Friday, September 07, 2007

WRITE TO IGNITE: Details of this month's activities in and around Hackney


Friday 7th September

Poetry Street Party
This event brings together some of the most talented young and established
poets in the country, that all just happen to be local! Hosted by the
witty, imaginative and multi-award winning Hackney Poet Laureate Michael
Rosen. Captivating young troupe Poem In between People - Musa Okwonga,
Joshua Idehen and Inua Ellams - flaunt their comical, rhythmical, lyrical
dexterity. The wry and playfully beguiling Annie Freud reads from her
much-heralded debut collection The Best Man That Ever Was (Picador).
Dynamic artist Adisa weaves his wordspells over a soulful musical
tapestry. All in all, this is one not to be missed.

Venue: Chats Palace 42-44 Brooksby's Walk, Hommerton, E9 6DF
Time: 7.30pm Admission: £3 / FREE concs
Booking: Places limited, so booking essential - contact Festival Box
Office. Tel: 077923474196 or email: boxoffice@writetoignite.co.uk



Sunday 9th September

John Hegley -- Not Just An Udder Poetry Show
Come and enjoy a taste of country air in the city down on Hackney's very
own farm, for a poetry show with a difference. Acclaimed comedian and poet
John Hegley presents an afternoon of family fun, poems, stories and songs
about animals - real and imaginary.
'Scandalously talented' - Sunday Times
'Awesomely mundane' - The Independent

Venue: Hackney City Farm, Hackney Road, E2 8QA
Admission: FREE (£3 suggested donation to the farm)
Booking: Just turn up!
Time: Noon -- 3pm

Tuesday 11th September


Hackney Writers Read Hackney

An evening of book-chat about Hackney Literature. The panel, chaired by
festival writer in residence Michael Rosen, will discuss books from
Hackney Libraries 'Reading Hackney' promotion. The panel are: Roddy
Lumsden -- acclaimed poet whose collections have been shortlisted for the
T.S. Elliot and Forward Prizes; Iain Sinclair -- novelist, poet,
geographer and well-known Hackney resident; Barbara Taylor -- author of
'Mary Wollstonecraft and the Feminist Imagination'.

Venue: Stoke Newington Library, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0JS
Time: 7pm Admission: FREE
Booking: Places limited, so booking essential - contact Festival Box
Office. Tel: 077923474196 or email: boxoffice@writetoignite.co.uk



Saturday 22nd September

Clown in the mouth
The country's only museum dedicated to clowns and their history throws
open its doors for a very special festival event. Trace the path of
clowning through a maze of pictures, costumes and props while watching
performances from poets and comedians to celebrate the Clowns
International 60th Birthday.

Performances on the hour:

1pm - Simon Munnery: the mind and body behind Alan Parker: Urban Warrior,
The League Against Tedium and Buckethead. 'One of the most original and
talented comics in the country' - The Observer.

2pm - The Fix: the editor of the UK's only national magazine dedicated to
stand-up comedy gives a half-hearted talk about failure, if nothing goes
wrong in the meantime.

3pm - Hugo Williams: the acclaimed literary journalist and award winning
poet, T.S. Eliot Prize and Queen's Gold Medal, reads a new work about the
clown Grimaldi.

4pm - Andrew Bailey: comic sonic mayhem from the avant-popster comedian's
comedian.

Venue: Clown Museum, All Saints Centre, Haggerston Road, E8 4HT
Admission: FREE (£2 suggested donation to the museum).
Booking: Just turn up!
Time: Noon - 5pm.

Wednesday 26th September


Michael Rosen presents Word on the Streets
Michael Rosen presents poems commissioned in his role as Hackney's Poet
Laureate, giving voice to some of Hackney's streets. The piece he has
created is to be read and performed by a group -- sometimes solo,
sometimes chorus, sometimes a cappella -- and the poems will tell us
something of what Hackney has been, what it is, and what it could be in
the future.

