Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry 2025
Following the success the inaugural competition in 2023, the Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry is an annual highlight of our programme. Best known for her wealth of writing and her love of Frome Festival, Crysse was an inspirational writer who always championed poetry throughout the Festival.
How to take part
- Purchase your competition place by clicking below and paying the £5 competition fee
- Submit your poem using the online form once you’ve paid your fee.
- Maximum poem length – 40 lines
- Closing Date – Thursday 12th June 2025 @ 5pm
Any queries? Get in touch – office@fromefestival.co.uk
Sponsored by
DIRTY LAUNDRY POETRY WITH
CRYSSE MORRISON POETRY COMPETITION PRIZE GIVING
Tuesday 8th July / 8pm
Merlin Theatre
A special summer edition of live storytelling and poetry event Dirty Laundry, in collaboration with the Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry. Including the prize giving, readings from the winning poets, and a stellar open mic line-up. Come and experience the energy, the connection, the feels.
Tickets released May 2025
The Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry is back for its third year, continuing to honour the legacy of the cherished Frome poet and author. Crysse, who sadly passed away in late 2022, was a prolific writer and a mentor to many local poets as well as a huge contributor and supporter of the annual Frome Festival. Her literary talent, infectious energy, and unwavering positivity made her a beloved figure at the heart of the town’s creative community.
In 2023, a close friend of Crysse’s, Rosie Eliot, launched the Poetry Prize as part of the Festival. The inaugural prize-giving event was hosted by popular Scottish stand-up poet, Elvis McGonagall, who was also a friend and collaborator of Crysse. Each year, poets from across the UK are invited to submit their work via the Frome Festival website with cash prizes awarded to the top three winners, alongside a special prize for the best local entry. The overall winner also receives a unique, handmade silver brooch in the shape of a writing quill, crafted and gifted by local jeweller Christina Oswin. Last year’s winner, Ian Royce Chamberlain, took first place with his poem Good Friday, while David Thompson won the local prize for his poem The Long Man.
This year, the Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry event will return to the Merlin Theatre on Tuesday, July 8th, with a brand-new format. Co-hosted by Dirty Laundry, the evening will feature open mic storytelling and poetry, in addition to readings of the winning poems, judged by poet, playwright, and broadcaster Luke Wright. Olly Davy, founder of Dirty Laundry, explained, “this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Crysse Morrison, who truly lit up the town and inspired the creation of Dirty Laundry”, adding that the event will be “everything you love about Dirty Laundry – the energy, the laughter, the feels – in a bigger venue.”
Luke Wright – JUDGE
After a quarter of a century on stages across the world Luke Wright is a poet and raconteur at the top of his game. Both brazen and elegiac, Wright’s poems pull on the tidy hem of responsible existence to unravel the frustrations of the family, politics and masculinity in 21st century Britain.
He marries his inventive writing with breath-taking performance skills to take audiences on an incredible emotional journey. He’s the regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs shows for The Libertines. He’s a regular on Radio 4 and has won a Fringe First for writing , a Stage Award for performance, and was the 2021 Saboteur Spoken Word Artist of the Year.
The animated short films he wrote for director Jon Dunleavy were voiced by Robert Lindsay and David Soul. He’s written poetry for two documentaries on Channel 4. The Seven Ages of Love (dir. Zara Hayes) was shortlisted for a Grierson Award.
He’s written four poetry collections and six pamphlets his latest is Pub Grub. His plays have been published as epic poems by Penned in the Margins. His pamphlet, After Engine Trouble (Rough Trade Books), won the Saboteur Award for best pamphlet in 2019. To celebrate 20 years of gigging Nymphs & Thugs put out the double album TWENTY on LP and download.
2024 – WINNERS AND COMMENDED
Judge – Emma Purshouse
L-R: Judge Emma Purshouse, First Prize winner Ian Royce Chamberlain, Festival Chair Rosie Eliot, Local Prize winner David Thompson, Phil Jackson (Highly Commended) at the Prize-giving event at Bistro Lotte. Photo credit: Tori Allison
First Prize
Good Friday – Ian Royce Chamberlain
Second Prize
Of Settlement. Of Roots – Jane Burn
Third Prize
The Art of Astronomy – Sarah Doyle
Local Prize
The Long Man – David Thompson
Highly Commended
Christine Griffin
Claire Morris
Graeme Ryan
Mark Connors
Carol Caffrey
Dr Jennifer A McGowan
Phil Jackson
Thank you for the fantastic response to this year’s competition!