Anne-Marie hosts poetry showcase for all in St Albans

The best entries from the annual Ver Poets Open Prize can be heard at a free performance in St Albans next Saturday, June 27.

The event, which starts at 2pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre, will showcase work by current poets in Britain and overseas.

The best poem receives a prize of £600 with hundreds of pounds for the runners up.

This year there were more than 850 entries - and an American poet is among those in the anthology.

Distinguished poet, creative-writing teacher and former chair of the Poetry Society, Anne-Marie Fyfe, will reveal the winners and in the second half of the afternoon she will be reading from her latest volume entitled The House of Small Absences.

The performance is open to everyone and as well as a break for hot and cold drinks, an anthology booklet will be on sale for £2.50 with all the winning and commended entries.

Ver Poets press officer Simon Bowden said “Modern poetry can often be challenging to follow. But these are short poems - and the audience will be given clear signposts by Anne-Marie about why they have been selected. This will also be a free class in how to get your head round modern poetry.”

Ver Poets celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. From September they hold regular meetings, generally on the third Friday of the month, at 8pm in St Michael’s Church Hall. Further details can be found on their website.