Thursday, March 31, 2011

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 1st April, 2011, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), £5/£4, WINE
Trinity United Reform Church,
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town 1-2 mins. Camden Town tube

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Anne Stevenson and Penelope Shuttle.     
Poets from the floor very welcome (some longer spots available). Please bring a copy of the poem if you wish to be considered for the new anthology which will be edited by Ruth O'Callaghan.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

GALWAY: 2011 Cúirt Over The Edge Showcase Reading



Wednesday, April 13th, 2011, 3.30pm
Druid Lane Theatre
Galway
All welcome

The 2011 Cúirt Over The Edge showcase reading takes place as part of this year's Cúirt International Festival of Literature at the Druid Lane Theatre, Galway. The writers showcased this year are Sarah Clancy, Nicola Griffin & Paul Casey. The reading will be introduced by regular Over The Edge host, Susan Millar DuMars.

This event has grown since its inception in 2006 to become one of Ireland's premier platforms for showcasing new poets and fiction writers. Participating writers have previously been Featured Readers at Ireland's most successful reading series, the Over The Edge: Open Readings in Galway City Library. This year the three winners of the Cúirt New Writing Prize 2011 (to be announced) will read with the Over The Edge writers. The Cúirt New Writing Prize is kindly sponsored by Tígh Neactain in memory of Lena Maguire. http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/cuirt/literature/118.html

Sarah Clancy is from Salthill. She is a participant in the Galway Arts Centre Poetry Workshops facilitated by Kevin Higgins. This year, in a display of what she describes as beginners luck, Sarah was shortlisted in the poetry section of the WOW awards, the Listowel Writers Week Collection of Poetry Competition and the Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition. Her poems feature in Behind The Masks, a publication of work by participants in the advanced poetry workshop at Galway Arts Centre. A collection of her poems, Stacy and The Mechanical Bull, was published recently by Lapwing Press. Sarah was a Featured Reader at the August 2010 Over The Edge: Open Reading. http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-over-edge-open-reading-with.html

Nicola Griffin grew up in Cheshire in the North West of England and studied Psychology and Sociology at the University of Keele in Staffordshire. She has lived in East Clare since 1997. She writes poetry, non-fiction and fiction, is a graduate of the MA in Writing at NUIG and a participant in the Advanced Poetry Workshop at Galway Arts Centre. She has a regular column in Inland Waterways News and her poetry has recently been published in Ropes Unravelled, The Sunday Tribune, The Stinging Fly, Behind The Masks, Crannóg and Nthposition.com. Nicola won the poetry section in the 2010 Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition. She was a Featured Reader at the September 2010 Over The Edge: Open Reading. http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/2010/09/september-over-edge-open-reading-with.html

Paul Casey was born in Cork in 1968. He has lived in a number of countries in Europe and Africa working mostly in film, multimedia and teaching. Paul taught scriptwriting at the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. He now organises the weekly Ó Bhéal poetry event in Cork city. His poetry and reviews have appeared in a number of Irish journals including THE SHOp, Revival, Cork Literary Review, Southword and Census. A chapbook of Paul’s longer poems, It’s Not All Bad, was published by Heaventree Press in May 2009. In June 2010 he completed a poetry-film, The Lammas Hireling, which has been accepted for Berlin’s biennial Zebra International Poetry-Film festival. Paul is working towards his first full collection. He was a Featured Reader at the March 2010 Over The Edge: Open Reading. http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/2010/03/poet-and-fiction-writer-mary-odonnell.html

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing support of Galway City Library, Galway City Council, The Arts Council and The Cúírt Festival of International Literature.


WORCESTER: Parole Parlate - The Spoken Word


Thursday, April 7th, 2011, 7.30pm, £3 on the door, £2 via PayPalLittle Venice,
1-3 St Nicholas Street,
Worcester

The April edition of "Parole Parlate : The Spoken Word”, Worcester’s premier platform for all spoken word lovers, promises to be extra special, as the A&S guest poet this time will be none other than Roy McFarlane, the current Birmingham poet laureate. If you haven’t heard Roy read yet, this is a great opportunity to sample his engaging and poignant verse.
 
