WITH the world turned upside down over the past year Winchester Poetry Festival is doing things a little differently in 2021.

This year’s event is stretched over five months with a hybrid of online and in-person events accessible to everyone.

The festival as a whole will be the biggest so far featuring an array of readers and speakers, a wide range of workshops – and the Poet on the High Street community residency.

In an official update the organisers said: "From June until September we are presenting a series of ‘poetry shots’ – a shot in the arm of stimulating readings, conversations and workshops taking place online.

"The series includes rising stars such as Jen Hadfield, Raymond Antrobus and from the USA Joyelle McSweeney. This year’s Robert Hutchison lecture given by Professor Will May on the relationship between Sylvia Plath and Stevie Smith features readings by Juliet Stevenson.

"These events will be presented in a number of ways including live via Zoom and as broadcasts via YouTube.

"In October we plan to be back at Winchester Discovery Centre with a relaxed but enticing festival weekend of live events that include familiar formats such as Things Being Various featuring outstanding Irish poet and professor of poetry Paul Muldoon in conversation; our popular international prize-giving reading; the remarkable poets Liz Berry, Patience Agbabi and Romalyn Ante; Hampshire Poet Kathryn Bevis, and Winchester Muse and much more."

For more information and to book spaces, visit: https://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/what-s-on.