IF the mention of poetry makes you think of school, think again.

Ledbury Poetry Festival, which this year runs from July 1 to 10, is packed with a wealth of entertainment that will hit the spot whether you’re an ardent lifelong fan of poetry or a newcomer to verse.

The festival celebrates and showcases every possible form of poetry in a programme put together by Jo Bell of National Poetry Day and Jonathan Davidson of Writing West Midlands, featuring almost 100 events including poetry readings and performances, exhibitions, walks and workshops and even the interactive murder mystery Poetic Licence – To Kill!

Poetry is a powerful medium through which to explore every aspect of the human condition, and there are plenty of events that tackle the big subjects.

This year, international poets offer insight into the turbulent times we’re living in. A gala poetry performance and supper at Hellens features modern Tunisian poetry reflecting the country’s extraordinary culture and its changing politics, while Zimbabwean New Generation Poets focus on “the unasked questions, unstated views, unattainable dreams and unfulfilled promises that have marked contemporary Zimbabwe”.

Publishers-in-residence Arc Publications present New Order: Hungarian Poets of the Post-1989 Generation, with three poets including George Szirtes, editor of a new anthology of Hungarian poetry.

A second poetry and supper evening at Hellens showcases a multilingual poetry performance with two UK poets, Bill Herbert and Zoe Skoulding, Swiss German poet Raphael Urweider and Indian poets Sampurna Chattarji and Meena Kandasay.

Throughout the prog ramme you’ll find light and shade, with plenty of events to raise a laugh – John He gley brings The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet, a Frenchman with some unusual habits, to Ledbury and Matt Harvey, The Wimblepoet, meets The Antipoet, poets in PVC with a double bass, brilliant lyrics and saucy humour.

Throughout the 10 days of the festival you’ll find a great selection of workshops, though those with poet-in-residence Ian Duhig have already been snapped up, but there’s an unmissable opportunity on July 8, for aspiring poets to get the inside track on how to get published, as Arc Publications offers one-to-one sessions with editorial director Tony Ward and director of development Angela Jarman.

And a writing workshop designed for family couples, parent and child, aunt and nephew, offers the opportunity to find the poetry in Ledbury with a guided walk and plenty of poetry writing.

Festival manager Victoria Patch recommends, on July 4, The Poetry of Dementia with John Killick, who has been working as a poet with people with dementia for 16 years, with remarkable results.

Poetry, music, exhibitions, films, laughter and tears. And a murder mystery. Not a whiff of school about this year’s Ledbury Poetry Festival.

The event will be launched by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and closes with a performance by The Joy of Six – “like a great jazz quintet, only with voices”. For details and to book, visit poetry-festival.com or call the box office on 0845 458 1743.