This bright yellow ‘poetry jukebox’ will be hard to miss when it appears on the Piazza of the British Library from 27 April – 19 May before touring to other venues nationwide during 2016, including the Ledbury Poetry Festival (1 – 10 July) and at the Durham Book Festival (16 Sept – 16 Oct).
A joint project by Piána na ulici (Pianos on the Street), The Poetry Society, and the European Literature Festival, the Poetry Periscope includes recordings of poems from 30 European cultures, placing poetry grandees such as Titos Patrikios (Greece) and Friederike Mayröcker (Austria) alongside upcoming names such as Irish-language poet Doireann Ni Ghriofa. Poems will each be available in their original language and a recorded English translation.
The Poetry Periscope (known also as Poesiomat or Poetry Jukebox) originated in the Czech Republic and is now being introduced across the world. In 2016 it will be in UK, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, USA and Poland.
Events:
POETRY PERSICOPE LAUNCH (free), Tuesday 3 May 2016, 6.30pm, British Library Piazza
Hosted by poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan with live readings by poets Richard Scott, Gabriel Akamo, Charlotte Higgins and special guests.
THE STORY BEHIND THE POETRY PERISCOPE, Wednesday 11 May, 5pm, British Library
Chaired by Ed Doeger (Poetry Society), with poet and editor Kathryn Gray and professor Patrick McGuinness (Oxford University).
