British and Irish poetry.….online and out loud!’

PoetCasting is an exciting internet project, revolutionising the way we think about the art of poetry. A valuable resource, it means that poets can now have their work both read and heard, all in one place. Already, there are more than 500 poems, uploaded by nearly 200 writers.

Created by Alex Pryce, the site promotes a diverse lineup of exciting voices. It aims to portray a side of poetry that is engaging and inspirational ñ and an intrinsic part of learning about language.

Poetry has always been present in Alex’s life, long before she attempted to write her own. Realising that live poetry readings were becoming increasingly popular, Alex felt it seemed a sensible move to put the recordings online. ‘The process of hearing verse is so important,’ she explains.

The site, which started as a hobby, has been such a hit that Alex says she could justify a whole team of staff to help run it. Although she is working on the project in her spare time, she is managing to organise events that take it out to local art venues. Meanwhile, Alex is also studying hard for a Masters degree in Modern Literature at the University of Leicester.

PoetCasting has travelled the length and breadth of Britain to make exclusive podcasts of poets reading their compositions. Recording locations have ranged from an art gallery, library, office and London City Hall, to someone’s living room and even a student’s bedroom. Some people have sent in their own audio files, which the site is also happy to host.

Several of the featured poets have since published their first collections to great acclaim, including Andrew Philip’s The Ambulance Box, recently shortlisted for the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize 2009.

‘Many of the writers say they owe the site for the exposure and opportunities it has brought them,’ Alex told Positive News. ‘However, I feel quality work will always gain the recognition it deserves in its own right.’

The simplicity of the idea and layout, combined with a broad range of quality content, has been a hit with the public. ‘The response has been overwhelmingly positive,’ says Alex. ‘It really makes all the hard work worth it when I get thanks from poetry fans or, sometimes, those with no prior interest who have had their enthusiasm triggered.’

Contact: www​.poetcasting​.co​.uk

Photo: Alex Pryce