FOR 30 years Novocastrians have combined their love of beer and poetry each month at Poetry at the Pub.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Back in 1988 it launched at The Grand Hotel, Bolton Street, where it created a platform for poets to perform their words. In the years since, it has called six different Newcastle establishments home.
It now meets on the third and fifth Monday of each month at the Wickham Park Hotel. The fifth Monday is usually dedicated to a visiting poet.
Each month as many as 40 poets attend, read and perform.
To mark its 30th anniversary Poetry at the Pub will release the 330 page anthology titled Brew at the Newcastle Writers Festival.
Brew’s editor Dael Allison said the book represented the works of 128 poets and delivered 330 poems.
“I selected poets who have a connection with Newcastle,” Ms Allison said. “Everyone in the book has performed at Poetry at the Pub over the last 30 years.
“To me it’s an historical document as well as a representation of some really great poetry … an excellent range of poetry.”
The book is divided into three decades, and includes some of the 30 or 40 guest poets who have performed at Poetry at the Pub.
Ms Allison said the beauty of Poetry at the Pub was the way it supported emerging poets.
“It’s a really encouraging place,” she said. “I’ve seen many people shaking in their boots doing their first reading.
“It’s a thrill when they submit their work and see themselves published.”
“It’s a thrill to see them keep coming back and becoming more seasoned poets.”
Poetry at the Pub releases an anthology each year. Every member is eligible to have two pages in each edition for the publication of their work.
Ms Allison, who is also undertaking a PhD, said it took 12 months of hard work to pull the anthology together.
The name of the anthology was decided after a quick straw poll of the organisations membership.
“We got some pretty hilarious suggestions,” she said.
“My daughter Pippa, who is also a poet, suggested Witches Brew.”
In the end they settled on Brew.
Brew will be launched by Newcastle poet Judy Johnson and Poetry at the Pub president Clark Gormley at City Hall, on April 7, at 7.30pm. Entry is free.
To find out more about Poetry at the Pub: facebook.com/poetryatthepubnewcastle
To find out what else is on at the Newcastle Writers Festival, from April 6-8, visit: newcastlewritersfestival.org.au