Please visit - www.paypal-marketing.co.uk/sendmoney/index.htm to send your payment via paypal using the email address payments@worcslitfest.com to send your entry fee to us. You don't need to have a paypal account to send the entry fee

LEAMINGTON SPA: PureandGoodandRight


Monday, April 11, 2011, 7.30pm, £3 (£2 Student/OAP)
The Sozzled Sausage,
Leamington Spa
CV32 4NX

Each month we invite a fabulous guest performance poet. This month we are delighted to have the highly amusing Theo, the current Midlands Slam Champion. Although this title carries with it a small silver trophy, it has not made him rich or more attractive to women.  As an ex-radio advertising copywriter, Theo writes poems that sound eerily like carpet warehouse commercials and take exactly 30 seconds to read. He has a day job as a professional author and runs stand-up comedy courses for aspriring wags (as in 'amusing people', not 'wives and girlfriends')
 
DEFINITELY AN EVENING NOT TO BE MISSED! With open mic support from…….yes……YOU!
Come and share your poems - seasoned poets & first time performers most welcome!

If you're planning to come along, or would like to know more about the night, please email pgrpoetry@gmail.com

Remember to check out our blog at http://pgrpoetry.blogspot.com !!!

CARDIFF: Spoken Word All Stars

Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Cardiff Pierhead

Poetry is blasting its way into the hearts and minds of a new generation with high energy and rhythmic poetry sketching out a new literary landscape for the 21st century. Spoken Word All Stars presents an all-star cast of some of the most exciting poets of the day, performing an original live show in partnership with the globally acclaimed sax player Jason Yarde.

Taking five poets and one musician, the free show at Cardiff's Pierhead building on 31st March presents a stellar line-up of international award winners and critically acclaimed performers, including Kat Francois, OneNess, El Crisis, Chris Redmond, and special guest artist Peter Finch, a legendary performer whose poetic words can be seen set in concrete outside the new Central Library.

Spoken Word All Stars’ journey began at Latitude Festival 2010, and is featured on TV as a documentary by Sky Arts. Their spectacular live show weaves comedy, tragedy, romance and philosophy; spoken word interwoven with live and improvised loops, beats and melodies.

The show is free and is produced by charity Poet in the City, with support from Apples & Snakes and Arts Council England. With the further endorsement of Academi, the Literature Promotion Agency for Wales, this is an event that offers a truly unique experience, and early booking is advised, either by emailing spokenwordallstars@live.co.uk or ringing 07908 367488.

Please see www.spokenwordallstars.com for further information.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164759006910208

GALWAY: March Over The Edge Open Reading

Thursday, March 31st, 2011, 6.30pm-8pm, FREE
Galway City Library,
St. Augustine Street,
Galway

The Featured Readers are Miriam Gamble, James Lawless and Anne McManus.

Miriam Gamble was born in Brussels in 1980 and grew up in Belfast. She studied at Oxford and at Queen’s University Belfast, where she completed a PhD in contemporary British and Irish poetry. She writes poems, reviews and critical essays and is a part-time tutor in creative writing at Queen’s University. She won an Eric Gregory Award in 2007, and her pamphlet, This Man's Town, was published by tall-lighthouse in 2007. A selection of her poems appears in the Bloodaxe anthology Voice Recognition: 21 poets for the 21st century (2009). Her first book-length collection, The Squirrels Are Dead, was published by Bloodaxe last year. Miriam lives and works in Belfast.

James Lawless was born in Dublin. His novels are Peeling Oranges (Mullingar, Killynon House Books, 2007); For Love of Anna (New Generation, 2009); and The Avenue (Galway, Wordsonthestreet, 2010).  His story Jolt was shortlisted for the Willenden Prize and appeared in New Short Stories 1, edited Zadie Smith (London/ New York, Willesden Herald, 2007). His other awards the Cecil Day Lewis Play Award 2005 for What Are Neighbours For? and a Hennessy Award nomination in 2010. He divides his time between County Kildare and West Cork.

