Indies and Scottish performance poets lead 2024 Forward Prizes for Poetry shortlists

Rachael Allen, Derek Chan and Ella Frears are among those shortlisted for the 2024 Forward Prizes for Poetry, with subjects including real-time responses to Gaza and Ukraine, toxic landlords, the Met Gala and the opioid epidemic and a strong showing for independent presses and Scottish performance poets. 

The most prestigious poetry in the UK and Ireland features 20 poets across four categories. There is the Forward Prize for Best Collection (£10,000), the Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection (£5,000), the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem—Written (£1,000), and the Jerwood Prize for Best Single Poem—Performed (£1,000). The shortlists were announced at writing charity Apple and Snakes’ Jawdance event on Wednesday (17th July) at Rich Mix in east London. 

Independent presses continue to demonstrate their importance in the poetry landscape, with seven out of the 10 collections published by independent publishers from across the UK and Ireland. Scottish performance poetry is flourishing: three of the five poets shortlisted for the Best Single Poem—Performed category (Leyla Josephine, Nasim Rebecca Asl and Michael Pedersen) are based in the region, including a repeat nomination for Pedersen, who was also shortlisted in the inaugural performance category last year. 

Actor, presenter and poet Craig Charles is this year’s chair of judges, and is joined by poets and writers Alycia Pirmohamed, Vanessa Kisuule, Daniel Sluman and Jane Clarke. 

The four prize shortlists this year showcase the “astonishing breadth of styles and themes that contemporary poetry currently has to offer,” comments judge and writer Vanessa Kisuule. The range and versatility of form across the four categories was also noted by judge and poet Alycia Pirmohamed, who praised the hybrid forms of “prose poems, verse novels, and long poetry sequences” sharing the shortlist with works engaging in “photography and ekphrasis poetry.” 

Charles said: “My favourite part of this process was getting to spend intensive time with these fresh voices and my fellow judges—all professional poets. I especially love getting to showcase the vibrant spoken-word scene I love so much.” 

Clarke added: “These poets have found the language and form to sing of what it is to be human at this moment in time. They bear witness to personal and political loss and injustice, alongside love, courage and the determination to go on.”