What is the link between Worthing, Eton College, a north London tattoo parlour, Geoffrey Chaucer and Nigeria? The answer is Patience Agbabi, a Welsh-Nigerian international performance poet and recently Canterbury Poet Laureate, who is performing live at the Lime Café in Worthing on national Poetry Day. Her previous venues include The Royal Albert Hall and Soho Jazz Festival as well as Eton and that tattoo parlour. Now, having spent much of the year recasting Canterbury Tales into modern vernacular, including hip-hop, she is bringing her lively combination of stage and page to our local celebration of all things poetic.
National Poetry Day occurs on the first Thursday in October, in this case 4th, and its purpose is to get people involved. It starts with a poetry competition, open free to anyone with a connection to Worthing, and the short list will be published in the Worthing Herald so readers can vote for a winner, to be printed and performed on day. Kim’s bookshop have provided prizes for each of three age groups – under 16, 16-19 and over 19.
All day on that Thursday the Lime Café will open up a long wall to be filled with poems, so local residents can bring in their favourite – one they found or one they wrote – and display it to be enjoyed by everyone.
Then, in the evening, the winners in each age group and a selection of from the all will be performed, before Patience, described as a mesmerising performer, shows how to bridge that gap between stage and page.
Further details on how to get involved are all on – http://poetryinworthing.com/ or 01903 529084
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