Anne McManus was born and grew up in Sligo town. She trained as a Home Economics teacher in St Angela’s College, Sligo. Anne came to writing unexpectedly when in 1999 NUIG, through its Continuing Education Programme, provided Salthill Active Retirement Association with a tutor, Maire Holmes, to enable older people to take up writing. Anne has previously read her work at Galway Arts Centre’s Nuns Island Studio and at the Over The Edge open-mic. She is currently a participant in the S.A.R.A writers’ group which is facilitated by Kevin Higgins. Anne writes both poetry and fiction.

There will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748 or see our website http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 28, 2011

EDINBURGH: Inky Fingers READeasy


Thursday, April 7th, 2011, 6pm-9pm
Inky Fingers READeasy
Forest Cafe
3 Bristo Place
Edinburgh

We’ve set up the  READeasy Writers’ Group to be a safe and encouraging space for writers to meet up, hear their words read, and get constructive critical feedback.

It’s open to writers of any style, experience, identity and genre — but places each month are limited. To secure a slot, e-mail inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com in advance with your name and a piece of your writing attached — and then just come along on the night with cake and a ready mind.

See the Writers’ Group page
(http://inkyfingersedinburgh.wordpress.com/writers-group/) for full
instructions (including length limits).

Some things people have said about the group: “I have always wanted to attend a group like this to share and get feedback on my work. However, I was always too nervous to share my
work with so many other writers at one time. The Inky Fingers method is very good because it allows you to share your work anonymously, while still receiving feedback. I found it to be an excellent experience with lots of good discussion amongst a very nice bunch of people."

LONDON: BEAT


Monday, 4th April, 2011, 8.30pm-11.30pm
 Charlie Wrights
45 Pitfield Street
N1 6DA
London
Created by:          
BEAT, Andreas Grant
 
Bombs are raining over Libya, radiation clouds over Japan, there's a lot of things in the air... meanwhile in Ol Blighty we're all starting to fall in love with life again. To celebrate this joyus occation called spring we at BEAT HQ are prepping a gloriously jam packed scud missile of talent for your listening pleasure;
 
MC Curious - London MC Legend MC Curious debut on the BEAT stage!
 
Pauline Sewards - the queen of idosyncratic delivery returns
 
Alfred Lord Telecom - the king of quaint
 
Lisa Jayne, the better half of Brighton poet and BEAT favourite Ben Graham and a brilliant poet in her own right
 
Blue Ice - Swedish/Brighton based wordsmith and first timer on the BEAT stage
 
+ Live Music from LA Salami as seen in BEAT Soho
 
...and MC/WMD Andreas Grant, at your service
 
as always we charge a smile but you can keep your money
 

LONDON: Kid, I Wrote Back

Monday, April 11th, 2011, 7.30pm-10.30pm, £3 on door, free to perform
Bar Kick,
127 Shoreditch High Street,
London
E1 6JE
020 7739 8700


Over the last year KID, I WROTE BACK has been growing into London’s most diverse, eclectic, and most interesting poetry and spoken word nights London has to offer.

They invite both established and as yet unheard talent to the stage to perform – offering a much-needed dose of full-on liberalism and authenticity that will really agitate, challenge and tickle your minds.

It is a platform for current words from current poets of all styles and experience who are looking to share words and hear others in a friendly and lively environment.  It is the brainchild of Chimène Suleyman, a writer and poet who performs as part of the Rhymes Won’t Wait collective and Dylan Sage, a writer and emcee who has entertained with the likes of The Nextmen and Breaking Bread.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

KINGSTON: John Cooper Clarke

Sunday, 10th April, 2011, 7.30pm, £12-£19The Rose Theatre
24–26 High Street,
Kingston
KT1 1HL


