The Poetry Hour
The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation was established in 2011 by Lord Maurice Saatchi to honour the extraordinary literary legacy of his wife, Josephine Hart, with whom he shared 27 remarkable years.
We aim to inspire a deeper love for arts, culture, and education—especially through the transformational power of poetry, literature, and performance.
At the heart of our work is The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour, where renowned actors bring iconic poetry to life. What started as The Gallery Poets in Cork Street during the vibrant late 1980s quickly took flight, becoming a cross-Atlantic sensation. Over the years, it has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, from The Hay Festival and The National Theatre to the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, the New York Public Library, and Harvard University. Since 2004, the Poetry Hour has found its home at the British Library, where it continues to thrive, keeping Josephine’s spirit alive. In addition to the events at The British Library, the foundation also stages readings at other venues in London and beyond.
Josephine believed poetry was meant to be heard. She called it “the trinity of sound, sense, and sensibility,” a unique art form that gives voice to human experience like nothing else. The poet Seamus Heaney echoed her sentiment, declaring that “voice helps to carry words farther and deeper than eye.” On our website you can see and hear some of the finest poetry, read by exceptional actors. Every Poetry Hour performance begins with a glimpse into the poet’s life and work because, as T. S. Eliot once said, “we understand the work better when we understand something of the poet’s life.”
Our Poetry Hour Repertory Company boasts an extraordinary roster of talent. It includes beloved actors such as Dame Eileen Atkins, Simon Callow, Sinéad Cusack, Jeremy Irons, Lily James, and Felicity Kendal, all of whom have returned to perform with us. We’ve also welcomed new faces, including Sophie Cookson, Adrian Dunbar, Evanna Lynch, Gloria Obianyo and Alicia Vikander—each bringing the poetry alive in unique ways.
Beyond The Poetry Hour, the Foundation supports budding talent by funding scholarships for drama students at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. We give a yearly grant to the King George V Fund for Actors in Need in Later Life, a vital lifeline for performers facing hardship. The Fund thrives thanks to the generosity of theatregoers and sector supporters, who give back to honour the artists who’ve enriched our lives.