Derby Women History Makers Poetry Walk with Sophie Sparham

Description

Critical and celebratory, this poetry walk will combine the power, concision and directness of compelling poetry with illuminating research into women as sometimes individually famous, but often collectively anonymous history makers. One of the ten poems is written by a woman – can you pick which one?

Stopping at various locations around the city – blue plaques, a statue, a memorial, famous Derby landmarks and places you may have missed – poems performed by award-winning poet Sophie Sparham will tell HerStories of Elizabeth Hooton, Elizabeth Pigot, an unknown suffragette scientist, a pioneer of gynaecology, Sheila Margaret Mann, Queen Victoria, Flora MacDonald, Auguste of Saxe-Gotha, Elizabeth Whitehurst, Margaret Flamsteed and more.

Among the poems that Sophie performs are Elizabeth who?, A touch Byronic, Grandmother rocks, Weavers lament, The mother of all poems, and He looks at a statue and thinks about women.

Poetry written by Geoffrey Mann, who has found from six years of research, writing and field-testing, that the location that has generated the most emotion features the poem Listen! Save lives! Cover this wall in poetry! Of women and their midwives…

For all genders. Feminists. Poets. Historians. People who don’t think of themselves as feminists, poets or historians; or gendered. Students of innovative techniques in public history. And everyone else!

Derby Women History Makers Poetry Walk is presented as part of History Makers: Unfolded at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

The walk will take place around Derby city centre, moving slowly over two hours. In case of bad weather, this event will be held within Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

Suitable for those 16 and over

Booking essential. Limited places.

Accessibility at Derby Museums