Bristol is a city that has long been associated with art and culture. It has a rich literary history, dating back to the 18th century, when poets such as Thomas Chatterton and Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived and worked in the city. Today, Bristol remains an important hub for the arts, and there are many talented poets working here. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best poets in Bristol.
Vanessa Kisuule
Vanessa Kisuule is a Bristol-based poet, performer and activist. She is known for her powerful and engaging spoken word performances, which often tackle important social issues such as racism, feminism and politics. Vanessa is a former Bristol City Poet, and was also awarded the prestigious Roundhouse Poetry Slam title in 2014.
Her work has been widely published, and she has performed at countless events and festivals both in the UK and overseas. Her 2014 collection, ‘Joyriding the Storm’, won the prestigious Saboteur Award for Best Poetry Pamphlet.
Rebecca Tantony
Rebecca Tantony is a writer, performer, facilitator and producer based in Bristol. She has been performing her work for over a decade and is known for her raw, emotional performances. Her poetry often explores themes of love, loss and identity.
Her work has been widely published in journals and anthologies, and she has also released two poetry collections, ‘Talk You Round Til Dusk’ and ‘All The Journeys I Never Took.’
Rebecca is also a highly experienced teacher and facilitator. She has worked with young people across the UK, helping them to explore their own creativity through writing and performance.
Lawrence Hoo
Lawrence Hoo is a Bristol-based poet, writer and spoken-word artist. He has been performing his work since 1999 and is known for his powerful, passionate performances which often explore themes of identity and social injustice.
Lawrence has won numerous awards for his poetry, including the Roundhouse Poetry Slam Champion in 2007 and the 2008 Mighty Poets Prize. His work has been widely published in anthologies and journals, and he has performed at countless events and festivals in the UK and around the world.
He is also a highly experienced facilitator and mentor, working with young people and emerging artists to help them develop their own writing and performance skills.
Katie Griffiths
Katie Griffiths is a poet and performer based in Bristol. Her work explores themes of personal identity, belonging and loss, and often draws on her own experiences of growing up in a working-class family in South Wales.
She has performed her work at festivals across the UK, including the Edinburgh Fringe, and her work has been widely published in anthologies and journals. In 2014, she won the Creative Futures Literary Award for Poetry.
Katie is also an experienced educator and workshop facilitator, working with young people and communities to explore their own creativity through writing and performance.
Polly Denny
Polly Denny is a poet and artist based in Bristol. She has been writing and performing her work since 2008, and has been widely published in anthologies and journals.
Her poetry often explores themes of nature, mythology and the feminine, and she is known for her powerful, evocative performances. In 2016, she was awarded a Development Bursary by the Arts Council, which allowed her to focus on developing her practice as a writer and performer.
Polly is also a highly experienced facilitator, and has worked with young people, women’s groups and communities to explore their own creativity through writing and performance.
Conclusion
There are countless talented poets working in Bristol today, and this list is just a small selection of some of the best. From powerful spoken word performers to celebrated writers, there is a vibrant and ever-growing poetry scene in the city.
If you are interested in discovering more about Bristol’s poetry scene, there are many events and festivals to look out for. The Bristol Poetry Festival takes place every year, and there are regular spoken word nights and open mic events across the city.
From Vanessa Kisuule’s powerful social commentary to Polly Denny’s evocative explorations of nature, there is something for every poetry lover in Bristol.