Stars from the world of theatre, film and television have been brought together on The Poetry App to breathe new life into the works of great poets.
The Poetry App was created by M&C Saatchi Mobile for The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation to make poetry more accessible to the digital generation. Users can read, listen to or watch a video of well-known names performing the works of 16 great poets.
The collection of 115 poems are read on the app by over 30 great British actors and actresses including Bafta winner Dominic West of The Wire, former Bond Sir Roger Moore, Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, Silent Witness’ Emilia Fox, Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Harold Pinter and songwriter and campaigner Bob Geldof, as well as theatre greats Charles Dance and Juliet Stevenson.
Users can compile their favourites into an online anthology to fill their digital bookcase. If inspired to pen their own verse, The Poetry App allows users to write, record and share their work with poetry appreciators and newcomers.
Lord Saatchi, who completed his late wife Josephine Hart’s development of The Poetry App, commented: “For years The Josephine Hart Poetry Hours were appreciated by audiences at the British Library. Her ambition was to take this joy in great poetry performed by great actors to digital platforms where it could be accessed by a wider audience. The Poetry App is intended to be the most advanced poetry application on the internet - a universe of inspiring, thought-provoking and entertaining poetry to explore.”
The Poetry App is available on Android, iPad and iPhone devices and features in the Top 40 book category on the iTunes App store. It has already been downloaded by 40,000 people all over the world with the most popular poet being W.H. Auden.