Tickets on sale and headline acts announced as StAnza – Scotland’s international poetry festival goes wild
Tickets have just gone on sale for popular StAnza which kickstarts the festival season in March, with poetry and art framed by the beautiful backdrop of the university, cathedral, castle and coast in St Andrews.
Poets from across Scotland, the UK and overseas will explore the theme of WILD: forms of resistance over a long weekend, on March 9 to 12, from delving into diverse landscapes and changing ecosystems to challenging cultural, political and poetic norms!
Headline acts
The cutting edge yet family-friendly festival, which is supported by bodies including Creative Scotland and The University of St Andrews, has impressive headliners including:
- Festival opening night performances by T S Eliot and Costa Book Award for Poetry-shortlisted poet Zaffar Kunial, plus Roshni Gallagher, Beth Frieden, Craig Santos Perez, William Keohane and Harry Josephine Giles.
- Zaffar Kunial is back on stage on Friday with Helen Mort, five-time winner of the Foyle Young Poets Award.
- On the Saturday, viral sensation Hollie McNish and T S Eliot shortlistee Anthony Anaxagorou take centre stage for potent and heartfelt performances.
- Closing the festival on Sunday, world-renowned dub poet and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson will give an unmissable finale.
Sasha de Buyl, Guest Curator for StAnza 2023 said: “We can’t wait to return to St Andrews for another year of boundary-defying performances. We are surrounded by wildness in our everyday lives, which grants our guests an exciting freedom in tackling a theme that is universally relevant. The creators featured in this year’s programme ask the vital questions that wrestle and play with the meaning of wildness and what it means to resist, covering everything from climate change to challenging societal traditions.”
Live and digital events
The Saboteur award-winning festival, which celebrated its quarter-centenary last year, offers a wide range of on and offline performances and exhibitions, as well as workshops and open mic events to get involved with. For the full line-up see www.stanzapoetry.org
Celebrating poetry in all of its forms and many languages for audiences in Scotland and across the world, it has grown from humble beginnings after being founded by three local poets. A small charity with a big heart, StAnza has gained an international reputation for its out-of-the box thinking and boundary-defying writing.
Taking part
StAnza’s open mic events offer a fun, welcoming chance to get involved, with the annual StAnza Slam becoming a highlight of the festival.
Festival-goers can also take part in the hands-on workshops. This year’s masterclasses will be hosted by headliners Zaffar Kunial and Helen Mort.
If you would like to be part of StAnza’s open mic events, the StAnza Slam or to submit for a Masterclass workshop, email [email protected]
Gaelic events
Alongside championing poetry and creativity from around the world, StAnza is dedicated to bring Gaelic poets and performances to the festival. This year’s acts include:
- Bàrdachd Fhiadhaich: Wild Gaelic Poetry (Friday, March 10): Beth Frieden, Eòghan Stiùbhart, Niall O’Gallagher and Martin MacIntyre join chair Peter Mackay to discuss Gaelic writing.
- Reading by Hamish MacDonald and Martin MacIntyre (Saturday, March 11).
- Poetry Café: Jane Clarke, David Kinloch and Eòghan Stiùbhart (Saturday).
- Reading by Jenni Fagan and Niall O’Gallagher (Saturday).
Tickets and booking
Tickets for StAnza festival are now on sale. To book, visit www.stanzapoetry.org.
Tickets can also be bought direct from The Byre Theatre or by phone on 01334 475000.
StAnza aims to make the festival as accessible as possible for everyone. Events range from free to £20, with all ticketed events offering a tiered pricing system. All digital events are £5.