Ware Poets - Open Mic & Poetry Evening - Stuart Handysides

Ware Poets host monthly poetry evenings, open to all, to enjoy a wide range of poems in a relaxed and friendly environment. Our evenings usually feature an open mic session followed by a reading from a guest poet. Everyone is welcome, whether to share a poem or to simply enjoy listening. Bar available to purchase drinks.

Our guest poet this month is Stuart Handysides who grew up in the Midlands but lived in south east England for many years. He began writing as a general practitioner, continued while working as an editor of medical publications, and found himself writing poetry. His poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies and had some success in competitions. His play Gleaming for an Instant was performed online in 2020. He ran the Ware Poets competition for 11 years.

His new collection 'the last one picked' is due out with Indigo Dreams at the end of 2025. These poems reflect on time itself and points in time, times past and passing; places and passions; political and social change; art and music; childhood, work and ageing; growing up in a deeply religious family; love, loneliness and death, of course; the unaccountable memories and dreams that fail to disappear.

The first half of this event will be open mic, so please feel free to bring and read a poem in a friendly and welcoming space.

Tickets can be bought in advance or on the door:

Entry prices: £5; £3 for students under 24; Free to ages 18 and under.

For more information visit https://warepoets.org/