John Cooper Clarke supported by LiTTLe MACHiNe and RakerJacq
Following sell-out tours in Ireland, the UK and the Royal Festival Hall, the resurgent ‘Bard of Salford' is finding new audiences for his special brand of high octane ‘punk poetry'.
Now recognised and studied as one of England's most important poets and performers, his verse is biting, satirical, political, very funny and always delivered in his unique rapid-fire performance style. Following on from the days when he supported Joy Division, Elvis Costello and The Buzzcocks, John has plenty to comment on about modern Britain,  as his incisive follow up to ‘Beasley Street', one of his best-loved poems, aptly demonstrates. Now combining an edgy brand of stand-up with his seminal work, John Cooper Clarke delights and provokes in equal measure.
 www.johncooperclarke.com

Supported by South London band LiTTLe MACHiNe - poems classic and obscure are given a new voice in songs crafted by Walter Wray, Steve Halliwell and Chris Hardy. www.reverbnation.com/littlemachine
Plus guest appearance from RackerJacq - performance poet Racker Donnelly and musician Jacquelyn Hynes.
Organised by Rhythm & Muse in collaboration with RBK www.rhythmandmuse.org
Hosted by Nick Poole






Box Office – 0871 230 1552, book online at www.rosetheatrekingston.org, or go in person to The Rose Theatre.


LONDON: Poets In The Pub, with Hugo Williams

Monday, 28th March, 2011 7.30pm-9.30pm (doors open 7pm), (on the door): £3 (poets) £5 (audience)
North Nineteen Pub
194-196 Sussex Way
London
N19 4HZ

Culture Nights: Poets in the Pub
An evening of poetry in the pub, featuring poet, journalist and travel writer Hugo Williams. Poets are welcome to bring their work and read for up to 2 minutes.

Hugo Williams writes a column in the Times Literary Supplement, has been poetry editor and TV critc on the New Statesman, theatre critic on the Sunday Corrrespondent, film critic for Harper's & Queen and a writer on popular music for Punch magazine. His Collected Poems, which brings together work from eight books, was published in 2002, his poetry collection Dear Room (2006), was shortlisted for the 2006 Costa Poetry Award, and his latest collection West End Final(2009) was shortlisted for the 2009 Forward Poetry Prize (Best Poetry Collection of the Year).

Website: http://therowanartsproject.com

Saturday, March 26, 2011

EDINBURGH: Inky Fingers Wordlab

Sunday, 27th March 2011, 2-4pm, FREE
Bristo Hall @ Forest Café,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EY

A new series of workshops for writers and performers, launching with an open session from ZORRAS!

"Poetry with Music and Film: BEYOND RANDOM MULTIMEDIA"

Building on our hugely popular monthly open mic (fourth Tuesday) and writers' groups (second Thursday), Inky Fingers is launching a new series of special free workshops, where the best of local and national writing and performing talent will be sharing their skills. Each month, one of our open mic feature performers will be running a workshop to stimulate your brains and help you expand the horizons of your writing and performance.

The series launches on March 27th with a session from the poetry-music-film fusion act Zorras, who've been taking bars, clubs, theatres and autonomous centres by storm since 2007 They'll be working with you on looking at how different forms can work together, expanding the possibilities for poetry and performance, without just becoming "random multimedia". This is an amazing opportunity to have a masterclass with some very special performers -- and it's totally free!

For more about Zorras, see http://www.blissfultimes.ca/zorras.htm

You can find out more about Inky Fingers at our website
(http://inkyfingersedinburgh.wordpress.com), on our Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101994993200164), or by following
us on Twitter (@InkyFingersEdin)

Friday, March 25, 2011

LONDON: Jazz Verse Jukebox


Sunday, April 10th, 2011, doors open 6.30pm, show from 8pm, £7 (on the door only)

Upstairs @ Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (Aka Ronnie's Bar),
47 Frith Street,
London
W1D 4HT
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Web :www.jumokefashola.com 
 
Our April line-up will make all Easter eggs go green with envy . . . a chance to hear some legends and the poetic stars of the future . . . come & be dazzled by sublime lyricism, vocal dexterity & passionate verse

