Barefoot in the Park is an annual one-day festival of poetry, storytelling, theatre and music that takes place in Leeds’ beautiful Hyde Park. For the last four years it has been fulfilling the Barefoot team’s ambition to bring poetry and the arts to new audiences, whether seasoned poetry fans or tasting the joys of verse for the first time.

The leafy green environs of central Leeds have rung with the tones of many fantastic performers, like poets Carole Bromley, Mike di Placido, Swithun Cooper, David Agnew and Patrick Kavanagh-award winner Michael McCarthy; slam champions Tony Walsh and Andy Craven Griffiths; storyteller Matthew Bellwood; music-poetry collaborations from Adam Strickson with Avtar Lota Singh, and Siobhan Mac Mahon with Sabrina Piggott; as well as top musical contributions from the bands Films, The Lovebirds, Artibella, and David Ward MacLean. Alongside the annual Slam Battle and usual open mic session, 2010 hailed the opening of a new Arts & Vintage Tent with a vintage fashion fair and striking modern art displays. We also launched our exciting poetry competition with The Literateur.

Many congratulations to Pascal Ansell, Thomas Ellison and Alex Valente for their winning poetry entries and to Chris Nevin whose entry ‘Nightmares’ is Highly Commended.
Click on the links below and have a read!

‘Organ Morgan’ by  Pascal Ansell

‘Taizé’ by Pascal Ansell

‘Two Birds: One Scone’ by Thomas Ellison

‘How Do You Write a Tune in Words?’ by Alex Valente

‘Masquerade’ by Alex Valente