HOME OF FEN SPEAK AND THE FENLAND POET LAUREATE AWARDS 2012-2017
Fen Speak is Ely's long-running regular poetry, spoken word and storytelling open mic night where local writers come together to share their work in a friendly environment.
Who: all are welcome - poets, spoken word artists, non-fiction or fiction writers, or those just wanting to listen! The events include first time readers as well as regular contributors.
What: poetry, fiction, non-fiction - each reader gets a slot of around 3 minutes, depending on how busy the night is. It's free to attend, with donations taken to cover running costs. Just turn up and sign up, or email in advance to book your reading slot. There are also often special guest readers, such as local poets who have recently had new work published.
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Why: come to share your work, gain confidence in performing it, hear and meet other fantastic writers, and find out more about writing happening in the fens - the reasons to come are endless!
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Where: Events are mix of in-person and online events, with the in-person ones in Ely's Babylon Gallery, Waterside, CB7 4AU.
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When: third Wednesday of every month - see below for the latest dates. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start, and we usually finish around 9.30pm.
Events on Facebook
UPCOMING EVENTS
Next Event:
Wednesday 16th October with Matt Howard
Babylon Gallery, Ely
7 for 7.30 start
Matt Howard is manager of the University of Leeds Poetry Centre. His first collection, Gall, was published by The Rialto in 2018 and was winner of the 2018 East Anglian Book Award for Poetry, shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre First Collection Prize in 2019, and won Best First Collection in the inaugural Laurel Prize 2020. After eleven years working for the RSPB, Matt was Douglas Caster Fellow in Poetry at the University of Leeds from 2021-2023. His second collection, Broadlands, is published by Bloodaxe.
Upcoming events:
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20th November - Online with Lizzie Parker
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18th December - Ely with Kaddy Benyon
