An Evening with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage One of the An Evening With ... events currently on at New Theatre Royal Portsmouth 10th July 2024 Main HouseMain House at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth

The main house is a beautiful Victorian auditorium designed by the famous architects Charles Phipps and Frank Matcham.

Re-opened in October 2015 following an extensive refurbishment it seats just under 700 patrons.

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, New Theatre Royal

Join the Poet Laureate for this very special evening of readings, audience Q&A and book-signing. A former student in Portsmouth, Simon Armitage’s numerous awards include the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and an Ivor Novello for song writing. His latest book Blossomise is a Sunday Times bestseller.

A regular broadcaster, Armitage presents the popular BBC Radio 4 series The Poet Laureate has Gone to his Shed. He also writes, records and performs with the band LYR. His acclaimed modern translation of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has sold over 100,000 copies. He is the author of over a dozen poetry collections, two novels and three non-fiction bestsellers: All Points North, Walking Home and Walking Away. Armitage is Professor of Poetry at the University of Leeds. A Vertical Art brings together the vibrant and engaging lectures from his tenure as Oxford Professor of Poetry (2015-2019).

‘His verse is immediate, entertaining, engaged with the world.’ Independent on Sunday.

‘[His] caustic readings work splendidly, particularly Simon Armitage’s exceptionally lovely “Zodiac T-Shirt”.’ Independent on the launch of Beck’s Song Reader

‘[Armitage’s] observations, witty tone and accessible style belie some searing analysis of 21st-century life in the UK … Essential reading.’ — Financial Times

Thanks to The Queens Hotel and Portsmouth Library Service, 600 children will attend a dedicated schools event prior to this public performance.

Age advisory 11+

1 hour with no interval