Main content

Scottish Makar Jackie Kay joins poet Laureate Simon Armitage to reminisce about their first tour as New Generation poets 30 years ago.

If the poets of the past sat in their garrets dipping their quills in ink and waiting for inspiration to strike, our current Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has a more mundane and domestic arrangement. From his wooden shed in the garden, surrounded on all sides by the Pennine Hills and the Pennine weather, he scratches away at his reworking of the comic medieval poem The Owl and the Nightingale.

Any distraction is welcome, even encouraged, to talk about poetry, music, art, sheds, sherry, owls, nightingales and to throw light on some of the poem's internal themes. Jackie Kay, who first shared a stage with Simon 30 years ago on the New Generation poetry tour reminisces about those first readings as well a sharing their current experiences of holding the highest positions in poetry - Jackie as the Scottish Makar and Simon as the Poet Laureate. The conversation ranges far and wide as these two friends look back on their writing lives.

Available now

1 hour, 3 minutes

Last on

Sat 23 May 2020 19:15
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Kate Tempest

Next

Laura Ashe

See all episodes from The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed

Broadcast

  • Sat 23 May 2020 19:15
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Sir Ian McKellen: 10 things we learned when he spoke to the Poet Laureate

Sir Ian McKellen: 10 things we learned when he spoke to the Poet Laureate

Simon Armitage and Sir Ian discuss cricket, tattoos and playing Magneto and Gandalf.

Johnny Marr: 10 things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Johnny Marr: 10 things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

The Smiths songwriter on the creative process, the magic of cities, and beaten-up guitars.

Chris Packham: Seven things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Chris Packham: Seven things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage talks to naturalist Chris Packham about life, art and music.

Kate Tempest: 10 things we learned when she spoke to Simon Armitage

Kate Tempest: 10 things we learned when she spoke to Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage and Kate Tempest on rapping, writing under pressure and her pet Malamute.

Guy Garvey: Nine things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Guy Garvey: Nine things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage invites Guy Garvey to his shed to talk about life, bird watching and music.

Podcast