IN 1967 poet,
children’s writer and poet laureate, Ted Hughes founded the
Southbank Centre’s (SBC) biennial Poetry International festival.
His vision was to
highlight both traditional and new forms of poetry, welcoming poets
from across the world for a varied programme of talks, readings,
workshops, performances, music, films, family and free events.
Now nearly 50 years on
the festival returns to the South Bank for four days of events from
Thursday to Sunday showcasing this ancient art form.
This year’s event
shines a spotlight on themes of conflict, war, censorship, oppression
and shifting politics and features stories of political adversity and
personal struggle.
As well as recitals and
readings the packed line up features music, translation, new
commissions and free events.
It includes a special
focus on poets and their work from the Middle East and South East
Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Kurdistan, Iran and the
Palestinian Territories and Syria.
Among this year's
highlights will be two groups of Pashtun poets. The first are a group
of Pakistan refugees who fled from the Taliban to renew their ancient
craft of writing poetry celebrating nature, tribal culture and love
after being forced to compose jihadist messages of war and brutality.
The other is Mirman
Baheer Society, am Afghan women's literary society based in Kabul who
risk their lives to write poetry, often writing under the protection
of pen names.
There is also some
traditional poetry from Pakistan which is being specially translated
into English for the first time.
As well as the groups
from Pakistan and Afghanistan there will be more than 30 other poets,
writers, translators, performers and musicians at the festival from
more than 10 countries who will present a wide variety of work.
Those taking part
include Sahera Sharif, Ghareeb Iskander, Sasha Dugdale, Saleem Khan,
Sahid Ullah Khan, Dilawar Khan, Choman Hardi, Warsan Shire, Kei
Miller, Imtiaz Dharker, Malika Booker and Jo Shapcott.
A year in the making it
has been curated by SBC’s Anna Selby who says she is thrilled to be
bringing such an "incredible and vibrant" programme to
London audiences.
“When the festival
was originally set up, Ted Hughes looked at what was happening around
the world,” says Anna.
“At that time his aim
was to bring poets and poetry from places beyond the iron curtain and
share their work.
"He wrote that
poetry is 'a universal language of understanding in which we can all
hope to meet' and so we thought what would he do today? What are the
issues poets face today? We looked at the most pressing issues of the
world today and decided to focus on the Middle East and South East
Asia.
"We wanted to give
poets from these countries a voice and to listen to what they have to
say.
"Too often we see
such negative images of these places in the news so to have
something positive that represents their culture and language through
one of the oldest traditions and art forms in the world is amazing.”
However, Anna admits
gathering such a contingent together was not without its
difficulties.
"It took about a
year to put together and there were a lot of challenges,” she says.
“To begin with we had to find them – however, there are about
700,000 refugees displaced in camps at the moment and finding them
amongst all these people, not to mention the contacts and translators
that we could work with was tricky.
"We had to track
them down and then make sure it was safe for them to travel."
For some the team were
able to get them out and bring them to the festival but Anna says it
was not a possibility for everyone.
"For some it was
just too dangerous - not just to travel but to reveal their
identity," she says. "Also some poets we wanted to be part
of the festival were unable to come because they couldn’t get visas
– a lot of the places in some countries where you get visas have
shut down or they were too expensive to buy.
“It’s meant that
for some poets like Iranian Sabeer Haka we will read his work as he
can’t be here himself. He is a construction worker and writes some
of the best poetry I’ve read in years.”
Despite the
difficulties Anna says the festival will nonetheless showcase some of
the very best poetry as well as show its power to influence, inspire,
and engage.
“Poets are great
spokespeople and philosophers of the modern world and getting them to
talk about what’s going on is uplifting and refreshing,” she
says.
“Language is so
beautiful and a lot of countries have strong traditions of poetry and
it is the most ancient form of storytelling.
"We have a whole
range of events going on over the four days so there will be
something for everyone including many free activities."
These include a chance
for families to bring along a poem which will be included in a
special book to be held in the Poetry Library.
"We have a free
session for families on Saturday called Around The World In 80 Poems
which we ask people to bring in a favourite poem, story or saying,"
says Anna.
"It can be from
your home, your country, town or community or can even be something
you've made up. Those who take part will work with artist and poet
Sophie Herxheimer to create beautiful poetry pages to add to a new
book which will be housed in our Poetry Library.
"On Sunday writer and photographer Yemisi Blake will be leading a poetry and censorship workshop for those aged between 14 and 18.
"On Sunday writer and photographer Yemisi Blake will be leading a poetry and censorship workshop for those aged between 14 and 18.
"He will help them
use creative writing and photography to look at themes of censorship
and speaking out.
"It will be an
amazing few days," she adds. "I feel poetry is one of the
things we still keep as sacred. In any cemetery you will see poetry
quoted and at rites of passage such as naming ceremonies and weddings
we turn to poetry.
"It will lift your
spirits or make your feel morose and it paints a picture and I hope
people who come to this festival will be inspired and engaged by what
they see and hear.
"Ted Hughes was a
global poet and I hope we have stayed true to his vision and that he
would approve of the range of countries and languages we have got
here.
"It's been such a
privilege to have worked on this festival and it feels like a real
celebration of lots of different people, cultures and languages
coming together."
Southbank Centre's
Poetry International festival takes place between Thursday, July 23
and Sunday, July 26. Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk or call 0844 847
9910 for full listings and ticket prices.
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