To make up for missing a festival in 2021, we decided to double up on them in 2022: VERVE were proud local partners for Contains Strong Language, the BBC’s festival celebrating new writing. We worked together on projects that spanned the Commonwealth, from Across Borders to Language is a Queer Thing, championed local poetry and, of course, added VERVE flair to whole festival. With huge names like Linton Kwesi Johnson and Benjamin Zephaniah, plus live recordings of some of BBC Radio’s flagship shows, Contains Strong Language was unlike anything we’d done before.

Some further additions included our Indie Poetry Press Bookfair on Sunday and the welcome return of Podium Poets, our intimate readings peppered throughout the festival, featuring mini-sets from some of the most brilliant poets CSL had to offer. Despite the difficulties of historical events occuring on festival time (will we ever have a Friday go to plan? Stay tuned to find out) we still managed to pack amazing showcases, inspiring workshop and brilliant shows into four fabulous days.