Emily Wills — Readings

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 Prema

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.

Alison Brackenbury

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.

UA Fanthorpe

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.

Crysse Morrison

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 Wills reading at Stroud

Emily reading with Marianne Hedwig-John and Peter Wyton

2001

Aldeburgh Poetry Festival

Poetry at the YHA, Bristol

2000

Bath Poetry Can