News | Friday, 22nd September 2017

Manchester poets star at major new festival Contains Strong Language

Helen Mort and Michael Symmons Roberts are 'Hull 17 poets' and will perform new work

Helen Mort and Michael Symmons Roberts

Manchester Writing School lecturers will perform at a new national spoken word and poetry festival as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

Launching on National Poetry Day on Thursday 28th September, Contains Strong Language is a celebration of new and existing word craft.

The award-winning pair of Michael Symmons Roberts, Professor of Poetry, and Helen Mort, Lecturer in Creative Writing, are ‘Hull 17 poets’ who will perform new work at the festival.

The four-day event is hosted in conjunction with the BBC, and will feature live radio broadcasts, film screenings and discussions alongside recitals.

BBC Four adaptation

Michael Symmons Roberts’ Men Who Sleep in Cars has been adapted for film. As well as being screened at the festival, the drama is to be broadcast later on BBC Four. It was previously aired on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.

Written entirely in verse, and starring Maxine Peake, the poignant piece follows three men in Manchester over one night in September. It is also a love song to a city Manchester, the backdrop to the film.

Michael Symmons Roberts said: "I’m really looking forward to working with Helen and the other poets in the Hull 17, as part of what is shaping up to be an exciting and varied programme."

Lake District inspiration

Helen Mort will perform an adventurous new work, blending sound, interview and poetry. Inspired by the life of legendary climber Gwen Moffat, Mort will be climbing a route on rock in the Lake District then trying to recreate the experience through language, investigating her theory that a climb is ‘a set of instructions for the body’.

She said: "I'm thrilled to be part of such a vibrant line up in the 2017 City of Culture and it's great to have an opportunity to work Michael Symmons Roberts and represent Manchester Metropolitan in Hull."

The illustrious Manchester Writing School duo will join together for a reading later in the festival.

"I'm thrilled to be part of such a vibrant line up in the 2017 City of Culture and it's great to have an opportunity to work Michael Symmons Roberts and represent Manchester Metropolitan in Hull."

Professor Symmons Roberts is also scheduled to participate in a star panel alongside Hannah Silva and Simon Armitage, as they discuss writing poetry versus drama.

Contains Strong Language runs from 28th September-1st October.

‘Men Who Sleep in Cars’ will be broadcast on BBC Four on Sunday 1st October at 10pm.

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