A Free Literary Event for Year 10s

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s visit to New Theatre Royal Portsmouth in July inspired young people as he engaged in a morning of reading poems from the national curriculum to local school children. Working alongside Portsmouth City Council, this schools’ event was free for Year 10 students to attend and they heard directly from the poet about his life and craft.

Exploring Life Through Poetry

As a renowned figure in the world of poetry, Simon Armitage’s presence not only highlighted the importance of literature in education but also inspired young minds to explore the meanings behind the poems they are studying. His poetry delves into everyday life with a twist of the extraordinary, illustrating human experience in a way that is both accessible and profound.

Inspiring Younger Generations

Children from several local schools came along to hear the poems they might come across in their studies. This offered them a unique opportunity to hear directly from the poet himself about the meanings and inspirations behind his work. He even gave his first public reading of his new poem written for Portsmouth, The Theatre of the Sea. Later this year, the same poem will be installed on Southsea’s new sea defences for the public to enjoy as they look out across the Solent. Students were absorbed for the hour-long session and pleased with Simon’s good sense of humour coming across from the stage.

From Classroom to Career

When it came to the Q&A, students had come prepared with their burning questions. They were interested in the Poet Laureate’s career and inspirations and were keen for some insight into his own time at school. The students were enthusiastic about his answers, a shared love of literature and poetry coming across in the exchanges between Simon and the young audience. The experience will surely be of use to the students for their upcoming exams.

Portsmouth City Council Delighted

Local schools were delighted their students were able to interact with such a prominent poet and the event was attended by local members of the council. Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the Council with portfolio responsibility for Culture, and Councillor Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, both attended the event and were thrilled with the outcome.

Harry Scott, Seafront Arts Programme Officer for Portsmouth City Council commented: “Everything at the theatre ran so smoothly and efficiently. Simon Armitage, Cllr Pitt and Cllr Horton all commented on how delighted they were with the event. We heard lots of positive comments from teachers and young people after the show – including from a group of young people who stopped Simon for a selfie outside the theatre! I’m really pleased we were able to offer this experience to Portsmouth schools. I’ve no doubt the young people got a lot from it.”

Simon Armitage’s Role in Society

As Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage holds the important task of creating poetry for national occasions and promoting the art of poetry throughout the UK. His role extends beyond words on a page as he uses his platform to engage with communities and inspire a love of literature. Students were buzzing with excitement as they returned to school with a renewed and deeper interest in the texts they are studying. Another hope of the event was that it engages students with the arts beyond the classroom.

The Poet’s Journey Back to Portsmouth

The Poet Laureate is an alumni of University of Portsmouth and made the most of his time back in Portsmouth. After the schools’ event he visited the site where his new poem, The Theatre of the Sea, will be installed on the Sea Defences in Southsea.

He then returned to New Theatre Royal for an exclusive evening event, bringing both poetry enthusiasts and casual readers to the theatre. Audiences were treated to live readings, stories about his work and career and were able to have their own questions answered in a lively Q&A. Although Simon Armitage takes his role as Poet Laureate seriously, his funny side certainly comes across at his live events. Audiences were charmed by his quick wit and interesting stories, laughing along with him as he created an intimate atmosphere. Simon then took the time to meet over 100 audience members in the foyer, signing their books and chatting to them.

The day has left a lasting impact on Portsmouth’s community and New Theatre Royal was thrilled to have been a part of that.