Five O’Clock Verses

Parliament Hall, St Andrews March 3

Two major names in the UK poetry scene will help launch StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival.

English poet Jo Bell, winner of the Causley Prize and the Manchester Cathedral Prize in 2014, was formerly the director of the UK’s National Poetry Day and is currently the Poetry Society’s UK Canal Laureate.

Her global workshop “52” won a Saboteur Award and she recently received an honorary doctorate from Wolverhampton University for her services to poetry.

She will be joined by Brian Johnstone, a cofounder and first festival director of StAnza. He stepped down from that role in 2010 and has since had more time for writing and performing.

More than 60 poets will take part in StAnza at various St Andrews locations, along with a wide range of musicians, artists and filmmakers, bringing the town alive.