Liverpool Lennon poetry competition



Calling all poets across the globe! Are you a John Lennon fan or passionate about poetry? Then this is your opportunity to enter the world’s first Liverpool Lennon Poetry Competition.


The Beatles Story is searching for the Liverpool Lennon Poet 2010, in conjunction with Roger Cliffe-Thompson of Event Poets. The competition is set to take place as part of the John Lennon Tribute Season; a two-month cultural programme of events in Liverpool, which will mark 70 years since Lennon’s birth and 30 years since his untimely death.


Poets from across the world are encouraged to enter unpublished verses in three categories, which celebrate the life of the music legend. The UK Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will lead a team of judges who will award our winning Poets the prestigious title of Liverpool Lennon Poet 2010.


To find out more information of how to enter the Liverpool Lennon Poetry competitions please check out the briefs and terms and conditions.

The categories are:


1 – Performance Poet:
Can you not only write, but perform a poem at our Poetry Slam that celebrates the life of John Lennon? The Beatles Story is looking for a Performance Poet worthy to receive the prestigious title of Liverpool Lennon Performance Poet 2010.



Prizes: 1st place £1000, 2nd place £250, 3rd place £100


Closing Date for entries: 5pm Friday 10th September 2010
Poetry slam: Saturday 6th November 2010
Entries to: poetry@beatlesstory.com
(Please remember to include the category you have entered in your email, along with your full contact details)



download Performance Poet brief (500kb)



2 – Paper Poet
Whether you live in Liverpool, Australia or the North Pole everyone can enter the Paper Poet competition. Capture our judge’s imaginations, by writing up to 40 lines of rhyme about the life of John Lennon.



Prizes: 1st place £100, 2nd place £50, 3rd place £25


Closing Date for entries: 5pm Friday 10th September 2010
Finalists announced: By Friday 8th October 2010
Winner announced: Saturday 6th November (at the Performance Poet event)
Entries to: poetry@beatlesstory.com
(Please remember to include the category you have entered in your email, along with your full contact details)



download Paper Poet brief (500kb)



3 – Schools Performance Poet
Can your team of poets write a poem that celebrates the life of Lennon and another poem based on John’s song lyrics or song titles? Can they then perform their poem in a poetry slam? As part of this celebration we are inviting Merseyside secondary schools to take part in a ‘Schools Poetry Slam’. A Poetry Slam is a competition that enables people to combine written poems with performance.



Closing Date to register interest: Friday 18th June 2010
Closing date for paper submissions: Friday 2nd July 2010
Finalist notified by: Tuesday 9th July 2010
Poetry slam: Tuesday 9th November 2010
Entries to: shelley@beatlesstory.com



download Schools Performance Poet brief (500kb)