Here’s the list of local events in April 2023. If I’ve missed anything you think should be included or needs correcting – please let me know.
Details are to the best of my knowledge at time of writing or amending during the month, please check event with hosts before attending in case of restrictions/changes.
Keep checking throughout April in case I’ve been able to add anything else, otherwise May’s list will follow in due course.
For end of March 2023 events – https://scottcoe.co.uk/west-anglia-east-midlands-real-world-poetry-events-march-2023/
Saturday 25th March to Saturday 1st April
Coventry.
Springboard Festival. Criterion Theatre, Berkeley Road South, CV5 6EF (w3w = ///mouth.whips.again)
Springboard Festival is a programme of eight exciting days of art and performance. Professional and community creators will come together, to show you the diverse talent Coventry has to offer.
Theatre, Poetry, Spoken Word, Music, Art.
See Criterion Theatre’s website or Instagram Page for further details
Tuesday 4th April 19:30
Melton Mowbray.
Open Mic Poetry Night. The Anne of Cleves, 12 Burton Street, LE13 1AE (w3w = ///putty.steps.field)
Everyone welcome, free entry.
Regular event – First Tuesday of every month.
See The Anne of Cleves’ website for more details of this and other events
Tuesday 4th April 20:00
Bedford.
Ouse Muse. Eagle Bookshop, 16-20 St Peters Street, MK40 2NN (w3w = ///wisdom.plug.shiny)
Featured artists plus open mic.
Further details on Ouse Muse’s Facebook page
Tuesday 4th April 19:30
Leicester.
Pinggg…K! The Y Theatre, 7 East Street, LE1 6EY (w3w = ///edgy.soil.camp)
Once a month (first Tuesday) free spoken word
See Y Theatre’s website for further details
Tuesday 4th April 19:30
Grantham.
Open Mic with host Mike Alderson, at The Lord Harrowby, 65 Dudley Road, NG31 9AB (w3w = ///pets.puzzle.sounds)
Bring your own or favourite classics/modern poems. Everyone welcome, free entry – * PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE SADLY NO DISABLED FACILITIES*
Regular event – First Tuesday of every month.
See Stamford Poetry’s Facebook page for more details of this and other events
Wednesday 5th April 20:00
Stamford.
My Car Plays Tapes – John Osborne. The Cellar Bar, Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///harp.wacky.aware)
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO DISABLED ACCESS TO THE CELLAR BAR
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events
Wednesday 5th April 19:00
Lincoln.
Uncaged. The Birdcage, 54 Baggholme Road, LN2 5BQ (w3w = ///gifted.studio.caves)
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
See Outspoken Poets’s Facebook page for this and other events
Wednesday 5th April 19:00
Cherry Willingham.
Open Mic Night. The Wishing Well, 15 The Parade, Cherry Willingham, LN3 4JL (w3w = ///blast.nudge.milk)
Open Mic with host Gaz Clitheroe. Music, Comedy, Poetry & Spoken Word all welcome.
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
See Gaz Clitheroe’s Facebook page for this and other events.
Wednesday 5th April 19:00
Wisbech.
Wisbech Stanza. Hosted by Kim Allen, former Fenland Poet Laureate.
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
Contact wisbechstanzagroup@gmail.com to sign up and further event details.
Thursday 6th April 19:30
Coventry.
Fire & Dust. Cafe Morso, 16 Corporation Street, CV1 1GF (w3w = ///types.artist.banana)
Featured artists plus open mic.
Just turn up to watch, but recommend ticket to book open mic slot.
Regular event – First Thursday of every month.
See Eventbrite for more details.
Thursday 6th April 19:30
Bourne.
Viva Verse and Vino. The Old Town Hall, North Street, PE10 9EA (w3w = ///shower.competing.charmingly)
Open mic Poetry & Spoken Word. Everyone welcome. Tickets £3 plus booking fee via https://bournetownhall.org.uk/events
Regular event – every other month.
Thursday 6th April 19:30
Leicester.
