Shakespeare Day: Families flocking to Much Wenlock Poetry Festival

The three-day Much Wenlock Poetry Festival will also feature family activities and entertainment across the whole weekend.

The event was officially opened last night at The Edge Arts Centre, with welcoming speeches and poetry readings by Daljit Nagra and local poet, Paul Francis.

Mr Francis, who is this year's poet in residence, has lived in Much Wenlock since 1981 and is a member of Border Poets and Bridgnorth Writers' Group.

Emily Wilkinson, 33, a member of the festival's organising committee, said the event had been developed considerably since it was first held.

She said: "It has now been running for seven years and is now an annual event that is firmly fixed in the town's calendar. It started with a small group of community poets but has developed a much larger profile, with guests such as National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, and actress Gabrielle Drake.

"We have a children's marquee on the Church Green, which will be free to enter and there will also be a non-stop poetry busk.

"We think we have something to offer everyone so I would encourage young and old to come along and join in."

Poetry breakfasts with the Candlestick Press at Tea on the Square, Poems and Pints in the George & Dragon, a Prosecco Bar, Desert Island Poems, Jonathan Edwards and Other Superheroes at The Edge and a Working Lunch with Lemn Sissay and Anna Dreda at Wenlock Books will also form part of the festival.

The curtain will fall on the event with a cabaret night tomorrow evening, led by Gillian Clarke and festival favourites Mr Francis, Pauline Prior Pitt and Paul Henry.

Ms Wilkinson, who lives in Shrewsbury but grew-up in Much Wenlock, is responsible for design and marketing aspects of the festival.

She said although the event had grown over the years, questions remained about its future because of cuts in council funding.

She said: "The festival is funded by the Arts Council and we think we have secured funding to enable it to be held for the next few years but obviously with the severe cuts being made to so many services nothing can be guaranteed." For details visit www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org