The International Poetry Incarnation, a landmark event of the 60s counter-culture revelation held at the Hall in June 1965, will be re-imagined at this immersive event celebrating the work of Peter Whitehead.

Recalling the atmosphere of that hazy evening in 1965, a rare screening of Wholly Communion, Whitehead’s documentary filmed at the event, will be followed by live performances from Michael Horovitz and rising talents from poetry slam pioneers Hammer & Tongue.

Steve Larkin, president of Hammer & Tongue, will host the event, joined by poets ‘Angry Sam’ and Lydia Towsey, who will present original material in response to Whitehead’s dynamic documentation of 1965. These new works will focus on the way in which the poetry in Wholly Communion still speaks powerfully to contemporary concerns and issues.

The Incarnation was one of the first British ‘Happenings’, where beatnik poets met emerging hippie culture, bringing together the leading lights of American and European beat poetry, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Adrian Mitchell and Michael Horovitz.

Supported by De Montfort University’s Cinema and Television History Research Centre (CATH)