JONNY FLUFFYPUNK TO IGNITE AND UNIFY WINCHESTER HIGH ST

Winchester Poetry Festival has announced the Poet on the High Street.

Jonny Fluffypunk is a stand-up poet and performer who fuses bittersweet autobiography, disillusionment and wonder into work and said: “I’m very proud and excited to be starting this residency. I enjoy connecting with those who wouldn’t usually be into poetry, so I am very much looking forward to working with all sorts of people and asking them to draw inspiration from the historic fabric of the city and from their own memories.

Jonny will hold a variety of workshops and performance events in and around Winchester, encouraging people of all ages to express and share what matters to them about the past. He will also work with local schools to introduce younger audiences to the power of poetry.

Jane Bryant of the Festival, said: “We are incredibly grateful to have received the support from Winchester’s business groups as well as National Lottery Heritage Fund.”

Jonny said: “I’m looking forward to taking poetry out to the people of Winchester to link people with the heritage that surrounds them, reignite our optimism, and unify a very special community.”

Online workshops, readings and discussion events will culminate in a weekend of live events from 8 – 10 October at Winchester Discovery Centre.

For details, visit www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org.uk