BBC Radio 4 Beyond Belief: Poetry – Reaching for Divine Heights
Recorded live at the Bradford Literature Festival three poets join Giles Fraser to consider the relationship between poetry and the divine. Some of our most feted poets, from Rumi to John Donne, Tagore to William Blake – have found that poetry opens up a space to explore the divine.
In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare praised the poet’s eye, glancing ‘from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven’ as ‘imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown’.
In front of a live audience, a fascinating panel of contemporary poets and wordsmiths join Giles to discuss whether poetry can help bridge the gap between the physical and metaphysical worlds. Camille Ralphs, Testament and Kate Fox consider how their forebears have used words to try and climb spiritual ascents. Reading some of their own work, they’ll also share their own relationships between art and faith.
Listen to Beyond Belief: Poetry – Reaching for Divine HeightsAbout the Host
Giles Fraser
Giles Fraser is a journalist, broadcaster and the Vicar of St Anne’s, Kew. He can be heard on BBC Radio 4’s Thought For The Day, Moral Maze and presenting Beyond Belief.
About the Speakers
Camille Ralphs
Camille Ralphs is a poet and critic, and an editor at the Times Literary Supplement. Her poems and essays have appeared in numerous magazines, including the New York Review of Books, Poetry Review and the Los Angeles Review of Books.
Kate Fox
Kate Fox is a stand-up poet, spoken word artist and broadcaster, known for her sharp wit, warmth and distinctive Northern voice. A regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s The Verb, she has been Poet in Residence for Glastonbury Festival and the Great North Run. Her books include Where There’s Muck There’s Bras, On Sycamore Gap and Bigger on the Inside, which explores neurodiversity through the lens of Doctor Who.
Testament
Testament is a writer, rapper and world record breaking human beatboxer. His play Black Men Walking was nominated at the UK Theatre Awards and the Writer Guild Awards. Testament’s work includes the celebrated Hip-Hop album Homecut: No Freedom Without Sacrifice and play Blake Remixed. He’s recently presented BBC Radio 4 Pick of the Wick.
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