POETRY is thriving in Yorkshire with many young poets building a great reputation on social media.

And, performance poetry has become a vibrant part of cultural entertainment. Poets share their own work with a live audience, almost akin to the comedy club scene.

The result is a thought-provoking and exciting form of theatre.

However there is also a massive back catalogue of poetry – some of the best literature in the English language – that has not enjoyed this profiling.

A new show being premiered at Hellifield Village Hall on Friday, September 23 seeks to fill this gap.

Telling the story of life from childhood to old age and beyond, the lively show calls on 800 years of poetry from Chaucer right up to the present day.

The work has been created by Grassington actor John Anderson who will perform the 60 minute show on stage. There is some mild adult material involved, notably “Going to Bed” by John Donne published in 1654.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Alzheimer’s Society to mark World Alzheimer month.

Poets represented include Chaucer, John Donne, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Rupert Brooke, Yeats, John Betjeman, Philip Larkin and Spike Milligan, and many others including living poets from Yorkshire.

Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased on the door or by telephone on 01756 753254.