IN ONE of his poems, written while in exile from nazi Germany, Bertolt Brecht poses the question: “In the dark times/Will there also be singing?”

It is a question about politics and poetry that we all need to ask ourselves, in these different yet still “dark times.” What is the role of poetry, and art and culture generally, in modern capitalist society?

Clearly the world is not as savagely and violently divided as it was in Brecht’s day, no matter how hard the warmongers in the US, the EU and Britain try to provoke, start and continue military violence in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Yet, like Brecht, we still live under the alienating domination of capital, which continues to block genuine economic democracy and disfigures artistic and cultural life with a subtle but insistent, ideologically driven agenda of vapid entertainment, celebrity prizes, creative writing battery farms, cultural criticism by press release and book-signing festivals.

But later in October in Middlesbrough a literary festival with a difference is to take place. T-Junction, Teesside’s first international poetry festival, features an intense four days of readings, workshops, discussions, talks and performances, at various venues across the city.

Local, national and international writers are taking part, from Cuba, Palestine, Syria, Nigeria, France, Finland and elsewhere.

Well-known poets such as John Berger, Linda France and Bill Herbert will be reading and discussing their poetry.

But the festival also showcases some great writers who are not so well-known in this country such as Martin Espada, Tara Bergin, Riina Katajavuori and Victor Rodriguez Nunez.

Martin Espada, who has worked as a bouncer, a primate caretaker, an encyclopedia salesman, a petrol pump attendant and a tenant lawyer, is alone worth going to see.

Teesside’s own vibrant local poetry scene is also well represented by Marilyn Longstaff, Nader Hussein, Amir Darwish and Patience Azinwoke.

The astonishing cultural diversity, unusually even gender balance and sheer exuberant internationalism of this event make it strikingly different to the average British poetry festival. It reflects Teesside’s long-standing internationalist outlook, its creative, egalitarian mix of languages and cultures and its commitment to art, culture and poetry which are rooted, relevant and radical.

Morning Star poetry columnist Andy Croft — a poet and publisher himself — has organised the festival.

“It’s all about joining in,” he says. “Whether people enjoy reading poetry or they’d like to learn how to write it, we’d like everyone to come along.”

A T-junction is where different roads meet, a turning point where choices are made. At this Teesside junction later this month, readers and writers will be gathering to stop, listen, think — and ask questions about where to go next.

Brecht’s own answer to the poetic question is: “Yes, there will also be singing/About the dark times.”

Local, national and international “dark times” are never forgotten on Teesside. Come along and join in the singing.

T-Junction runs from October 16-20, details: tjunctionfestival.co.uk

Mike Quille