News from 57 Productions

57 is engaged in an extensive production programme in 2007 - inc. events, workshops & talks - as well as filming & recording with a wide range of artists

The new iPoems & Video Jukebox systems are enjoying lots of traffic & good feedback – with the streaming & download systems doing the trick!

We're pleased to announce special screenings of films from the Jukebox during Summer & Autumn - inc. Hull Film Festival & Portobello Film Festival - with much more t.b.a. - inc. screenings at key literary festivals around the UK

In the pipeline - we have new content for both the iPoems & the Video Jukebox – with, for example, Billy Childish - as just announced in the Kent on Sunday, plus new recordings & films featuring Clare Pollard, Paul Farley & Imtiaz Dharker among others

Also for the Video Jukebox - in Autumn we will be installing rare archive footage of the great late Scottish poet & folklorist - Hamish Henderson - & the great late St Vincentian poet & jazz musician - Shake Keane - as filmed by Mahmood Jamal at the Black Third World & Radical Bookfair in 1992 – along with other surprises

iPoems will feature new work from sessions with Shamshad Khan, Crisis, Paul Lyalls, Mark Gwynne Jones, Jacob Sam-La Rose – a choice crop of popular, young poets – spreading the word through performance - plus new recordings from a special sessions with Lorna Goodison, Jane Draycott & Patience Agbabi

57 also proudly announces the electronic release of a rare recording by the late great Mikey Smith - Say Natty Natty/Goliath - on the Poetry Jukebox - STILL FREE - accompanied by a newly commissioned article on Mikey by Mervyn Morris – also freely available

plus to come – we have new Articles from Nigel McLoughlin on poetry, new-media & higher education; Janet Smith on poetry & performance in a post-colonial context; word from Neil Rollinson on poetry as hypertext; plus a new interview with Patience Agbabi – with more t.b.a.

57 will soon announce newly commissioned work with the poet & flash-animator Peter Howard - inc. a unique collaboration with Lemn Sissay - further exploring this extraordinary hybrid art-form

Events & Other Highlights for 2007

57 is party to a huge programme of events in Autumn 2007 – highlights of which include:

Linton Kwesi Johnson - who takes on an extensive tour of the UK to mark the publication of the Selected Works from Penguin – taking in Ilkley, Oldham, Bedales, Durham, Manchester, London, Hull, Whitby, Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bridgewater, Whitstable, Colchester, plus … with more details soon to be announced

Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze continues to deliver remarkable work – including for the recent Abolition of Slavery memorial event at the British Museum & a commission for the Royal Opera House based on Hogarth’s ‘A Rakes’ Progress’, as well as promoting her new collection – The Fifth Figure (Bloodaxe). She will be touring the UK & internationally throughout 2007

Adrian Mitchell is working on new theatre productions, plus promoting his recent collections from Bloodaxe - The Shadow Knows - & from Orchard - Daft as a Doughnut (for kids) - as well as his recordings with 57 - The Dogfather - & the Poetry Archive. Also in 2007 Adrian is also working on his newly commissioned autobiography & new audio recordings with 57 for young people

Patience Agbabi is engaged in an extensive performance & educational programme & will be airing new works from her forthcoming collection - Bloodshot Monochrome (Cannongate) - & Courttia Newland will be touring the UK & internationally promoting his recent collection of short stories from Peepal Tree - Music for the Off-Key … with much more t.b.a.

Please check out the new iPoems Myspace site

Paul Beasley
57 Productions
57 Effingham Road, Lee Green, London SE12 8NT
Tel: 020 8463 0866
email: paul @ 57productions.com