Spoken Word at the Arvon Foundation 2006

This year, for the very first time as far as I'm aware, there will be a specialised Spoken Word course on offer at the Arvon Foundation. The Arvon Foundation has several centres about the UK where writers can gather together under one roof to write, make friends, and exchange knowledge and information on a five day course tutored by experts in their chosen genre or field of writing. Poetry and novel-writing have long been staple ingredients on the Arvon diet but the growing popularity of Spoken Word and Performance Poetry in this country has obviously encouraged the centre directors at Lumb Bank to incorporate them into their course regimen.

On the Spoken Word course, to be held in November, students will apparently 'learn a variety of techniques geared towards performance, writing and performing monologues, improvisation, using rhythm, breathing techniques, space and stage craft, drama exercises.' Students will also be encouraged to discover and develop their own approaches to spoken word.

The 2006 course start date for Spoken Word is Monday, November 20th, finishing on Saturday, November 25th. The course itself will be tutored by:
    
Jess Cook
COOK 'n' KITCH or Jess Cook, has performed in Mexico, New York and London, as well as Australia. She wrote and recorded an album of poetry and beats as a resident artist at the Frequency Lab

and Anthony Joseph
Anthony Joseph is a poet and novelist. Born in Trinidad, he is the author of Desafinado and Teragaton and a spoken word CD Liquid Textology: Readings From The African Origins of UFOs (all Poison Engine Press)

with their Course Guest on Wednesday night, Rommi Smith

Rommi Smith works with her band to create a synthesis of lyrical spoken and sung word. She is currently Poet in Residence at BBC Radio 3.

Lumb Bank - The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre.
Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX7 6DF
 Tel: 01422 843714
Fax: 01422 843714

E-Mail: l-bank@arvonfoundation.org

To find out more about Arvon Foundation centres, courses and fees, click here.