Run Your Tongue. Donald Watson’s Vegan Bar, 94 Granby Street, LE1 1DJ (w3w = ///joke.scale.leaves)
Featured artists, plus open mic (Poets, singers and storytellers are all welcome)
See Eventbrite for more details.
Thursday 6th April 19:30
Nottingham.
Live From The Poets Corner. The Playwright, 38 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ (w3w = ///error.sugars.goods)
Poetry Open Mic.
See Notts Poetry’s Instagram Page for more details
Friday 7th April 19:30
Nottingham.
Speech Therapy. Bunker’s Hill, 36-38 Hockley, Lace Market, NG1 1FP (w3w = ///volunteered.actors.enjoyable)
Spoken word open mic.
Regular event – 1st Friday of the Month.
See Speech Therapy’s Instagram Page for more details
Monday 10th April 19:00
Leicester.
Get Mouthy. Firebug, 1 Millstone Lane, LE1 5JN (w3w = ///zebra.forgot.occupy)
Featured artists plus open mic. – everyone welcome.
Regular event – Second Monday of every month.
See Get Mouthy’s Instagram page for more details
Tuesday 11th April 19:30
St Ives (Cambridgeshire).
Open Mic in the Riverport Cafe at St Ives Corn Exchange, The Pavement, PE27 5AD (w3w = ///yesterday.meanders.recorders)
Poetry & Folk music – Bring your own or favourite classics/modern poems. Everyone welcome, Entry fee varies. Often between £2 – £4 (cash only).
Regular event – Second Tuesday of every month.
http://www.thecornexchange.org.uk
Thursday 13th April 18:00
Derby.
Real Talk Spoken Word. Derby Theatre, 15 Theatre Walk, DE1 2NF (w3w = ///desk.snake.rocket)
Featured artists plus Open Mic
See Real Talk Spoken Word’s Instagram Page for further details
Thursday 13th April 19:00
Huntingdon.
Open Mic Poetry Event. Commemoration Hall, 39 High Street, PE29 3AQ (w3w = ///escalated.tank.landowner)
Free entry. See Eventbrite for more details.
Thursday 13th April 19:30
Northampton.
Raising The Awen. The Lab. 95-97 Charles Street, NN1 3BG (w3w = ///bigger.zones.jelly)
Music & Spoken word open mic.
See The Lab’s Facebook page for more details
Friday 14th April to Sunday 16th April
Milton Keynes.
Milton Keynes Lit Festival. Various Locations.
See https://www.mklitfest.org/spring-2023 for more details
Saturday 15th April 10:30
Stamford.
Poetry at Walkers. Walkers Bookshop, High Street, PE9 2AL (w3w = ///mostly.finest.bunk)
On the sofa’s upstairs at Walkers.
Monthly event. Bring your favourite poems – classics or modern. Everyone welcome. Free entry.
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events
Saturday 15th April 10:00
March.
St George’s Festival Walking Poetry Workshops. March Town Hall, 16 Market Place, PE15 9JF (w3w = ///shred.laying.botanists)
Free workshops – Draw inspiration from the sights and sounds of March to create and record your own poem with poet Charley Genever.
See Eventbrite for more details
Sunday 16th April 13:00
Coventry.
Queer Writing Group. St Mary’s Guildhall, Bayley Lane, CV1 5RN (w3w = ///part.urgent.hedge)
Writing workshop
See St Mary’s Guildhall website for this and other events
Sunday 16th April 15:15
Bury St Edmunds.
Stanza Bonanza. Oakes Barn. St Andrew’s St South, IP33 3PH (w3w = ///booklets.operation.inflict)
Ely Stanza meets Suffolk Poetry Society – 10 poets reading on the theme “The land we line in”
See Eventbrite for more details
Monday 17th April 19:00
Stamford.
Playing With Words. MindSpace, 39 Broad Street, PE9 1PX (w3w = ///themes.bonus.snow)
Fun word games, poetry and writing prompts with Stamford Poet Laureate – Scott Coe. Everyone welcome. Free entry.
