A REGULAR meeting of Reading poets is set to see a takeover from Oxford Poetry Library when it returns this week.
The monthly event sees open mic performers joined by a guest poet to share their work with other writers.
August’s iteration is presented by Oxford Poetry Library (OPL), with guest Andy H Melhuish taking the reigns as host.
He runs the Drafting Table workshops at OPL, as well as being a regular fixture at open mic events in Bristol and London alongside his work as a disability advisor.
His work explores themes of toxic masculinity, mental health, neurodiversity, complex trauma, love, and sexuality.
He will be joined by guest poet Vanessa Lampert, whose work has been published in The London Magazine, The Oxford Times, Poetry Wales, Under the Radar, and Strix.
Lampert also runs a number of workshops and works as a volunteer in schools, and in 2023 was commissioned to write lyrics for the Unthanks song dedicated to the NHS.
Since 202, she has garnered several awards, including the Café Writers prize, the Edward Thomas prize, the Sentinel prize and two Ver Poetry prizes.
Poems from her latest collection, Say It With Me, have been featured in the Daily Telegraph and the Forward Prizes Anthology, following its publication in 2023.
This month open mic poets are invited to perform work by other authors as part of the annual Covers Night.
Poet’s Cafe takes place at South Street Arts Centre from 8pm on Friday, August 9, and again on the second Friday of each month.
Full details available via: whatsonreading.com
