Poetry festival returns to Mexborough

The Yorkshire legend is being celebrated in Mexborough a weekend of events in his name from June 24 to 26, including one set to feature an appearance by the legendary poet’s daughter.

News of the 2016 festival follows a successful inaugural event last year which attracted guests from across the country. 

Dominic Somers, creative producer of the Ted Hughes Festival said: “We are thrilled to have got funding from the Arts Council, Right Up Our Street and Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership to put on this festival to Mexborough for the second year.

“We already have a stellar cast of artists taking part in events throughout the festival. 

“The Three Ians — McMillan, Clayton and Parks — will start proceedings on the Friday night with a mixture of poetry, story and humour.  

“A real coup for this year is the Saturday night, which will see a reading by acclaimed poet and artist Frieda Hughes — Frieda is of course, Ted Hughes’ daughter.”

Activities will take place in and around Ted Hughes's old grammar school where he was inspired to write his first poems. 

Hughes, whose early years were spent in South Yorkshire, including seven years in Mexborough, held the post of British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death. 

It was at Mexborough Grammar School that Hughes came under the spell of two charismatic teachers, Pauline Mayne and John Fisher, who introduced him to the poetry that would form his taste and shape his own work - Eliot, Lawrence, Hopkins, Donne, Shelley - and of course, Hughes’ beloved Shakespeare.  

The festival will include a range of other performances and activities including award winning and acclaimed poets Helen Mort, Greg Leadbetter, Vidyan Ravithiran, Cathy Galvin who will give readings and Greg and Vidyan will participate with Ed Reiss and Steve Ely in a roundtable discussion, Politics and Ted Hughes.  

Dominic added: “There is so much going on throughout the festival, I’d advise people to take a look at the website and see which events suit them. 

“There will also be poetry-related public engagement activities on Mexborough High street and the launch of an anthology of writing from the festival-sponsored Write on Mexborough! creative writing group.”

Tickets are bookable now at www.tedhughesproject.org.