Third Monday of every month.
This is a free event but encourage you to bring donations towards hot drinks.
Places are limited. Please see the MindSpace website to book
Monday 17th April 19:45
Lincoln.
Guild Session. St Mary’s Guildhall, 2-18 Sibthorp St, LN5 7SH (w3w = ///nights.visits.speaks)
An evening of amazing music and poetry in a beautiful 12th century building in the centre of Lincoln.
Third Monday of every month.
See The Guild Session’s Facebook page for this and other events.
Monday 17th April 19:00
Spalding.
White Horse Writers sessions. The Red Lion, Market Place, PE11 1SU (w3w = ///moves.acted.ending)
Group writing sessions: Fiction, Poetry, Prose, etc.
See White Horse Writers’ Facebook page for this and other events
Tuesday 18th April 19:30
Bury St Edmunds.
Poetry Aloud. Live at upstairs at Oakes Barn. St Andrew’s St South, IP33 3PH (w3w = ///booklets.operation.inflict)
Poetry Aloud Open Mic sessions are hybrid Live / Zoom meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month except December.
See Poetry Aloud’s Instagram Page for further details
Wednesday 19th April 19:30
Stamford.
Simon Armitage. Stamford Theatre, Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///fame.slowly.surely)
Join UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage for a special evening of poetry.
SOLD OUT – SEE WEBSITE FOR WAITING LIST
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events
Wednesday 19th April 19:00
Nottingham.
‘Beware of the Bull’ the genius of Jake Thackray, with Paul Thompson. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
For tickets including refreshments – See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events
Thursday 20th April 19:30
Leicester.
Take The Stage. The Donkey Venue, 203 Welford Road, LE2 6BH (w3w = ///onion.hours.drips)
Featured artist plus limited open mic slots (music, comedy, spoken word) and in high demand, best to book in advance at lukebroughtonmusic@gmail.com
See Luke’s Facebook page for details of events
Thursday 20th April 19:30
Leicester.
Off The Page. Upstairs at the Western, 70 Western Rd, LE3 0GA (w3w = ///twigs.admire.bugs)
Spoken Word Storytelling ‘best of’ night.
See Upstairs at the Western’s website for more details of this and other events
Thursday 20th April 20:00
Kenilworth.
PGR. Tree House Bookshop, 4 The Square, CV8 1EB (w3w = ///video.appear.clay)
Featured artist plus open mic slots, hosted by Kim and John Watson.
Third Thursday of every month
See Tree House Bookshop’s website for more details of this and other events
Friday 21st April 19:00
Leicester.
Some Antics. Grays Coffee Shop, 31 Rutland Street, LE1 1RE (w3w = ///judge.judges.legal)
Featured artists plus Spoken Word Slam & Open Mic. Everyone welcome. Monthly event.
See Some Antics Facebook page for event post with cost and to sign up for slots. Also for future dates.
Saturday 22nd April 10:00
March.
St George’s Festival Walking Poetry Workshops. March Town Hall, 16 Market Place, PE15 9JF (w3w = ///shred.laying.botanists)
Free workshops – Draw inspiration from the sights and sounds of March to create and record your own poem with poet Charley Genever.
See Eventbrite for more details
Saturday 22nd April 19:00
Lincoln.
The Green Road Spoken Word. Lincoln A.O.D.S, 33 Tentercroft Street, LN5 7DB (w3w = ///ducks.amuse.adults)
£1 entry fee to non-members. Pre-book an open mic slot – see The Green Room Spoken Word Fellowship Facebook page for this and future events
Tuesday 25th April 19:30
Leicester.
Rough Draft. The Y Theatre, 7 East Street, LE1 6EY (w3w = ///edgy.soil.camp)
Once a month (forth Tuesday) we hold our scratch nights, each artists getting fifteen minutes to share their work, be that script in hand or something more polished.
