The People’s Favourite Poets
Lemn Sissay introduces an evening of readings by favourite poets as chosen by you to celebrate the National Poetry Library’s 70th birthday.
In 2023 we asked the public to select their favourite newly discovered poets in our 70-Poet Challenge, and now we’re bringing those poets to the stage.
Hosted by Sissay, ambassador for the library’s 70-Poet Challenge, this event brings new voices and established favourites together for an unmissable evening of performance.
The library also invited people to write their own 70-word poems, and we hear examples of these read by Southbank Centre’s New Poets Collective, including a selection written by men and women in the prison service selected from our partner, The Reader.
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
26 Oct 2024, 7pm
Run time
2 hours (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £15.00*
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
Within the Queen Elizabeth Hall you’ll find our glass-fronted Concrete Cafe, the ideal spot to recharge, or catch up with friends, whilst the bustle of Central London and the River Thames carries on around you.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.