When the T. S. Eliot Prize founded the Young Critics scheme with The Poetry Society’s Young Poets Network, the aim was to empower young critics, to offer a different critical viewpoint on the shortlisted collections, and to engage more young readers with the Prize.
Following a series of workshops led by The Poetry Society’s Cia Mangat, writer and reviewer Helen Bowell, and expert guest Jen Campbell, this year’s Young Critics – Evelyn Byrne, Daniel Clark, Oliver Cooney, Godelieve de Bree, Chloe Elliott, Leo Kang, Urussa Malik, Cal O’Reilly, Natalie Perman and Gabrielle Tse – have produced astonishingly engaging and insightful video reviews of the 2023 T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist. The videos combine both dazzling critiques and visuals, and are a brilliant way to deepen the reader’s experience and understanding of the collections.
The Poetry Society team and I hatched the Young Critics scheme to generate exciting new critiques of the T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist and to increase young readers’ interest in the Prize. We are delighted with this year’s astounding videos – incisive reviews, beautifully presented. Everyone who sees them will find fresh insights and new ways to connect with the collections. – Michael Sims, Director, T. S. Eliot Prize
Look out for the video reviews, which will be posted on the T. S. Eliot Prize YouTube channel in two batches over the next fortnight. In tandem with The Poetry Society, the videos will also be widely promoted across social media. The Young Critics receive copies of all the books on this year’s Shortlist and are invited to attend the T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on 14 January 2024.
You can also watch the stunning videos created by the 2022 cohort – Aliyah Begum, Eric Yip, Holly Moberly, Noah Jacob, SZ Shao, Lily McDermott, Mukisa Verrall, Davina Bacon and Ruth Awolola – on the T. S. Eliot Prize YouTube channel.