Reading & Libraries
Inspire Poetry Festival 2026 - Desert Island Poems: Paul Farley in Conversation with Clare Brown
An evening of poetry, as acclaimed poet Paul Farley shares his desert island poems in conversation …
Published 17th September 2026
Inspire Poetry Festival returns to libraries across Nottinghamshire this autumn, starting on Thursday 24 September and ending on National Poetry Day, Thursday 1 October. A celebration of wonderful words, the festival brings together new and established voices to share their skills through performances, workshops and more. The festival welcomes those who are new to the poetry scene, as well as regular attendees of poetry events.
Paul Farley will be headlining the Inspire Poetry Festival on Thursday 24 September
The festival begins on Thursday 24 September with a headline performance from acclaimed poet Paul Farley at West Bridgford Library. Paul will share his desert island poems in conversation with the Director of Bromley House Library, Clare Brown, before reading from his own award-winning work. He has published six books of poetry with Picador, most recently When It Rained for a Million Years (2025), which was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize. A frequent broadcaster, he has also written widely for radio, published several non-fiction titles and edited a selection of John Clare’s poetry. He first visited the Inspire Poetry Festival in 2017 and is warmly welcomed back this year.
Other events during the festival include The Social Model Writers – a group of disabled writers who perform together – who will share their work on Friday 25 September. Those interested can join the session in person at Beeston Library or online via Zoom, and are invited to share their own work too by prior arrangement. Leanne Moden will also perform as part of the festival, sharing poems from her latest release, Ophelia of the Bathtub, at Retford Library’s Poetry Café on Monday 28 September.
Families need not miss out! This year’s line-up includes the fantastic Great Big Bug Show, landing at West Bridgford and Beeston libraries. Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko host a family show full of poems, raps and songs all about favourite bugs (and some that audiences haven’t even met yet!). This fun and interactive session explores the world beneath our feet and inspires audiences to appreciate the smaller creatures in the world around them. Suitable for children aged 4–11 and their grown-ups, it’s an event not to be missed.
For something less musical and more… magical… audiences can celebrate the publication of the third instalment of Julia Donaldson’s beloved series with The Great Gruffalo Double Bill. Visitors can return to the deep dark wood as both The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child animations are shown at Mansfield Central Library, accompanied by free themed activities. Fancy dress is encouraged and, as with all Inspire’s relaxed family film events, viewers are welcome to talk, sing and move freely during the screening.
Between the film screenings, families can enjoy themed crafts and a reading of the new instalment Gruffalo Granny.
One of the themes often apparent throughout the Inspire Poetry Festival is collaboration and camaraderie – best illustrated by the many groups showcasing their work during this year’s festival. On Friday 25 September, Beeston Library’s resident poetry collective, the Paper Crane Poets, will host a showcase of their work. Describing themselves as “a space for poetry writers of all stripes and abilities to meet, create and connect”, the collective is facilitated by Leanne Moden and includes a variety of local voices, all with something to say.
Poet and Bad Betty Press co-founder Jake Wild Hall will host the Bad Ideas Club showcase at Mansfield Central Library
On Saturday 26 September at Mansfield Central Library, a mix of new and experienced poets will take to the stage at the Bad Ideas Club Showcase. Hosted by Bad Betty Press co-founder Jake Wild Hall, the event will feature performances from poets Casey Bailey, Leanne Moden and Chris Lanyon. There will also be the chance to hear from participants who took part in this summer’s Bad Ideas Club workshops in the run up to the festival.
As a champion of Nottingham's literary scene, Inspire also supports independent publisher Five Leaves, which has been showcasing some of the best poets from the region in a series of pamphlets. At West Bridgford Library on Monday 28 September, Five Leaves will celebrate the first three years of Five Leaves New Poets with a combination of published and new material. A total of 12 poets will perform, including the newest poet to be published, Diana Bosworth, and a tribute to the late Tony Challis.
Poetry and music come together at Southwell Library on Sunday 27 September for John Clare & Me, Two Lives in Poetry and Music. Presented by the Not Scary Poetry Society, the afternoon will explore the life and work of John Clare, the ‘Northamptonshire peasant poet’, through words and melodies inspired by his deep connection to the English countryside and the natural world. With poetry, music, tea and a slice of cake, the event offers a relaxed and welcoming way to discover more about one of the region’s most celebrated poets.
