A Poetic City: Thomas Chatterton (2020)

2020 marked the 250th anniversary of death of the Bristol-born poet Thomas Chatterton.

Lyra Festival teamed up with Bristol Ideas to commission 12 poets, 6 from Bristol and 6 from around the UK, to respond to Henry Wallis’ painting ‘Chatterton.’

The poems were anthologised and distributed around Bristol and beyond. You can read the anthology HERE.

Below you can watch selected videos of the poems performed alongside the original painting during its brief loan to RWA in Bristol. Featuring Anthony Anaxagorou, Chris McCabe, Fran Lock, Keith Jarrett and Theresa Lola. Filmed by Michael Jenkins.

Anthony Anaxagorou - The Only Window Alive

Chris McCabe - Thomas Chatterton Speaks With a Therapist (After Edwin Morgan)

Fran Lock - In which I am not Thomas Chatterton, Ian Curtis or Sylvia Plath

Keith Jarrett - At War With the Grave

Theresa Lola - Possible Reasons the Window Was Left Open on That Day