Events
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Performances
Brenda is an accomplished performer; she’s been standing up and reciting poetry since 1997, so she’s had a lot of practice. Whether you’re looking for an evening of laughter or something more reflective; out-and-out performance or those moments of stillness and attention, Brenda has a repertoire to hold any audience.
To book Brenda for a performance, please use the Contact form.
Brenda has performed at many festivals, including:
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Glastonbury
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Cheltenham Literature Festival
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Ledbury Poetry Festival
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Cheltenham Poetry Festival
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Swindon Literature Festival
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Worcestershire Literary Festival
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Brighton Festival
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Henley Festival
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Wychwood
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Hullabaloo
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Glastonwick Festival
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Lakefest
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She has headlined at many poetry evenings, and gigged with Ian McMillan in a short tour of the West Midlands. As part of her work as a creative writer on cruise ships, she has performed in the middle of the Atlantic; she is no stranger to pubs with sticky carpets; and she has performed at a charity event in the House of Lords.
Abroad, she has toured Texas as part of a poetry festival, and performed to a mixed group of English and Danish football fans in Copenhagen, before a friendly match.
If you would like to engage this incredibly versatile poet for an event, book here.
Slams
Brenda has won 35 slams – far more than Roger Federer. These include:
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Cheltenham Allstars Slam (Cheltenham Literature Festival – for many years the UK’s most important slam), October 2015
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Chelt’n’Slam, (Cheltenham Spring Literature Festival) May 2000
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Taunton Slam, October 2000
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Swindon Literature Festival Slam, May 2001 and May 2013
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Ledbury Poetry Festival Slam, June 2001 and June 2015
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Worcester City Slam, October 2001
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Newbury Slam, October 2002
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Solihull Slam, November 2002
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Exeter Slam, March 2006
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Birmingham, 2007 and 2009
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Cheltenham Science Festival Slam, 2009
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Bilston, 2009
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Wantage, 2011, 2012
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Cirencester, 2012
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Bristol Hammer & Tongue, five times,2012 - 2020
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Bristol Hammer & Tongue regional final, June 2017
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Malvern, October 2012 and October 2014
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Wolverhampton Love Slam, February 2014
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Worcester LitFest Slam, June 2014
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Audlem Slam, May 2016
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Hereford Slam, September 2016
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Cheltenham Poetry Festival Slam, May 2017
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Shrewsbury Literature Festival Slam, November 2017
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Wolverhampton Literature Festival, January 2018
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Ooh Beehive! online slam, August 2020
She’s finished in the top three in many other slams, including the Hammer & Tongue UK National Slam Final, 2013.
Poet Laureateship
Brenda was elected Gloucestershire Poet Laureate at an event in Gloucester Cathedral, in 2012, and remained in this post until 2019.
