Kate Tempest wins Ted Hughes prize

Well done Kate Tempest for winning the Ted Hughes award for innovation in poetry last night. The prize was awarded to her by Carol Ann Duffy in a ceremony at the Saville Club.

The award was in recognition of her work Brand New Ancients, which relocates old gods to modern London. Brand New Ancients was co-commissioned and presented last September at the Albany in Deptford and Battersea Arts Centre.

Kate, who started out performing locally as Excentral Tempest, grew up in Brockley and has a long association with the Albany. Her latest work, the play Glasshouse, was performed at the Albany by Cardboard Citizens theatre company earlier this month.