Poetry and Spoken Word
Over the last 6 months, working with Emilie Lauren Jones (Coventry Poet Laureate 2021-2023) 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- Soul Solstice: Where Twin Flames Rise Where Twin Flames Rise is a tender, aching love story told in poetry, bringing Maya’s journey to the stage. Accompanied by music, her story moves through love, loss, and healing, as a deep soul connection compels her to face what she has carried within her. At its heart is the twin flame journey - both beautiful and challenging. It is a path that feels destined, yet demands growth, truth, and inner healing. This is not only a story of romance, but of carrying pain, confronting the past, and slowly finding peace. When love returns to Maya’s life, it does not erase her pain - it helps her understand it. Each poem unfolds like a quiet confession, shifting between dreams and reality. Soul Solstice invites you to pause, reflect, and connect - with the story, and perhaps with something within yourself. |
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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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