Bedales welcomes Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy

Oct. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- Bedales School’s Olivier Theatre played host to an evening performance by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as part of the school’s Autumn arts calendar. Open to both the school community and the public, the performance also featured music by John Sampson, which acted as an atmospheric accompaniment to Duffy’s moving poetry.

The audience was treated to recitations from The Christmas Truce and The Counties as well as poems that touched on Duffy’s personal tragedies and woes in life. Following the performance Carol Ann met with members of the audience and signed books of her works.

Commenting on the performance Bedales 6.2 (upper sixth) student Nell Whittaker said: “In the stillness of the theatre Carol Ann Duffy shared with us poems about the death of her mother; her anger about her poem being removed from an exam paper; the fear of the wife of Midas; the last post for the fallen. And in return, we shared our ears and our held breath and a quiet murmur at the close of every poem.”

Headmaster of Bedales Schools, Keith Budge said: “We are very fortunate that the school’s communal life and the students’ education are so enriched by the wonderful range of speakers we attract - remarkable people from academia, the arts, politics, sport and philanthropy. The Poet Laureate’s visit was an inspiration to our students. We were delighted and honoured to welcome Carol Ann Duffy to our Theatre for such as enthralling evening.”

To read Bedales student Nell Whittaker’s review of the performance please visit http://bedalesarts.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/bedales-welco...