EVENTS

LONDON: London Poetry Festival takes place all this week with a range of performance poets appearing nightly at 8pm at Camden People's Theatre, 58-60 Hamstead Road, NW1; all tickets pounds 4.50/pounds 3. Info 0181 692 0393

International June Fairs of the Provincial Booksellers Association take place today and next Sun at the Hotel Russell, WC1, pounds 5. 01763 248400

Finnish poet Jyrki Kiiskinen and author Rosa Likson read in English at the Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, SE1; Wed 26, 7.30pm, pounds 4/pounds 2.50. 0171 960 4242

The Cracking Crime Tour: three of Serpent's Tail's most popular crime writers celebrate the publisher's 10th birthday: Stella Duffy, Ken Bruen and Nicholas Blincoe appear at Filthy MacNasty's, Amwell Street, EC1; Thurs 27, 8.30pm, pounds 3. 0171 837 6067

John Lahr, New Yorker theatre critic and biographer of Joe Orton, anecdotalises about thespians he has known and discusses theatre in the 20th century at the Cottesloe, Royal National Theatre, SE1; Fri 28, 6pm, pounds 3.50/pounds 2.50. 0171 928 2252

Jane Duran and Mimi Khalvati lead the Last Saturday Workshop at the Poetry Society, WC2; Sat 29, 10am, pounds 20, members pounds 16, concs pounds 12.50. Bring your work along; info 0181 985 8788

EDINBURGH: Alan Garner shows us around the mythological landscape of his latest novel, Strandloper, with a reading at the Traverse Theatre; Tues 25, 7pm. 0181 749 8919

BRIGHTON: Joe Muggs and Jeff Reed compere an "open tongues" session for aspiring poets at The Lift, 11-12 Queens Road; Weds 26, 8pm, free. 01273 779411

HEBDEN BRIDGE: The Cave Tellers offer an evening of yarn-spinning and story-telling at the Stubbing Wharf; Fri 28, pounds 2.50/pounds 1.50. 01422 844786

ILKELY FESTIVAL: Simon Armitage reads from his latest collection, Dead Sea Poems, at Craiglands Hotel; Fri 28, 8pm, pounds 5/pounds 4. 01943 601210