The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Poetry festival to launch #Metoo anthology
stanza: New work emerged from the sexual harassment hashtag campaign
Stanza is to host the Scottish launch of the #Metoo anthology to mark International Women’s Day.
This is a brand new collection which emerged from the #Metoo campaign.
It will be showcased at Scotland’s international poetry festival in St Andrews today with readings from anthology poets Maggie Mackay, Georgi Gill, Helen Ivory, and Victoria Bennett.
The campaign began at the end of last year when the hashtag #Metoo was used hundreds of thousands of times by people around the world sharing their stories on social media to demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment.
It swept the world encouraging women to speak out if they had been sexually harassed and came in the wake of the allegations made about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
The hashtag started trending worldwide after a call to action from actress Alyssa Milano
Anthology poet Maggie Mackay said: “I’m proud to have a poem in this brave, honest anthology and hope its narratives help others as they wage against domestic violence, harassment and discrimination.”
The poets will also be out selling the anthology at Stanza’s poetry market on Saturday.
And all profits from sales will go to Women’s Aid UK.
Stanza’s 21st festival was launched yesterday by Irish and Dutch poets Rita Ann Higgins and Thomas Möhlmann.
Later in the evening Fife singersongwriter and Olivier Award-winning actress Barbara Dickson opened the festival which started with a gala featuring poets’ performances, along with music, film and art.
Dozens of poets are descending on the Fife town for five jam-packed days celebrating the spoken word in all its forms.
Headliners include Liz Lochhead, who will be Poetry Centre Stage at the Byre Theatre on Saturday, and in the Town Hall at noon the following day for a family-friendly event.
Tickets are on sale for other events and can be purchased in person, by phone and online.
More information is available at stanzapoetry.org or by calling the box office on 01334 475000.