The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
St Andrews welcomes world class line-up for international festival
Talent from all over the world to descend on Fife town
A wealth of literary talent will be showcased in St Andrews as Scotland’s International Poetry Festival got under way last night.
StAnza, which runs until Sunday, brings dozens of local, national and international poets to Fife, with special guest, crime writer Val McDermid, formally launching the annual event.
The festival’s opening extravaganza featured a selection of headline poets, including Jen Hadfield, Anthony Anaxagorou and Anna Crowe, intertwined with film and art and music from Alannah Moar.
This year’s programme features Irish poet Michael Longley, a recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, and American poet, editor and human rights advocate Carolyn Forché, recent winner of the 2019 Juan E. Méndez Book Award for Human Rights in Latin America.
They are joined by British writer, artist, film programmer and activist Jay Bernard, Scottish poet and artist Alec
Finlay and BBC Edinburgh Fringe Slam Champion 2019, Birdspeed.
Other poets performing at StAnza include Wendy Cope, Cecilie Loveid, DA Powell, Mimi Khalvati, Johan Sandberg McGuinne, Gerry Cambridge and Daisy Lafarge.
Festival director Eleanor Livingstone said: “StAnza is once again bringing a world-class line-up of literary talent to Fife, including some of the biggest names in poetry alongside new and exciting voices from all over the world.
“StAnza is proud to be part of Scotland’s diverse and vibrant cultural offering and we’re delighted to be welcoming performers and audiences to St Andrews to enjoy our 2020 festival.”
They will take part in readings, performances and other events.
Caroline Warburton, regional leadership director at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland offers the perfect stage to enjoy the written and spoken word.
“This year’s programme will bring together poets and audiences from around the world, celebrating Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 in the beautiful setting of St Andrews.”
The festival will bring more than 100 events including poetry, music, film and art, many of which are free, to St Andrews through to Sunday.
StAnza is proud to be part of Scotland’s diverse and vibrant cultural offering.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR ELEANOR LIVINGSTON