Our Headliners for StAnza 2025

“[StAnza is] the country's leading poetry festival”

The Times newspaper, 2024
Winner of the Forward Prize for Best Collection

Caroline Bird

Caroline Bird’s new collection Ambush at Still Lake has been described as ‘bleak, repellent and hilarious in an American Psycho-ish way. Hectic and vivid.’

 

 

Winner of the Ted Hughes prize for Poetry

Raymond Antrobus -

Raymond Antrobus is described as a ‘stunning live performer of his poetry’.

Winner of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry

Imtiaz Dharker

Dharker’s new collection Shadow Reader is ‘a radiant criss-cross of encounters, messages and Punjabi proverbs, shot through with the dark thread of an unwelcome prophecy.’

 

Winner of the National Eisteddfod Crown for Poetry

Gwyneth Lewis

Lewis is described as ‘‘one of the most exhilaratingly gifted poets of her generation’. She’ll be reading from her forthcoming collection ‘First Rain in Paradise.’