Welcome to the inaugural Launceston Poetry Festival 2025!
‘I’m absolutely delighted to be the patron of the Launceston Poetry Festival, a new event coming to the town where the great Cornish poet Charles Causley lived and worked.
I‘m excited to see such a wonderful programme which features outstanding poets from across the globe, community events and collaborations.’
AndrewEnglish poet, novelist, and biographer, patron of the Launceston Poetry Festival and the Charles Causley Trust
Andrew Motion
FRIDAY
CHARLES CAUSLEY TRUST BOOKSHOP
Merchant House Free 10-5pm FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
Join the Causley Trust team at our bookshop in Merchant House, one of the oldest buildings in Launceston Find out more about Charles Causley and meet our friendly volunteers It is open every day of the Festival, so stop by, get to know it and buy a book!
RENT-A-POET: FEATURING ALEX GEORGE AND OTHERS
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
POETRY PHARMACY
Come and get your poetry prescription! The Poetry Pharmacy started in Shropshire and is now on Oxford Street in London Be part of something special and visit it at the Launceston Poetry Festival!
COMMUNITY EVENT
PETER URSEM: POETRY PRINT EXHIBITION AND FABLES
Donate what you can 10-5pm Launceston Town Hall
Join Alex George and other Festival poets as they create personalised, spur of the moment poetry for you. Ask for a poem as a present for someone special, or just treat yourself - and have a bit of fun with poetry and our poets.
Merchant House Charge for prescriptions 10-5pm FREE COMMUNITY EVENT FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
THE SAILOR KING: AN ARCHAEOLOGY & POETRY FILM INSTALLATION
Merchant House Free 10-5pm Merchant House Free 10-5pm
Explore Gareth Beale and Nicole Smith’s (Glasgow University) new film-poetry project in which they document walking down the Tamar Valley and re-connecting with the Eastern Cornish landscape in which Gareth grew up. You can also catch Gareth’s talk on Sunday morning explaining more about the project!
Dive into Cornish folktales and their wonderful illustrations with an exhibition by local artist and writer, Peter Ursem Originally from Holland, Peter has made his home close to Launceston, in the Tamar Valley.
ÖZGE GÖZTÜRK: CHILDREN’S POETRY WORKSHOP (7-13 yrs)
Launceston Town Hall Free 2-3:15pm
Join poet and writer Özge Göztürk for a poetry workshop made specially for young people. Learn about reading and writing poetry from a prize winning author, develop new writing skills and explore the creative world of poetry
JANE
NEWBERRY: CHILDREN’S POETRY WORKSHOP (0-6 yrs)
Join children’s book author Jane Newberry for a poetry workshop designed especially for young children Experience a world of colourful and imaginative stories with this well known, local writer and storyteller.
TOMMY SISSONS: YOUNG PERSON’S POETRY WORKSHOP (14-18 yrs)
Launceston Town Hall Free 3:30-4:30pm
Join poet and writer Tommy Sissons for a young person’s poetry workshop. Learn about reading, writing and speaking poetry with this year’s Causley Trust Competition Head Judge.
Town Hall Free 3:30-4:15pm Around town Free 3-5pm
Enjoy live poetry performances by the Liskeard and North Cornwall Stanza poetry groups at various locations across the town
CULTURAL STAYS AT CYPRUS WELL
Did you know that you can book a stay at Cyprus Well, the long-time home of Charles Causley?
Immerse yourself in Charles’ world by sitting at his writing desk, play a tune on his piano or listen to his records A stay offers a unique experience, whether you are looking for a creative space to develop your own practice, want to find out more about the life and work of this special poet, or are simply curious and want to experience a stay with a difference.
