Former UK Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion to visit

Former UK Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion speaking in Auckland and Wellington

Former British Poet Laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, will share his work tonight at Auckland Museum in the first of three speaking engagements in New Zealand.

Sir Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was the UK Poet Laureate from 1999 until 2009 when he was knighted for his services to literature. The position is usually held for life but Sir Andrew stipulated that he would only hold the position for 10 years.

He is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Tonight’s event at Auckland Museum will focus on the Digital Poetry Archive which Sir Andrew co-founded with the aim of making poetry more accessible, relevant and enjoyable to a wide audience.
www.poetryarchive.org

“Poetry was an oral art form before it became textual. Hearing a poet reading his or her work remains uniquely illuminating, it helps us to understand the work as well as helping us to enjoy it. What would we not give to be able to hear Keats and Byron reading their work?”

On Wednesday Sir Andrew will bring his work to life in conversation with author Emily Perkins at the University of Auckland.

On Thursday evening Sir Andrew will speak in Wellington with current New Zealand Poet Laureate Ian Wedde, Bill Manhire and Bernadette Hall for an evening of poetry on the subject of place.

While in New Zealand Sir Andrew is also leading a poetry workshop with MIT creative writing students.

He is currently on a book tour for his novel Silver – Return to Treasure Island, his sequel to Stevenson’s classic.

Tickets are still available for Sir Andrew’s talks – visit www.aucklandmuseum.com or phone 09 306 7048.

Sir Andrew Motion’s New Zealand programme of events:
Inside the Poetry Archive with Sir Andrew Motion
Monday 27 August
7pm – 9.30pm
Auckland Museum
$20

An Evening with Sir Andrew Motion
in conversation with Emily Perkins
Wednesday 29 August
6.15pm – 7.30pm
School of Music,
University of Auckland
$20

The Place of Poetry with Sir Andrew Motion
Thursday 30 August
7.30pm
Te Wharewaka o Poneke,
Wellington
$20

One-hour Poetry Workshop with Sir Andrew
Wednesday, 29 August
12.30pm
Auckland Museum
Free,

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