Join us at StAnza 2024!

“And if the old king asked again: How do you love me?

I would say my love is a complicated country, barely above sea level.”

Clementine E Burnley, from ‘like salt’ in radical pairings

StAnza, Scotland’s international poetry festival, is back this week March 8th - 11th in St Andrews! A wee Lighthouse crew will be there to guide you through all the books by the poets in the festival programme, so that you can dive straight into the written versions of poems you just heard and fell head over heels in love with. We know what it’s like to hear a poet read their work and want to take that work home for ever.

This year’s programme theme is Warp & Weft: a tapestry of poetry, drawing together a plethora of voices, forms, stories and tools of expression. Below are a few events throughout the three days of the festival that we’re particularly looking forward to:

Jason Allen-Paisant presents the StAnza & Poetry Association of Scotland John Masefield Lecture - Sat 9th March 13:00-13:50

Thinking with Trees is a big favourite and with Self-Portrait as Othello Jason goes from strentgh to strength.

Knead: a poetry performance by Sean Wai Keung -Sat 9th March 14:00 - 14.30

Sean’s poetry is beautiful - of the belly as well as the heart - and this event includes Sean making bread live. Sold.

From the Female Chimpanzee to Darwin: a poetry performance by Mouna Ouafik - Sat 9th March 16:15 - 17:00.

Poetic stand-up with Moroccan poet and writer Mouna Ouafik in an autobiographical performance we’re determined not to miss.

Intangible Heritage: a panel discussion - Sunday 10th 14:00 - 15:00

This conversation brings together a bunch of extremely lovely and talented people: Clementine E Burnley, Hannah Lavery, Titilayo Farukuoye and our very own Jj Fadaka! They come together to sit with the widespread things that make us, and our poetry.

Nini ya Momo: a poetry performance by Soukaina Habiballah - Sunday 10th 15:30 - 16:30

A performance that explores postpartum depression in the context of post-colonial trauma - a powerful, necessary piece that I’m sure we’ll carry with us long after.

Poets for Palestine - Sunday 10th 20:30 - 22:00

No doubt that we’ll be tuning into this evening of poetry in solidarity with Palestine, hosted and curated by poet Anthony Anaxagorou, to continue reminding each other of what’s at stake, and where our efforts are needed.

StAnza poetry festival starts tomorrow March 9th and all tickets are available HERE.

Below you'll find a selection of titles by poets in the programme. Come say hi and find all the speakers’ books at our wee bookshop in the lobby of the Byre!