By Anita Foxall. 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...
Poetry
Poetry collection review: Suburban Locust by Antosh Wojcik
By Anita Foxall. For anyone familiar with Antosh Wojcik’s central presence on the poetry scene, the arrival of his debut collection Suburban Locust has been highly anticipated. Antosh is an incredibly skilled poet and these poems are undoubtedly masterfully crafted. The collection unfolds as a surreal, storm-ridden family chronicle...
Winchester Poetry Prize 2026 is open
Winchester Poetry Festival opens its globally recognised Winchester Poetry Prize for 2026. Winchester Poetry Festival invites writers from around the globe to submit their finest, unpublished poems to be in with a chance of winning £1000 in the annual Winchester Poetry Prize. Established in 2016, this literary competition has...
Acts of Resistance is theme for Litfest 26 in Southampton next month
Artful Scribe brings Litfest26 to Southampton’s Mayflower Studios next month. The event will offer a weekend of stimulating talks, powerful readings, inspiring workshops and three showcase performances, featuring local, regional and national voices. This year’s theme, Acts of Resistance, is a provocation, encouraging people to think differently and express...
Winner of Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 announced
Olivia Tuck has been announced as winner of Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 with her poem ‘ Child With A Lighthouse’ The winner of Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 was announced in front of a packed room at The ARC, and livestreamed globally, last month as part of Winchester Poetry Festival...
Revisit the classics with Winchester Poetry Festival, on now
“Revisit The Classics” with Winchester Poetry Festival until 12th October throughout the city and online. Winchester Poetry Festival 2025 burst into action on National Poetry Day (Thurs 2nd Oct) with fringe events popping up around the city, and online workshops that everyone can enjoy. The well-versed and poetry-curious are...
Placeholder Poetry returns to Southampton with Elvire Roberts, Verity Spott & Christina Thatcher
Placeholder is home for poetry readings of the avant-garde, challenging, queer and radical. Following the success of this poetry reading series in Brighton. This special format is thriving in Southampton – presented in collaboration with Wire Wool Events. The next event will be at The Bookshop Alehouse in Southampton...
Winchester Poetry Festival “Revisits the Classics” for 2025 flagship event
Winchester Poetry Festival invites readers, writers, poetry-lovers and the poetry-curious to join them to explore fresh approaches to the canon at Winchester Poetry Festival 2025. The dynamic programme for Winchester Poetry Festival 2025 launched on Mon 30 June to a room bursting with poets, funders and supporters at The...
Can I Have A Word? offers a new stage for Spoken Word Poetry
By Anita Foxall. Can I Have A Word? is offering a new stage for Spoken Word Poetry. How the idea came along The inspiration for Can I Have A Word?, a new poetry open mic night, came from Chris Grayston, owner of The Attic in Totton. Known for its thriving...
Review: Same Coin: A Spoken Word Double Header – Hunter Gatherer, Southsea
By Joy McKay. I was invited to attend a new show by local poets Rich Lansley and Jackson Davies recently (15/5). I’d seen Rich perform before and so had some idea of what was in store for the evening and took along a friend who had no idea and,...