Lemn Sissay’s Poetry Rebels

Lemn Sissay's Poetry Rebels

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Lemn Sissay's Poetry Rebels: The Liverpool Poets

The Liverpool Poets

BBC Radio 4 - Lemn Sissay's Poetry Rebels, The Liverpool Poets

Lemn Sissay explores how the Liverpool poets launched a revolution by performing live.

When the Liverpool poets started performing in bars and clubs, they launched a revolution. Lemn Sissay explores how spoken word changed poetry with Roger McGough and Brian Patten.

Poetry is booming as never before, with audiences flocking to live events and poetry collections flying off the shelves. But how has poetry become a place for anger, protest and passion?

Lemn Sissay traces the roots of revolution back to the 1960s, when the Liverpool poets pushed aside the poetry establishment and started performing live in bars and clubs. Roger McGough and Brian Patten explain how the direct connection they forged with audiences changed poetry and opened up space for new voices to be heard.

Written and presented by Lemn Sissay
Sound design by Charlie Brandon-King
Produced by Richard Lea and Joe Hallam

A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

How did performance poetry conquer the poetry world?

How did performance poetry conquer the poetry world? Lemn Sissay tells the incendiary story of how rebels stormed the poetry establishment and transformed poetry

How did performance poetry conquer the poetry world? Lemn Sissay tells the incendiary story of how rebels stormed the poetry establishment, and how they have transformed poetry on both stage and page.

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