2022
September: Reading with Zoe Brooks, JLM Morton and Angela France at Cheltenham Poetry Festival
2021
November: CDAS Seminar ‘Written in Stone’ with Su Chard, including reflections and poems from residency at Gloucester Crematorium. University of Bath, Centre for Death and Society.
“I was blown away by Su and Emily's powerful presentation and performance. I've rarely experienced such visual and lyrical symmetry. Capitvating.”
Dr Kate Woodthorpe, Senior Lecturer, Director, Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath
“Incredibly moving and acutely observational. Captures the profundity of crematoria for all who work, support and visit them.”
Dr Hannah Rumble, Research Fellow, Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath
February: 'Wandering Hearts' — Valentine's poetry event with the National
Library of Ireland.
Online reading with Tony
Curtis, Lorraine Mariner, Fleur Adcock, Choman Hardi.
2020
Personal Protective Equipment, directed and produced by Lydia Kenny
Gossip, directed and produced by Lydia Kenny
2018
Reading Medication Review at 'Medicine Unboxed', Cheltenham
2017
Reading and workshop at Bailieborough Poetry Festival, Republic of Ireland
Reading and workshop in the Whiteroom, Castletownbere, Republic of Ireland
Reading at 'Poetry and a Pint', St James Wine Vaults, Bath with June Hall
2016
Reading at Torbay Poetry Festival
2015
Guest poet at ‘Words & Ears’ at The Swan Hotel, Bradford-on-Avon
Guest poet at Bristol Can Openers
2014
Reading at Painswick Quaker Meeting House
Reading at Prema Arts Centre to launch pamphlet Unmapped, with Alicia Stubbersfield and Sam Willetts
Emily Wills reading at launch of Unmapped
Reading at the launch of The Book of Love and Loss, edited by June Hall and Rosie Bailey, in Bath
Reading at Bath Poetry Can
Reading to launch A Speaking Silence anthology of contemporary Quaker poets, with Clare Wigzell and other poets at Marazion Meeting House
Reading with the Cherington Poets at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival
2013
Reading at the Spoken Word Night at The Frog and Fiddle Cheltenham
Reading at Cheltenham Poetry Festival with John Gallas
Reading at Wotton Arts Festival with Peter Wyton
2012
Reading at the 2012 Manchester Poetry Prize gala prizewinning ceremony at Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, as one of 6 shortlisted poets
Reading at Star Anise Arts Café, Stroud, with Alicia Stubbersfield, Sam Willetts, John Nichol and Philip Rush
Reading at Penzance Literary Festival
2011
Poetry reading with Moira Andrew, Wes Magee and Angela Stoner at Penzance Literary Festival
Guest poet with Ware Poets, Ware Arts Centre, Herts
Reading at Bath Poetry Café with Stephen Payne and Linda Chase
2010
‘Poetry among the Paintings’
A collaboration with Marianne Hellwig John, Terry Cripps and other artists
Part of the exhibition ‘Crossings’ at The Museum in the Park,
Stratford Park, Stroud.
Unpacking after Crete, poem by Emily, picture by Terry Cripps
Reading at Oxfam Bookfest, Oxfam Bookshop, Bath
Reading with June Hall at 'Poetry & a Pint', St James Wine Vaults, Bath
Reading at The Troubadour with Marianne Burton, Robert
Etty, David Healey, Christopher James, Esther Morgan, Catherine Ormell and Stephen Payne
Event introduced by Smiths Knoll editors Michael Laskey and Joanna Cutts.
2009
Reading at The Wordsworth Trust Grasmere, Cumbria, with Michael
Mackmin, David Constantine and Sasha Dugdale
This was part of the Resolution and Independence series of independent poetry publishing events.
Guest poet at 'Pure & Good & Right: Poetry & Pints' in Leamington Spa
Nailsworth Festival Reading with Peter Wyton
The evening was a success and Peter and Emily created a really good atmosphere.
Nailsworth Festival Organiser
The Recipe for Marmalade from Developing the Negative was read on Radio 4 during an edition of Something Understood entitled 'Feast and Famine' presented by Irma Kurtz.
Reading at Bath Festival Café with Peter Wyton, Rose Flint, Greta Stoddart, and Bath Spa MA poets
Coffee House Poetry at The Troubadour, London
Rialto reading with Gillian Allnutt, Sue Boyle, Richard Lambert, Lydia Macpherson, Lorraine Mariner, Neil Rollinson, and Rosie Shepperd
2008
'The Rialto at The Poetry Café' in Bath
Reading with Richard Lambert, Sue Boyle, Rose Flint, Michael Swan and Frances Ann King, and launch of Developing the Negative
Reading at John Moores University, Liverpool
Reading with Michael Mackmin, Dean Parkin and Creative Writing Students
Reading at Bath Poetry Can
Reading at Ledbury Poetry Festival 'Poetry Breakfast' with Peter Wyton, the Gloucestershire Poet Laureate
You've got your two sets of poems beautifully integrated. I think audiences always respect and respond to (your) meticulous preparation.
Reading and judging of Nailsworth Poetry Competition with Peter Wyton, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
Wills and Wyton are like Gilbert and Sullivan — an immensely enjoyable combination of talents that leave you entertained, informed, surprised and often deeply moved. These are experienced poetic observers, alert to the comedy and the pathos in everyday life, sharpening our awareness, shaking us out of our complacency. Quite different from each other in style and presentation, together they lead us through a wide range of experience, domestic and universal, past and present. Compassionate, entertaining, wise and witty, they’re a double act not to be missed.
Peter and Emily's work was stimulating, provoking and amusing often all at once, and we thank you all for such a great contribution to our festival.
Nailsworth Festival Organiser
Bath Poetry Café
I especially liked the understated elegance and warm humanity of Emily Wills, whose second anthology is due out soon.
2007
Guest poet at Bath Poetry Can, with June Hall
Guest poet at Buzzwords, the Beehive, Cheltenham
Under the Edge Arts with Peter Wyton
2006
Magma reading at The Troubadour
Under the Edge poetry slam (semi-finalist)
2005
Under the Edge Arts with Anthony Thwaite
Bath Poetry Can
2004
Under the Edge Arts with UA Fanthorpe and Ann Drysdale
Stroud Arts Festival with flautist Jonathan Morgan
2003
Ledbury Poetry Festival
Cley Little Poetry Festival
Bath Poetry Can
2002
Global Ceasefire Day, Stroud
Coffee House Poetry at The Troubadour, London
Stroud Arts Festival ‘Sestina’ reading with five other local poets
Emily reading with Marianne Hedwig-John and Peter Wyton
2001
Aldeburgh Poetry Festival
Poetry at the YHA, Bristol
2000
Bath Poetry Can