Compered by & with music from Jumoké Fashola

Featuring
Fran Landesman
The jazz world’s answer to Dorothy Parker, Fran Landesman is renowned as a poet and songwriter and one of the last living links to the Beat Generation. Her songs include classics like ‘Ballad of the Sad Young Men’, ‘Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most’ and ‘Scars’, and many of the world’s great singers have performed her work including Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis and Mabel Mercer. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Landesman has written songs with Tommy Wolf, Bob Dorough, Dudley Moore, Alec Wilder, Georgie Fame and Steve Allen. Her longest partnership has been with the celebrated composer and pianist, Simon Wallace and since 1994, they have written more than 300 songs together covered by Ian Shaw, Susannah McCorkle, Sarah Moule and Clare Teal among many others.
Landesman was born in New York City in 1927 and moved to St Louis with her husband, Jay, where he set up the legendary 1950s nightclub, the Crystal Palace. Part cabaret theatre, the club played host (early in their careers) to Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand and Lenny Bruce. It was with the club pianist, Tommy Wolf that Landesman first started writing songs including the classic ‘Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most’, and ‘Ballad Of The Sad Young Men’ from her 1957 Broadway show ’The Nervous Set’. Moving to London in the 1960s, Landesman teamed up with Dudley Moore, Georgie Fame and finally Simon Wallace to produce a catalogue of songs to rival anything in the Great American Songbook.
www.franlandesman.com

Indigo Williams is a writer and performance artist from South London who is generating a buzz on the UK spoken word scene-and if you have seen her live you will know why. She is a dynamic performer who commands the stage with gripping presence and powerful poetry. With both substance and passion her work is emotive and thought provoking. She has performed at The Big Chill festival, iTunes Festival, Camp Bestival, The RoundHouse, BBC Radio 4’s ‘Bespoken word’, The Royal Shakespeare Company and many more. She is an associate artist of The RoundHouse and has just released her debut E.P , ‘Growing Pains’. The young talent is gracing stages across the country and is fast becoming known as a name to watch out for.
www.accordingtoindie.wordpress.com

E Amato has been a featured performer in numerous venues from the U.S. to the U.K., rocking the mic in front of audiences of 1 to 1000. Her writing appears in anthologies, websites, and zines.. Wanderlust and the lure of new challenges led her to produce a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2007. For two consecutive years, Down Home Presents PoeJazzi earned 5 star reviews at the Fringe Festival. In 2010, Zesty Pubs published her first poetry collection, Swimming Through Amber. She is an award-winning screenwriter, film and theater director, and seasoned indie film script supervisor.  Working behind the camera for more than a decade with over 20 features to her credit, she has shared sets with an incredible range of performers, from award-winning actors Don Cheadle, James Woods, and Faye Dunaway to music icons Snoop Dogg, Meat Loaf, and Tom Waits, on projects that have been darlings of the festival circuit from Sundance to Stockholm. As a director, she has completed 5 short films including Mona and Jake, starring Melora Walters as a love-challenged dominatrix.  The feature-length script she developed from the short received a Special Merits Award from the Long Island Film Festival Screenplay Competition and was a Saguaro Competition Finalist.  Her latest short film draws directly from her love of film and the spoken word.  Cop, was created specifically for Stories from the Edge, an evening of works by Brenda Petrakos, directed by E. Amato, and performed by Los Angeles poets and actors including Diane Gaidry (Loving Annabelle), Stosh Machek, and John Burton, Jr.
www.eamato.blogspot.com

Niall Spooner-Harvey offers poetry you probably won't see anywhere else. Surreal, funny, disturbing but oddly charming, awkward, angry and intense but oddly sensitive, this 28-year-old beardy weirdy and former slam champion's work has graced Scroobius Pip's Poetry Surgery on Radio 1 and Radio 3's The Verb. Niall performs regularly in and around London and has appeared alongside poets including Scroobius Pip and Attila the Stockbroker, as well as musicians like Jamie T, Emmy the Great and Jack Penate. He was part of the 'Utter!' Spoken Word team at the Edinburgh Festival in 2010. His book, 'Only Not Walking', is available from Smokestack Books.

