Poetry and Spoken Word
Over the last 6 months, working with Emilie Lauren Jones (Coventry Poet Laureate 2021-2023), Alison Manning and Sharan Cheema, a group of new and emerging poets have been developing material for Springboard. This year's incarnation of the poet's group is The Living Poets Society. This is a beautiful cacophony of people performing a collection of inspiring poems that delve deep into the concept and meaning of 'my place'. Prepare to journey through a wave of emotions and stories from childhood homes, concrete highways and pubs, garden and forest retreats but most importantly, from hearts and minds.
Over the course of the festival we also have performances from a fabulous set of established local poets:
| Morgan Birch is a psychologist by profession and a performance poet by accident. She has a taste for intricate rhyming and unusual subject-matter, taking everyday life and whirling it into wordplay, hammering it into rants and shaking it up in surreal stories. She may even bring along an alter-ego or two. Whether engaging in political protest or rhapsodising about the mating habits of frogs, Morgan will always give you plenty of words for your money. |  |
| Alison Manning is a local poet and author. She had a poem commissioned for Show Windows, part of Coventry City of Culture. Her poetry films have featured in film festivals, exhibitions and on the radio. She has published a children’s book, World Without Endless Sheep (APS Books) and poems in various anthologies and online sites. She is also a performer and workshop facilitator. She was shortlisted for Coventry Poet Laureate in 2023 and 2025. She was Resident Poet for Springboard Festival in 2025. |  |
| Andrea Mbarushimana is Coventry's current Poet Laureate. She us a freelance writer, artist, facilitator and mentor. At Springboard, Andrea will be pioneering material for an appearance at Lonesome Lakes festival in Germany later this year. To buy her books or get in touch, you can contact her at www.andrea-mbarushimana.com |  |
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‘Following in the Footsteps of my Wandering Mind’ Join poet, writer, workshop facilitator and hat connoisseur, George Bastow on a heartfelt and humorous poetic pilgrimage, honouring the people, places and foodstuffs that inspire both him and his writing. Whether it’s through poignant musings on life and loss, witty everyday observations or thoughtful and thought-provoking verse, George captures the magical in the mundane and pays tribute to the ordinary experiences that make the world extraordinary in this powerful debut show. |
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| Sharan Cheema, Coventry-born poetess, has established herself across the Midlands poetry scene. She is known for writing love poetry, exploring emotion and spirituality. In 2024, she was selected to perform at Birmingham Empower Poetry’s 3rd Birthday Festival. Followed by the Springboard Festival 2025, with the Word Weavers Collective, where her poem "Earth’s Heartbeat" featured in Conversations and Connections through Poetry. She headlined at a Fire & Dust international poetry event, and was a featured poet at The Poets for Myton Hospices in 2025. She also shared her Punjabi poetry at a South Asian exhibition at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in 2026. Alongside performing, she has supported emerging writers through workshops with the Living Poets Society at the Springboard Festival 2026, and also contributed to the festival’s drama section in the same year Her debut collection, Blue Moon, includes 88 love poems blended with art, with the moon serving as a symbol of emotional depth and impermanence. For this performance, she collaborates with Coventry-based award-winning, international percussionist and Indian classical musician Juggy Rihal. Together, they present Soul Solstice: Where Twin Flames Rise, a poetic and musical production exploring love, loss, healing, and transformation. Instagram: sharan_cheema_poetess |
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| Vig aka Vig’sPoetry is a Birmingham-based multidisciplinary freelancer, notably a slam-winning spoken word poet, script + screenwriter, host, facilitator and producer. He has featured at major festivals, art exhibitions and on BBC, mainly exploring identity, mental health and cultural narratives through his craft. He is Regional Producer of Poets Palace Brum, part of the Birmingham Poetry Network and BBC Asian Network Represents. Vig uses art to inspire, challenge stereotypes and champion marginalised voices. He is a supporting act for Solfull Poetry in Brooklyn, New York at the end of April and has more tour dates en route alongside some interesting multimedia projects. Tap in, you’re in for a treat. |  |
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Amy Rugg will be this year's Resident Poet, providing lyrical, poetic reflection on the comings and goings of the Festival through the week. Amy Rugg is a passionate matchmaker of words and collector of tall tales. As a ‘local non-local’ poet she was first commissioned in 2017 for a spoken word piece about migration, performed during Coventry’s Refugee Week festival. As a writer in residence aboard the research vessel RV Furore Scribendi, Amy wrote and performed aboard a national touring floating library. |
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