Words by the water: Southsea Coastal Scheme blends engineering with art
The Southsea Coastal team has unveiled a poem written by the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage which has been integrated into the promenade near Southsea Castle.
This forms part of Portsmouth City Council’s commitment to incorporate public art into the Southsea Coastal Scheme.
The poem is entitled ‘The Theatre of the Sea’ after the name given to the multi-tiered promenade around the castle which offers stunning views across the Solent.
Southsea has special significance to the Poet Laureate as he has connections to the local area from his time as an undergraduate student at Portsmouth Polytechnic (now the University of Portsmouth).
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage said: “It’s four decades since I graduated from Portsmouth as a geography student; a lot has changed in that time and I see it now with the eyes of a poet.
“Being invited to write a poem that will become part of its new geography has been a great honour and a wonderful kind of reunion.”
The poem is part of a Portsmouth City Council programme of creative projects featuring a balance of local artists and artists with a national or international profile.
Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “We’re honoured that Simon Armitage has written a poem especially for Portsmouth and it adds something really special to the Southsea Coastal Scheme.
“This is one of an exciting programme of public art projects that we are planning for the seafront which will celebrate local themes and stories and offer lots of opportunities for local artists.”
"We’re thrilled that the Southsea Coastal Scheme is not only a remarkable feat of engineering, but also a celebration of creativity — providing space for art, showcasing the talents of local artists, and giving something truly meaningful back to the community. It’s more than just protection; it’s a place for people to enjoy, connect, and be inspired."
Jon Benton Divisional Director
The poem reads:
The Theatre of the Sea
The performance is never the same one day
to the next. A cruise ship enters stage left
or a gull swoops down and steals the scene;
what song the weather will sing is anyone’s guess.
The moon’s reflection understudies the full moon,
then at noon the sun delivers its big speech,
costumed in flowing robes, and still gets outshone
by the extras and bit parts of yachts and clouds.
Beyond the orchestra pit of the sea wall
the hovercraft sashays in for its curtain call.
But maybe you’re the real star of the show,
playing your true self, watched from a balcony sky,
lit by the footlights of coast and shore.
You stand to leave and the waves rise to applaud.