Sleeping up to 3 guests this is a perfect Cornish retreat, where you can escape to Cyprus Well for short or long stays It’s just a 5-minute walk from Launceston Town Centre, you can explore the locations that feature heavily in Causley’s poetry, see where he was born, and stop by the Town Hall and see his portrait
Prices start at £100 a night, with additional bespoke options for you to choose from
VISIT OUR MERCHANT HOUSE BOOKSHOP
Whilst you are in town, why not stop by the Causley Trust’s book shop in Merchant House You’ll find friendly volunteers, Causley Collectibles and merchandise, second hand books, greeting cards, and you’ll have an opportunity to view Peter Ursem’s latest exhibition
SATURDAY 31st MAY
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
LOCAL POETRY GROUPS READINGS AND CONVERSATIONS
TICKETED EVENT
ENGLISH HERITAGE CASTLE TOUR
Launceston Castle £5 11am-12pm
Enjoy a tour of Launceston’s most iconic landmark Dating from the 11 century the founder of the Quakers, George Fox, and Sir Cuthbert Mayne were both imprisoned here; a World War II camp housed soldiers on the castle green and King Charles III was made Duke of Cornwall here. th
Town Hall Free 10:30-11:45am
Join the Liskeard and North Cornwall Stanza poetry groups, and winners of the Charles Causley Poetry Competitions for readings and conversations about poetry and creativity
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Town Square Free 10:30am-2:30pm
Head to the town square for musical performances by local groups including the Launceston Town and Youth Bands, Launceston Youth Music Theatre Group, Popchoir, and the Signing Choir
SATURDAY 31st MAY
THE CAUSLEY POETRY WALK
Starts at Merchant House £5 2-3:30pm
Join Falmouth academic, writer and Causley Trust Chair David Devanny on his poetry tour of Launceston Exploring the iconic locations that feature prominently in Charles Causley’s poetry of the town David will be reading excerpts from Charles Causley’s poems
TICKETED EVENT
NINA MINGYA POWLES AND ISABELLE BAAFI : POETRY READINGS
FAMILY POETRY READING AND OPEN MIC
Launceston Castle Free 3-5pm
Join poets Tash Walker, Özge Göztürk and Tommy Sissons for a family open mic session to showcase your creative work with other writers and poetry enthusiasts in a friendly and encouraging environment
Launceston Town Hall £10 2:45-3:45pm
Join award winning poets Nina Mingya Powles and Isabelle Baafi for a poetry reading which features work from their back catalogues and recent collections Slipstitch, Magnolia and In the Hollow of the Wave (Nina) and the acclaimed debut collection Chaotic Good (Isabelle).
TICKETED EVENT
JUDY
O’KANE: CONVERSATIONS AND POETRY READINGS ABOUT WINE AND THE POETRY OF CHARLES CAUSLEY
TICKETED EVENT
KAYO CHINGONYI AND FIONA BENSON: POETRY READINGS
Launceston Town Hall £10 4:15-5:15pm
Join award winning poets Kayo Chingonyi and Fiona Benson for a poetry reading which features work from their back catalogues and recent collections including Kumukanda and A Blood Condition (Kayo) and Midden Witch and Ephemeron (Fiona)
£10 5:30-6:30pm
Launceston Town Hall
Join poet Judy O’Kane, a Charles Causley International Poetry Competition winner, for an event which looks at the age old ties between poetry and wine, with a particular reference to the work of Launceston poet, Charles Causley.
Enjoy a glass of wine whilst listening to Judy read from OLYMPIA, a pamphlet which was inspired by her residency at Cyprus Well
This event is kindly sponsored by WBW Solicitors
CHARLES CAUSLEY TRUST BOOKSHOP
Join the Causley Trust team at our bookshop in Merchant House, one of the oldest buildings in Launceston Find out more about Charles Causley and meet our friendly volunteers. It is open every day of the Festival, so stop by, get to know it and buy a book!
POETRY PHARMACY
Come and get your poetry prescription! The Poetry Pharmacy started in Shropshire and is now on Oxford Street in London Be part of something special and visit it at the Launceston Poetry Festival!
RENT-A-POET: FEATURING ALEX GEORGE AND OTHERS
PETER URSEM: POETRY PRINT EXHIBITION AND FABLES
Hall Donate what you can 10-2pm
Join Alex George and other Festival poets as they create personalised, spur of the moment poetry for you Ask for a poem as a present for someone special, or just treat yourself - and have a bit of fun with poetry and our poets
Dive into Cornish folktales and their wonderful illustrations with an exhibition by local artist and writer, Peter Ursem Originally from Holland, Peter has made his home close to Launceston, in the Tamar Valley
Explore Gareth Beale and Nicole Smith’s (Glasgow University) new film-poetry project in which they document walking down the Tamar Valley and re-connecting with the Eastern Cornish landscape in which Gareth grew up You can also catch Gareth’s talk on Sunday morning explaining more about the project!
ÖZGE GÖZTÜRK: YOUNG PERSON’S POETRY WORKSHOP (14-18 yrs)
Join poet and writer Özge Göztürk for a poetry workshop made specially for 14-18 year olds. Learn about reading and writing poetry from a prize winning author, develop new writing skills and explore the creative world of poetry FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
Otho Peter Rooms Free 11am-12:30pm
Pre-book for a session to receive in-depth, professional, 1-1 feedback on your writing from award-winning Festival poets and writers. Ask any questions you have about the writing process, editing or other poetry related queries. These are individual, 1-1, 30 minute sessions to focus on getting your writing to a new level.
WALLACE-SHADDAD: MENTORING WORKSHOPS TICKETED EVENT
WALKER: MENTORING WORKSHOPS TICKETED EVENT £30 each 11:30am-12pm 12:15-12:45pm
TOMMY
SISSONS:
MENTORING WORKSHOPS TICKETED EVENT
10-10:30am 10:40-11:10am
