Raymond Antrobus has been shortlisted for the 2025 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Performed. This is the first year the prize has been open to poems performed in British Sign Language. He was nominated for performing the poem, ‘Dynamic Disks, 1933’.

The Forward Prizes, which were first awarded in 1992, are awarded in four categories, and have celebrated the most recognised names in poetry including Simon Armitage, Thom Gunn, Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, Carol Ann Duffy, Claudia Rankine, Jackie Kay and Caleb Femi. This year’s shortlists feature poems on toxic relationships, border crossings, faith and colonialism, gentrification and sexuality.

The prizes for the categories are: £10,000 Forward Prize for Best Collection, the £5,000 Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection, the £1,000 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Written and the £1,000 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Performed. The winners will be announced at a ceremony held at the Southbank Centre as part of the London Literature Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Sunday 26th October 2025.

This year’s judging panel, chaired by Sarah Hal, comprised poets and writers Lisa Kelly, Sean O’Brien, Rommi Smith and Hannah Lavery. Lavery said the four Forward Prize shortlists demonstrate how poetry “can be the rallying call; the necessary challenge and the stark provocation; the rage and the grief; and the beauty of connection and hope”. Smith said the “eclectic shortlists” featured poems are as “much tender and introspective, as bold and bawdy; as much musical and lyrical, as prosaic and political.”

Mónica Parle, co-executive director of the Forward Arts Foundation, added: “The judges gave the reading time and attention, and they took such care and shared great passion when discussing the work. It has resulted in a groundbreaking year for the Forward Prizes, with two British Sign Language poets shortlisted for the first time in the Best Single Poem – Performed category (itself still a groundbreaking endeavour on the national awards stage). We are indebted to the advice of judge Lisa Kelly in helping broaden the scope of submissions.“

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Photo © Lily Bertrand Webb