David Bedella is currently starring as Billy Flynn in 'Chicago'.   He has worked in the theatre for thirty years. He spent 10 years in Chicago, then 11 years in New York, performing on Broadway and in U.S. National Touring productions, before making his London debut in 2002 creating the role of Warm Up Man/Satan in the legendary Jerry Springer - The Opera. It was performed first at the Edinburgh Festival, then had its London premiere at the National Theatre, before transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in the West End, where it was filmed for the BBC and subsequently released on DVD. He won the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 2008 he recreated the role in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York opposite Harvey Keitel, and most recently at the Sydney Opera House. After Jerry Springer, David played the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and then went on to redefine the role of Frank-N-Furter in the 2006-2007 UK Touring and West End productions of The Rocky Horror Show, a role David reprised for a UK Tour in 2010. May 2008 saw David take on the role of Molokov in Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall singing opposite Josh Groban and Idina Menzel. The Concert made its big screen debut on September 5th 2009 at cinemas throughout London, ahead of its DVD release. Film credits include Cadmos in Alexander, opposite Anthony Hopkins and directed by Oliver Stone; Maitre'D in Batman Begins with Christian Bale; and Trinny in Red Light Runners, once again opposite Harvey Keitel. Television credits include Quentin in Ben Elton's sitcom Blessed and Dr. Carlos Fashola in Holby City, both for the BBC. He is the voice of Victor in the new series of Thomas and Friends which debuts in September. David has recently released his first solo album - David Bedella: The Dean St. Sessions. www.davidbedella.co.uk

PLUS Jukebox Open Mic: 
Come & sing with our amazing house band or perform some poetry.

LEIGHTON MOSS: Grey Hen anthology launch

Saturday 26th March, 2-4pm
Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve,
Silverdale
LA5 0SW

A reading to celebrate the launch of No Space But Their Own - new poems about birds.

With Pat Borthwick, A C Clarke, Pamela Coren, Kathryn Daszkiewicz, Ann Drysdale, Joy Howard, Gill McEvoy, Alwyn Marriage, Hermione Sandall, Gina Shaw and Christine Webb.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

LONDON: Hammer and Tongue, Hackney


Monday, 4th April, 2011, 7.30-11pm, £5/£4
The Victoria,
451 Queensbridge Road
E8 1AP

Live spoken word and performance poetry with hip-hop/poetry duo, 'Dead Poets' and master of the surreal and the profound, Chris Parkinson. Plus open mic slam, arrive early for slam sign-up!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

LONDON: Poetry Review launch, with Jo Shapcott

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011, arrive 6.30pm, readings begin 7pm, £8/£6 concessions, £4 for Poetry Society members.
The Gallery at Foyles,
113-119 Charing Cross Road,
London,
WC2H 0EB
Tickets: Available from: www.poetrysociety.org.uk (http://poetrysociety.org.uk/events/event/1534) or by calling 020 7420 9886

Celebrate the launch of the spring issue of Poetry Review ‘…and spirituality?’ with Costa Award winning poet Jo Shapcott, editor Fiona Sampson and the winner of the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize Kim Moore.

LONDON: Wordamouth presents Open/Wide

STOCKTON-ON-TEES: Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think Of You

Wednesday, 23rd March, 2011, 7.45pm, £8
The Arc,
Dovecot Street,
Stockton on Tees
TS18 1LL
Booking: http://www.arconline.co.uk/detail.php?id=2282 / 01642 525180

How does it feel to have your world blown apart? Britain is booming and Molly moves to London from deepest Cornwall full of naive dreams, high hopes and on a quest to make her life just like the movies. Then on 07/07/2005, she finds herself on an underground train blown up by terrorists and her life is forced to take a different direction. Funny, frank and poetic; this is the true story of what happened next and how we put things back together after they have been blown apart.

