Gloucester Poetry Festival is back in full swing for 2021 - online to enable everyone with a connection to take part.

The festival kicks off on Saturday, October 2, and events run throughout the month of October.

Ziggy Dicks, the 'Gloucestershire Poet Laureate' who became the director of the Gloucester Poetry Festival in October 2016, said: "Since 2016 the Gloucester Poetry Festival has amazed with its diverse events. The benefits this year are staggering with amazing talent arriving directly to your home-online.

"This year has brought its challenges and the poetry community has answered each one with its unique response, showing poetry is needed more than ever.

"In this case, people who wouldn't normally have access to poetry, maybe due to mobility or disability issues, can take part, which is a massive leap forward. The Gloucester Poetry Festival is at the forefront of overcoming and challenging barriers to involvement.

"As with everyone, it has had to adapt to the changing world, so, the team has focussed on creating a prestigious series of events to showcase individual poets and phenomenal poetry publishers."

Ziggy is working with Charlie Markwick (a local storyteller, who acts as technical support) and Marcelle Newbold (a poet). They have built the events, meeting with many poets throughout the year.

The best part is that all the events are free to you! The dedicated team has been working to enable you to experience what the poetry world has to offer, whether you are new to poetry or an expert, they have something for you, with feedback from previous years ranging from 'Impossibly good' and 'A real community of talent' from audiences.

Ziggy added: "Gloucester Poetry Festival is for everyone and all are welcome to listen or, if inclined, sign up for one of the open mic slots to take part themselves with some of the world's finest."

The Gloucester Poetry Festival is online on Twitter @GloPoeFest

#Poetry #GloPoeFest #WritingCommunity

To book tickets for this year's festival, go to the website www.gloucesterpoetryfestival.uk/