WH Auden Festival

Solihull has an important connection with the poet, WH Auden, who spent the formative years of his life in the town. Auden came here as a very young child and his family lived here during the first decade of his life, which coincided with the First World War.

This new festival, which was a collaboration between Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Solihull Business Improvement District and programmed by Parrabbola (international community arts organisation), explored his artistic output through interpretations of his work, as well as that of his collaborators and contemporaries.

In this first festival, we looked particularly at Auden as a young man – during the 1930s where he might be said to have developed his individual voice.

We focused on the ‘Art For All’ ethos, bringing the arts to audiences of all ages in a myriad of different ways.

These included immersive street theatre performances, live readings of poetry, film screenings, talks, music performances, vintage market and a museum style Auden installation as well as participatory activity for all.