems for Possibility set a wonderfully imaginative tone for the morning, filling the early hours with creativity, reflection, and a renewed sense of what writing can open up.
Saturday’s programme offered a rich diversity of voices, but one of the day’s standout moments was the VERVE Poetry Showcase – The Queer Uni-Verse, a celebration of poets with forthcoming debut collections from VERVE Poetry Press. The event opened with Ellora Sutton (pictured top), who read from her upcoming collection Little Bitch, delivering poems that balanced sharp wit with emotional clarity.
Mukahang Limbu, a dancer and poet from Oxford, shifted the room’s energy with pieces that blended humour and vulnerability. His poem Ode to a Meal Deal drew laughter while quietly mourning the rising cost of living, and his reflections on solitude captured the quiet ache of being alone in one’s own space.
Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, fresh from the success of their play Period Party, shared excerpts from their forthcoming collection Bad Queer.
The showcase also introduced two remarkable Birmingham-based poets whose performances brought a different kind of electricity to the room. ML Walsh delivered a striking blend of poems and songs, funny, confrontational, and at times unsettling.
Closing the event, Bradley Taylor offered an unforgettable performance drawn from his debut collection You Missed the Best Part. He projected his poems with a force that was both eloquent and deeply felt.
Saturday drew to a close with a celebration of regional talent in S.O.S. Sounds of the Solent, a vibrant showcase featuring writers from Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest, and the Bournemouth–Christchurch–Poole area. Each poet was given a five-minute slot to respond to the festival’s theme, and the result was a wonderful variety of voices, styles, and interpretations. The range of approaches, lyrical, political, humorous, and reflective, gave the event a striking richness.
I felt a particular sense of pride watching the three poets I had been invited to select to represent Southampton: Andy White, Harley Truslove, and Chris Davie. Each brought something distinct to the stage, offering a snapshot of the city’s creative pulse. But every corner of the Solent had reason to be proud; the showcase revealed just how much talent is flourishing across the region, and how powerfully these writers are shaping its literary identity.
Sunday brought the festival to a close, but not before some more fantastic performances. The morning opened with Mystic Melodies, a captivating performance led by Papia Ghoshal that celebrated the Bauls of Bengal.
Thought I couldn’t attend Sunday’s events, the Sunday afternoon showcase (the event that always closes the Festival every year) celebrated the many writing groups supported and nurtured by ArtfulScribe. Each group always brings not only the pieces they’ve crafted individually but also the work shaped collectively through shared prompts, discussions, and creative exploration, offering a vivid snapshot of how their voices grow both alone and together.
What stood out most across the weekend was the sheer breadth of voices and experiences brought together under one festival. ArtfulScribe’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and genuine artistic opportunity is unmistakable, and the festival’s success is a testament to the care, vision, and hard work they pour into the literary life of the Solent.
I’m deeply grateful to ArtfulScribe and to the festival itself for the support and encouragement they’ve shown, not only to me, but to the poets who come to Write a Note and help keep our community thriving.
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