 "A moving, uplifting and remarkable show."  Fringe Review

“You will not see anything else as original in Edinburgh this year.” Fringe Review

Written and performed by Molly Naylor
Director and script development by: Yael Shavit
Music: The Middle Ones
Visuals: Max Naylor
Dramaturgy: Sarah Dickenson
Producer:  Sarah Ellis
Supported and developed by Apples & Snakes
Funded by Arts Council England
www.mollynaylor.com

BIRMINGHAM: Hit The Ode

Thursday, March 24th, 2011, 7.30pm, £5 on door only
The Victoria,
48 John Bright Street,
Birmingham
Info: bohdan@applesandsnakes.org

Hit The Ode
We’re only three nights in, and already it seems hard to imagine the Birmingham scene without Hit the Ode. For the fourth edition, the Victoria will welcome veteran dub poet Moqapi Selassie, multi-talented poet/musician Dizraeli, as well as L&D, the poetry team featuring two Dutch poetry slam champions, Ellen Deckwitz and Daan Doesborgh.

All this poetry goodness will be expertly punctuated with carefully selected tracks from our... resident DJ Soesmix.

And if you write and perform poetry yourself - there will be a (very) few open mic slots available, so get there early on the day to sign up!

Line-up:
From Birmingham: Moqapi Selassie
Moqapi is a Rastafari dub poet, born and raised in Birmingham. A veteran of the scene, he has been performing since 1984. He was a founding member of the Conscious Poets Society and the New October Poets Society. His poems were published in Five Birmingham Poets Book; he was part of the groundbreaking "Word Temple" directed by Amani Naphthal; he directed documentary entitled "Sumbrumpoets" featuring Martin Glynn, Birry, Mandisa and Kokumo. Aside from writing and sharing his poetry, Moqapi is also a radio presenter - you can catch his Word Sound Power on www.banturadio.com Fridays 6 to 8 Gmt.
Find out more: http://www.myspace.com/moqapiselassie

From Brighton: Dizraeli
Dizraeli is a BBC Slam Poetry Champion and Farrago UK Slam Champion, and also fronts the hiphop/folk band Dizraeli and the Small Gods. He has toured the world as a rapper and spoken word artist, performing in places ranging from the West Bank in Palestine to the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury. Described by Venue Magazine as "a true folk hero, capturing the truth of our times with groundlevel honesty", Dizraeli has written 3 hiphop plays, including the Edinburgh Fringe award-winning Rebel Cell.
Find out more: http://www.dizraeli.com/

From the Netherlands: L&D (Daan Doesborgh & Ellen Deckwitz)
Ellen Deckwitz is a rising star on the Dutch poetry scene. She won the National Poetry Slam Championships in 2009 and has taken her poetry from Berlin to Paris, from Antwerp to Warsaw. Her first collection of poetry will be published in April 2011. The duo’s other half, Daan Doesborgh started performing in 2005 at a local open mic, and hasn't stepped off the stage since. He has lectured on performance poetry at the universities of Warwick, Amsterdam and Turin, and performed his own work all over the Netherlands and across Europe. Winning the 2010 Dutch national championships crowned Daan's curriculum to date. He published a book of poetry in 2010 called De Venus Suikerspin (The Venus Cotton Candy).
Find out more: http://www.daandoesborgh.nl/
Ellen is working on a new website of her own - watch this space.

PLYMOUTH: Forked!

Thursday, March 24th, 2011, 8.30pm, £5 in advance, £7 on door
B-Bar,
Barbican Theatre,
Castle Street,
Plymouth
PL1 2NJ

Booking: 01752 242021/ www.b-bar.co.uk

Forked is back with more delicious poets shaking their metaphorical tail feathers within the sumptuous velvet curtained b-bar. Everyone’s favourite jazz floozy Mama Tokus hosts the evening, taking us on a journey through every kind of poetic life and wonderment. Featured this month we have the fabulous talents of:

Mab Jones -  “Pam Ayres on methadone” delightfully playful, outrageously naughty; amorous, irreverent, and relevant, witty, satirical, dark at times, but always lively and infused with a sparkly sense of fun. Cardiff born poet, comic and writer sent to entertain.

