StAnza 2020 : 4-8 March, 2020
Location: St Andrews, Fife
Tickets on sale: 14 January 2020
March is a month for poetry – and what a wealth of poetry we’ve got lined up for you! Between Wednesday 4 and Sunday 8 March 2020, St Andrews promises to be just brimming with verse: with readings, exhibitions and installations from some of the most exciting poets writing today. Whether you’re looking for poetry of witness, light verse or spoken word to make you laugh and cry – or if you simply need a poetic umbrella for a rainy day, we promise we’ve got you covered.
Researchers have found that spending time by the sea can be key to happiness—so perhaps it’s no surprise that poets down the centuries have been drawn to the coast. In our first theme for 2020, Coast Lines, we’ll be considering how our culture has been influenced by our coasts, as well as asking how poetry engages with and responds to seas and rivers. In our second theme, Due North, we’re following the compass needle to explore why the North has long been a place of fascination. We’ll also be celebrating poetry from Shetland, the Northern isles and our more northerly neighbours.
Our international line-up this year features poets and artists from Galicia, Belgium, Germany and the USA, as well as from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland as part of this year’s translation focus on Nordic languages. And as ever, we’re thrilled to be showcasing some of our favourite UK-based poets, artists, musicians, writers and filmmakers, whether these are at the top of their game or are emerging voices to get excited about. Through readings, performances and discussions, film, music and exhibitions, workshops and open mics, StAnza 2020 promises to explore and celebrate the widest range of poetry today, offering a rich festival experience with something for everyone. We can’t wait to see you there!
StAnza 2020 : 4 - 8 March : Gallery
Photos of poets and others taking part in StAnza 2019 and some of our favourite venue or atmosphere shots of St Andrews
More than 80 poets will take part in around 100 events
Headline Poets for 2020 include:
Anthony Anaxagorou
Jay Bernard
Ida Börjel
Yolanda Castaño
Wendy Cope
Anna Crowe
Alec Finlay
Carolyn Forché
Jen Hadfield
Michael Longley
Mimi Khalvati
D.A. Powell
Charlotte Van den Broeck
Participants*
* Programme may be adjusted prior to tickets going on sale
Venues: Byre Theatre – Auditorium, Studio Theatre, Conference Room and foyers, St John’s Undercroft, Parliament Hall, Holy Trinity Church Halls, Public Library, Preservation Trust Museum, Green Room, J&G Innes, Zest, Fraser Gallery, Archaeology Room and Martyrs Kirk.