Latitude today announces the poetry line-up for this years festival which takes place from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th July 2015 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. The Poetry Arena is at the heart of Latitude’s mission to bring arts and music together and for the last ten years has showcased the very best in stand up, beat poets, laureates and literary legends.

As host and co-programmer of the Latitude Festival’s Poetry Arena, Luke Wright has worked with Tania Harrison to turn Latitude into one of the largest poetry events in Europe. Luke will preview his new Edinburgh show, What I Learned From Johnny Bevan at the festival this year. This is his first full-length theatre piece, written and performed in visceral, punchy poetry with music by Ian Catskilken from Art Brut.

Luke Wright on Poetry at Latitude: “I’ve been involved with Latitude since the first year in 2006. It’s been great to see it grow from a leftfield idea for a new festival into one of the UK’s major cultural events. I’m really proud to have played a small role in an event that has launched hundreds of new pieces of art into the world and been the meeting place for so many amazing artists.”

Already announced as a headliner of the Latitude 2015 Poetry Arena will be the former laureate and award winning poet Simon Armitage CBE, described by Poetry Review as “the front man of his generation” who will read from Walking Away, the sequel to his Sunday Times bestselling Walking Home.

Also confirmed is creator of Radio 4’s Late Night Poetry Programme, Tim Key, Michael Rosen, Doctor John Cooper Clarke, Nick Helm, & Blake Morrison who will be reading from Shingle Street’ his first poetry collection ‘to be published in 30 years! 

Cited with single handily creating hip-hop, The Last Poets are a collective of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African-American civil rights movement's Black Nationalist movement. Reformed numerous times, the collective have collaborated with Wu Tang Clan and Kanye West. At Latitude Last Poets Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole and Babatunde will invite British poets Sabrina Mahfouz, GREEdS and Antony Anaxagorou to perform as part of the collective.

Latitude are hugely excited to announce that the National Youth Theatre will be bringing their brand new production of Carol Ann Dufy’s famous poetry collection The World’s Wife to Latitude this year. The wives of the great, the good and the not so good, will set the history books straight with wry wit and some subversive secrets. Britain’s poet Laureate gives voice to wives, lovers and sisters from history and mythology. Meet Frau Freud, Mrs Midas, Anne Hathaway and Medusa – who want to tell you their side of their husbands’ stories.Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry collection The World’s Wife has been abridged for stage by the award-winning National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Alice Knight, recipient of the 2014 Bryan Forbes NYT REP Directors Bursary and will be performed by Britain’s best young female theatrical talent.

A Firm of Poets are seasoned spoken word artists and writers, Matthew Hedley Stoppard, Ralph Dartford and Matt Abbott will set out their manifesto to bring vital, accessible and energetic poetry to the masses.

Latitude are also thrilled to have some of the best new talent in stand up poetry today including Michelle Madsen, Aisling Fahey, Maria Ferguson, Justina Kerhinde and Daniel Piper and many, many more!

Tania Harrison, Curator of the Arts Arenas and co-programmer of the Poetry Arena commented: “As a festival, Latitude has always prided itself on the breadth of our line ups and this year is no different. From The Last Poets who are as relevant and important today as they were when they first influenced the emergence of hip hop, to young up and coming poets such as Jemima Foxtrot under who’s influence all audiences fall, with her semi- autobiographical tales of young life in the UK.”

“Latitude has grown a reputation for being the place to see new talent and indeed we are excited to be supporting a wealth of new talent across the festival this year. And from ones-to-watch to one-offs to must-sees- we will have some spectacular special guest appearances from the virtuoso talents of Chilly Gonzales on the Waterfront Stage to a celebration of poetry spanning the festival and the ages. From the genius of Simon Armitage, fresh from bringing Greek tragedy to our airwaves and stages with Troy in the Poetry Arena, to the Sound of 2015 George The Poet, a voice for his generation who can be found in the top five of the BBC Sound of 2015’s list and performing from his new album in the Film and Music Arena. We are thrilled to be presenting a line up befitting of our 10th anniversary – it’s set to be quite the Birthday Weekend!”

Poetry Arena

Simon Armitage, Dr John Cooper Clarke

Michael Rosen, Blake Morrison

National Youth Theatre, Nick Helm, Eddie Argos

The Last Poets With Special Guests

Sabrina Mahfouz, Greeds |Antony Anaxagorou

Luke Wright, Ross Sutherland |Simon Mole, Rob Auton, Mark Grist

Tim Clare, Grace Savage & The Paperbirds, Francesca Beard, Mike Garry| Homework Brigitte Aphrodite, Sophie Rose, Steve Larkin, Clare Pollard

A Firm Of Poets, Jemima Foxtrot, Hannah Silva, Molly Naylor, Ben Norris Rosy Carrick| Bohdan Piaceski, Deanna Rodger, Raymond Antrobus

Rachel Pantechnicon, Bac Beatbox Academy, Martin Figura, Joel Stickley Tommy Sissons Andrew Mcmillan, Rhian Edwards, James Grady| Emma Jones Bridget Minamore, Michelle Madsen, Aisling Fahey, Maria Ferguson

Justina Kerhinde, Daniel Piper