6-8th October 2023
Earl Arts Centre, Launceston
10 Earl St, Launceston, right behind the Princess Theatre
Click here for a map | Click here for useful Theatre North Venue Information
GET TICKETS:
Click here for session and Festival Pass tickets
Click here for Masterclass/workshop tickets
EVENTS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY 6th OCTOBER
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Poetry Masterclass workshops
*Note: workshop tickets are not included in the Festival Pass. The tickets are available here.
10:00 am – 11:30 am | Writing Haiku
With Myron Lysenko: There is a lot more to writing haiku than counting 17 syllables.
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Playing with Poetry
With Kimberly K Williams: We’ll play with poetry, using the page like a sandbox, seeing what we can make and discover.
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Poems of Response
With Esther Ottaway: It can be easier to write a poem in response to another poem rather than facing a blank page. Be guided and inspired to write your own new poems in response to vibrant works.
* * *
Friday Night Feature
from 7:15 pm
The festival kicks off with three entertaining and powerful guest performers: Rebecca Rushbrook, Myron Lysenko, and Tug Dumbly. Hosted by MC Thomas Bailey. Friday Night Feature is a refulgent evening of not-to-be-missed entertainment in words.
Run time 135 mins.
SATURDAY 7th OCTOBER
Saturday Sessions
9:00 am | Open Mic
Registrations open from 8:40 am
10:00 am | ‘Deceptions’
A staged reading of Stella Kent’s play about Tasmanian poet Gwen Harwood, directed by Peter Hammond.
11:30 am | Guest Poets
Featuring Rebecca Rushbrook, Helga Jermy, Brendan Ryan
12:30 pm | Lunch
A light lunch will be served
1:15 pm | Book Launch (Under the same moon: Fourth Haiku Anthology)
Join us for the launch of this new work with Myron Lysenko (contributing poet) and Lyn Reeves (editor).
1:40 pm | Andrew Hardy Award
This award for young Tasmanian poets remembers Andrew Hardy, who died in 1997, at the age of 22.
2:30 pm | Book Launch (Ways to say Goodbye)
by Anne Kellas & Jane Wiliams
3:00 pm | Guest Poets
David Hallett, Esther Ottaway, Kimberly K Williams
Launceston Poetry Cup (Saturday Evening)
From 6:30 pm
The highlight of the weekend is the iconic Launceston Poetry Cup. Open to all, our poets have just one minute to impress the audience with a piece of original work.
SUNDAY 8th OCTOBER
Sunday Sessions
Jazz and Poetry
10:00 am | Ross Donlon and Steve Brian
Jazz backed poetry
10:40 am | Guest Poets
Brendan Ryan, Pamela Leach, David Hallet
12:00 pm | Lunch
A light lunch will served
1:00 pm | Guest Poets
Rebecca Rushbrook, Helga Jermy, Kimberly K. Williams, Esther Ottaway
from 3:30 pm | Farewell