Inspire Poetry Festival always provides opportunities for writers to develop their skills and create new work under the guidance of more established voices. At Beeston Library on Saturday 26 September, neurodivergent writers are invited to attend Beyond the Spectrum: Poetry for Neurodivergent People. Beyond the Spectrum is a writing project that celebrates autistic creativity and creates spaces for autistic people to write together. At the session, led by autistic professional writer Pippa Hennessy, writers will respond to prompts and craft a poem reflecting their own experiences and creative process. All writing abilities are welcome – the session is about exploring creativity, sharing experiences and trying something new.
Both experienced and inexperienced writers can gain inspiration from Georgina Wilding’s workshop at Mansfield Central Library on Tuesday 29 September. Entitled Into the Everyday: A First Draft Generating Bootcamp, the session will introduce participants to a range of prompts and exercises designed to encourage curiosity about the mundane. Or, for those who would rather read poetry, former Notts TV Book Club host Becky Cullen will lead the workshop Reading Poems: The Time of Our Lives at West Bridgford Library on Wednesday 30 September, a friendly group session exploring what makes a poem tick and delving into the joy of shared reading.
The festival culminates with National Poetry Day celebrations on Thursday 1 October, a day celebrating the power of poetry. Led by the Forward Arts Foundation, this year’s theme is “wonder”. At Southwell Library, the original home of the Inspire Poetry Festival, poet Andrew Graves will host a screening of Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of Romeo + Juliet (1996). He will begin by diving into the poetry of the film, exploring how the original text intertwines with the action and why the story remains so popular 30 years after the film's release.
Across the county at West Bridgford Library, A Pause for Poetry sees award-winning poet Liz Berry reading from her work in a baby-friendly space to mark the celebration. She will share some of her poems exploring parenthood and motherhood in a special event where parents can bring along their pre-walkers and pre-talkers. The event provides the perfect space for parents to enjoy grown-up poetry alongside their parenting duties.
Poet Liz Berry will be performing her work in a baby-friendly setting, perfect for parents to reconnect with their own passions and socialise with likeminded people.
The closing performance in this year’s festival is at Beeston Library from the wonderful Cara Thompson, who will present An Evening of Poetry and Heritage in Celebration of Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners. Cara is a writer, performer and interdisciplinary artist based in Nottingham, and is also Nottingham City of Literature’s Nature Poet Laureate. A proud descendant of Jamaican migrants who came to Britain as part of the pioneering Windrush generation, her work explores the richness and complexities of Caribbean-British heritage, inviting audiences to reflect on shared histories, memory and humanity.
The first half of the evening will include a talk by Colin Haynes, whose book Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners: Hungerhill Gardens, St. Ann’s Allotments, published by Five Leaves Publications, was the inspiration for the event. There will be an interval where the audience can purchase copies of the book and enjoy a range of drinks from the library bar, before Cara takes to the stage.
In her performance, she will share live poetry, including a new poem commissioned by Inspire being presented for the first time in celebration of the green-fingered Windrush generation who helped shape the historic Hungerhill Gardens, now known as St. Ann’s Allotments.
Alongside the performance, visitors can enjoy a look at the Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners exhibition, on display until Wednesday 4 November. The exhibition, inspired by the book of the same name, explores the lives and legacy of six of the gardeners at the allotments. It includes interviews and photographs, as well as content from a 2005/06 English Heritage Open Days exhibition on the subject.
The festival will come to a close at Beeston Library, with a talk from Colin Haynes about his book Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners: Hungerhill Gardens, St. Ann’s Allotments followed by poetry by Cara Thompson.
The Inspire Poetry Festival is absolutely brimming with opportunities to get involved this autumn. Whether a poetry pro or just dipping a toe into Nottingham’s literary scene, audiences will find events taking place in libraries across the county, offering the perfect opportunity to get together, be inspired and celebrate some wonderful words.
Browse the Inspire Poetry Festival programme now.
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