From gut-wrenching theatre to side-splitting comedy, melodic music to punchy poetry, and all those arty bits in between.
See Y Theatre’s website for further details
Wednesday 26th April 19:30
Stamford.
Pint of Poetry. The Gallery Bar at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///fame.slowly.surely)
Open mic Poetry & Spoken Word. Everyone welcome, free entry. **2023 Poet Laureate Final**
Regular event – Last Wednesday of every month.
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events
Wednesday 26th April 19:30
Hinckley.
AccessAbility Arts presents Spoken Word. Rendezvous Hinckley, 119 Factory Road, LE10 0DP (w3w = ///trooper.exhales.heartache)
Featured artists plus open mic.
Pay as feel event. To book at open mic slot email thekaysdl@gmail.com
See Facebook event for further details
Thursday 27th April 19:30
Stamford.
Open Mic Night. Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre Lounge, Broad Street, PE9 1PX (w3w = ///stages.aims.drill)
Music & Spoken word – please email dbrawnsley@gmail.com to book a slot.
Wheelchair access via lifts. Disabled toilets
Free entry, see Theatre Lounge Open Mic’s Facebook page for more details
Thursday 27th April 19:00
Werrington Village (Peterborough).
PoeTea. At Last Tearooms, 81 Church Street, PE4 6QE (w3w = ///city.towns.spoken)
With guest features, plus open mic poetry & spoken Word. Everyone welcome, free entry.
Regular event – Last Thursday of every month.
See Facebook event for more details
Thursday 27th April 19:30
Leicester.
Word!. Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA (w3w = ///melt.sharp.sticks)
With featured artists.
See Word Poetry’s website for this and other events.
Thursday 27th April 19:00
Nottingham.
Robert Hamberger: Finding myself in the footsteps of John Clare. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
For tickets including refreshments – See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events
Thursday 27th April 19:30
Cambridge.
Desperate Fleas. The Blue Moon. 2 Norfolk St, CB1 2LF (w3w = ///files.gloves.poet)
Mixed open mic: Comedy, Music, Spoken Word
Please be aware, the building is wheelchair accessible but unfortunately we do not have disabled toilets
See The Blue Moon’s website for this and other events
Friday 28th April 10:00
Helpston
Friends of John Clare, Poet – Spring Gathering 2023. John Clare Cottage, Woodgate, PE6 7ED (w3w = ///swatted.tactical.swoop)
www.clarecottage.org
Friday 28th April 18:00
Nottingham.
Sobar Social. 22/24 Friar Lane, NG1 6DQ (w3w = ///loaded.honest.fumes)
Last Friday of every month. Poetry, Spoken word, Comedy and music.
See Cafe Sobar’s Instagram Page for more details
Friday 28th April 19:00
Peterborough.
More than just a Mom. Key Theatre, Embankment Rd, Peterborough PE1 1EF (w3w = ///grin.tasty.jacket)
Kimberly Johnson aka Special K.
See Key Theatre’s website for further details
Friday 28th April 19:30
Derby.
Word Wise. Dubrek Studios, 67 Bridge Street, DE1 3LB (w3w = ///jokes.cute.glad)
Monthy Event. Poetry, Spoken word and music.
See Eventbrite for more details
Saturday 29th April 13:30
Peterborough.
Coffee Chronicles. MD Coffee, J W D’Arcy, 7 Westgate, PE1 1PX (w3w = ///stole.donor.rooms)
Open poetry event plus special guests
Saturday 29th April 15:00
Nottingham.
World Jam April Poetry and Music. The Playwright, 38 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ (w3w = ///error.sugars.goods)
Poetry, music and dance.
See World Jam’s Facebook page for further details
Sunday 30th April 13:00
Coventry.
Positive Images Poetry Workshops. Central Library, Smithford Way, CV1 1FY (w3w = ///laptop.ruler.fries)
Free workshops with Coventry Poet Laureate – Emilie Lauren Jones
Usually the last Sunday of every month. Email: emilielaurenwriter@gmail.com for info