The Yorkshire Times Reviews MA Poetry Alumnus Keith Hutson's New Collection

Baldwin's Catholic Geese is Keith Hutson's debut collection.

You can read the full review here.

Keith Hutson graduated from the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2019. Keith has written for Coronation Street and many well-known comedians. His poetry has been widely-published in journals including The Rialto, The North, Stand, Magma, Agenda and he has been successful in several competitons, including The Mclellan Prize and the Troubador. He is a Poetry Business Yorkshire Prize winner. His debut pamphlet, Routines, published by Poetry Salzburg is a collection of 31 sonnets celebrating the lives of music hall and variety performers. Keith delivers poetry and performance workshops to schools for The Prince's Trust, and teaches creative writing at The Square Chapel Theatre, Halifax.

Baldwin's Catholic Geese is his debut collection. It looks at life, death, triumph, tragedy, through the lens of not only beloved music hall and variety artistes like Hylda Baker and Frankie Howerd, but also the obscure, long-forgotten acts such as The Bryn Pugh Sponge Dancers, Macauley's Leaping Infants, Willy Netta's Singing Jockeys, and many more. Here is a celebration of poetic form and of the extraordinary characters who have entertained us for over two centuries. Comedy and grief, laughter and mourning bring into sharp focus what it means for all of us who have to make the most of our luck - the good, the bad, and the bizarre. Buy the collection here.