Publisher: The Poetry Business
A groundbreaking anthology of new work from five varied and distinctive poets. All five poets are alumni of The Writing Squad, a community of artists who make new work together and support each other's development. Their free two-year programme of workshops and 1-1 support has helped to develop over 270 writers aged 16-22 since 2001.
An acclaimed writer in multiple genres as well as a journalist and academic, Karin Karakașlı has repeatedly turned to poetry to chart complex emotional geographies – both her own and those of her country, Turkey. Her highly cinematic poems are powered by music, metaphor and a fascination for the mechanics of language itself. Running through her work is a deeply held belief in the emancipatory potential of words. Following on from her 2019 chapbook History-Geography, this new selection brings together poems from Karakașlı's 15-year career, vividly translated into English by translator and writer Canan Marașligil working with British poet Sarah Howe.Show book
Immerse yourself in the sublime words of the Bard with this sumptuous anthology of Shakespeare, with one entry for every night of the year. Chosen especially by a Shakespeare fanatic to reflect the changing seasons and daily events, the entries in this glorious book include: Romeo and Juliet on Valentine's Day. A Midsummer Night's Dream in Midsummer. The witches of Macbeth around their cauldron on Halloween. Also featured is one of Shakespeare's only two mentions of football for the anniversary of the first FA cup final. Beautifully illustrated with favourite scenes from Shakespeare's best-loved plays, this magnificent volume is a fun introduction to the well-known work and lesser known plays and poetry and is designed to be accessible to both adults and curious children. Keep this book by your bedside and luxuriate in the rich language of the greatest writer the world has ever known, for entertainment, relaxation and timeless wisdom every night of the year.Show book
'And what happens when the pendulum swings too far? We push back.' In the 1970s, one enigmatic old lady wielded extraordinary influence, fighting against what she believed was the UK's moral decline. Armed with only a typewriter, this seemingly harmless grandmother took on the BBC and the 'godless media' in a culture war that divided the nation. Inspired by real events, Caroline Bird's wickedly funny play delves into Whitehouse's most explosive battle – her infamous blasphemy trial against Gay News – and explores her formidable resolve to push back the tide. Was she a pearl-clutching prude or 'the most dangerous woman in Britain'? A fascinating investigation into freedom and censorship, The Last Stand of Mrs. Mary Whitehouse was co-commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Pakenham Projects. Premiering at Nottingham Playhouse in 2025, it was directed by Sarah Frankcom and starred Maxine Peake and Samuel Barnett. It went on to win Best New Play at the 2026 UK Theatre Awards.Show book
'O, full of scorpions is my mind.' The spellbinding story of love and murder, power and paranoia, and the internal struggles of a married couple as they try to control their destiny, and one another… This official tie-in edition to the Donmar Warehouse's acclaimed 2023 revival of Shakespeare's extraordinary psychological drama features rich and revealing behind-the-scenes material exploring how the production was conceived and developed. Starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, and directed by Donmar Associate Director Max Webster, this bracingly fresh version used binaural sound technology to place the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking us: are we are ever really responsible for our actions? It was first staged at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in December 2023, and transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End in October 2024. In addition to the version of Shakespeare's text performed, this volume also includes a fascinating rehearsal diary, colour photos, and interviews with its leading cast and creative team: Tennant, Jumbo and Webster, plus designer Rosanna Vize, sound designer Gareth Fry and composer and musical director Alasdair Macrae.Show book
This book is the opposite of most of your deepest beliefs. There is no reason attached to it, there is no morality or self-awareness. This is sophistry in its purest form. 'How much must we care?' This question is probably the only one you should ask yourself at the end of your perusal.Show book
Orange is a curated collection of poems written in the Elfchen form — a poetic form of five lines with a 1-2-3-4-1-word count structure. It was born from a desire to say less, but feel more, and began as a quiet and joy-filled exercise in observing the world. ‘Elfchen’ in German means diminutive of eleven. With its strict five-line and minimal word count of eleven, it offered both a challenge and a quiet joy. It taught me to trim language down to its essence, to listen to the spaces between words, and to notice the poetry hiding in the ordinary. The poems explore the way certain words lean into each other, everyday objects, emotions, and metaphors. They include themes of nature, survival, silence, conflict and liberation. Devices like personification and contrast are used to provoke emotional and philosophical engagement. The intersection of word and image offers room for contemplation. This poetic form lends itself to brevity, clarity, and restraint. The illustration that is paired with each poem is designed to enhance the meditative quality of the book. Each image becomes a metaphor, each poem a mirror to hold up a thought, memory, or mood.Show book