Venue: The Round Chapel, Lower Clapton Road, E5 0LY
Time: Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8pm. Admission: £3 / FREE concs
Booking: Places limited, so booking essential - contact Festival Box
Office. Tel: 077923474196 or email: boxoffice@writetoignite.co.uk


Thursday 27th September

Shortfuse -- Hackney Empire Comedians
Hackney invades Islington for one night only as Shortfuse hosts past
winners of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition. Featuring
Stewart Lee -- co-writer of Jerry Springer: The Opera, Henning When - The
German Comedy Ambassador in the United Kingdom, Joe Wilkinson -- winner of
last year's contest, and Paul Hickman -- a physical torrent of puns and
props. Hosted by Nathan Penlington - 'Sensation' - The Guardian

Venue: Shortfuse, The Camden Head, 2 Camden Walk, Islington, N1 8DY
Time: Doors 8.30pm, show 9pm. Admission: £5 / £3 concs
Booking: Booking recommended - contact 07923 474 196 /
boxoffice@writetoignite.co.uk or visit www.writetoignite.co.uk for more
information. Limited tickets available on the door.



The Final Chapter - Saturday 29th September

The Write to Ignite Festival grand finale held in Hoxton Hall -- beautiful
home to Hackney's musical, theatrical and nonsensical words since 1863 --
a day long celebration of words in print and performance.

Book Swap -- Clear out your dusty shelves and fill them back up with
someone else's favourite reads -- a book for a book. Come early and get a
chance to swap for brand new titles donated by leading publishers. Plus
browse our literary stalls featuring the best Hackney based magazines and
publishers.

Novel Ideas - Local publishers present readings from their writers and
lively discussion: Maia Press authors Dreda Say Mitchell, whose novel
Running Hot won the best first crime novel award 2005, and Kolton Lee
whose new book Last Card is set in East London. Legend Press presents Jae
Watson (author of Journey) and Rebecca Strong (author of Here or There).
Plus Legend Press MD Tom Chalmers will also answer any questions from
aspiring writers about ways to increase chances of getting published, what
Legend Press is looking for in submissions, and why the tide is turning
for independent publishing.

Open Mic -- Are you a lyrical wordsmith, poetic scribbler or comic
versifier? This is your chance to stand behind the Write to Ignite mic and
shine. Hosted by Niall O'Sullivan - charismatic MC of London's longest
running poetry open mic, 'Poetry Unplugged'. Sign up to read on the day.

Write to Excite -- "The poet aspires to the condition of the music-hall
comedian", said T.S. Eliot, and tonight we test that statement. A
fantastic evening show featuring the finest stand-up poetry and spoken
word performers ever to tread the boards.

Tim Turnbull -- engaging and entertaining winner of the Arts Foundation's
prize for performance poetry. 'Truly cutting-edge poetic talent' -- Poetry
Review.

Niall O'Sullivan - one of his generation's most original voices. 'Funny
and compassionate' -- Time Out.

Tim Wells - Stamford Hill's born and bred poet. 'Verse that excites,
entertains, delights and jump-starts your cerebral cortex' -- Phill
Jupitus.

Ashna Sarkar - one of the country's best teenage poets, with style and
substance that lifts her work into an engaging performance.

PLUS some very special guests -- see www.writetoignite.co.uk for details.

Hosted by Nathan Penlington -- the UK's only poet magician. 'A natural
performer, witty, inventive, stylish and original' - Robert Newman.

Venue: Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, N1 6SH
Time: Doors 2pm, readings 3pm, open mic 5pm, evening show 7.30pm.
Admission: FREE for all day events. £6/£3 concs for evening show.
Booking: Places limited, so booking essential - contact Festival Box
Office. Tel: 077923474196 or email: boxoffice@writetoignite.co.uk

Full information about all Write to Ignite events can be found on our
website: www.writetoignite.co.uk



Also for those of you who live South of the River, this is an event you
might be interested in:
gDA cabaret -We're back!
Friday 14 September 7:30 PM
With acts from, Poet Elvis McGonagall, Bedlam, Wendy Houstoun, Darren
Johnson, Oren Marshall with 20 tubas, Kathak Dancer Shabari Rao, ,
Acro-balance from So & So Circus Theatre. Alongside table service, live
music and great atmosphere. More information at www.greenwichdance.org.uk
Book tickets on 020 8293 9741

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