Talking Tekla the Narrator – Established and respected on the reggae scene, Talking Tekla has been Mcing since his youth, sharing stories with lyrical grace.

Catherine Brogan – A poetic collision between the personal and the political, Catherine is a literature festival star and slam champion with a good dose of wit and wisdom thrown in for good measure.

Jack Dean  – ‘The Rambo of the spoken word’ Mcing his way to success and telling it how it is.

LONDON: Grey Hen reading

Wednesday, 23rd March, 2011, 6.30pm-8pm
The Luxe,
109 Commercial Street,
London
E1

A reading from Grey Hen Press anthologies A Twist of Malice, Cracking On, No Space But Their Own and Get Me Out of Here!

With Helen Burke, Wendy Klein, Rosemary McLeish, Gerda Mayer, Ruth O'Callaghan, Anne Stewart and Christine Webb.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 1st April, 2011, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), £5/£4, WINE
Trinity United Reform Church,
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town
1-2 mins. Camden Town tube

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Anne Stevenson and Penelope Shuttle.     
Poets from the floor very welcome (some longer spots available). Please bring a copy of the poem if you wish to be considered for the new anthology which will be edited by Ruth O'Callaghan.

CARDIFF: Spoken Word All Stars

Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Cardiff Pierhead

Poetry is blasting its way into the hearts and minds of a new generation with high energy and rhythmic poetry sketching out a new literary landscape for the 21st century. Spoken Word All Stars presents an all-star cast of some of the most exciting poets of the day, performing an original live show in partnership with the globally acclaimed sax player Jason Yarde.

Taking five poets and one musician, the free show at Cardiff's Pierhead building on 31st March presents a stellar line-up of international award winners and critically acclaimed performers, including Kat Francois, OneNess, El Crisis, Chris Redmond, and special guest artist Peter Finch, a legendary performer whose poetic words can be seen set in concrete outside the new Central Library.

Spoken Word All Stars’ journey began at Latitude Festival 2010, and is featured on TV as a documentary by Sky Arts. Their spectacular live show weaves comedy, tragedy, romance and philosophy; spoken word interwoven with live and improvised loops, beats and melodies.

The show is free and is produced by charity Poet in the City, with support from Apples & Snakes and Arts Council England. With the further endorsement of Academi, the Literature Promotion Agency for Wales, this is an event that offers a truly unique experience, and early booking is advised, either by emailing spokenwordallstars@live.co.uk or ringing 07908 367488.

Please see www.spokenwordallstars.com for further information.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164759006910208

SHEFFIELD: Cake Slam For Japan

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011, 7.30pm, FREE
Bank Street Arts,
Sheffield

It's been a tragic few weeks around the world, from the earthquake in New Zealand, crazy floods in Australia, huge problems STILL with the cholera outbreak in Haiti and now poor Japan! At CAKE we provide you with ideas to live by, and thought for food. It seems only fitting that 'SLAM JAM part 5: THROWN TOGETHER' was the right sentiment and we're going to donate some £££ for every person who attends CAKE's SLAMJAM & a percentage of £££ from drinks.

At CAKE we will be donating some of our money donated from drinks and any spontaneous donations made by you to the RED CROSS Japan Tsunami Appeal. For every person that attends, the members of CAKE will donate some more money to the appeal. So GET AS MANY FRIENDS AS YOU CAN to attend. In addition to this, you will be supporting your local art community!

EMAIL us (hit reply cake.artgallery@gmail.com ) for a place to do your
SLAM/
POETRY (any type)/
PERFORMANCE/
PRESENTATION/
YOUR-THING
or just turn up on the night, and be inspired by the AWESOMENESS of the nights performers & audience, as it is OPEN-MIC.
Currently we have 14 confirmed performers, so if you really want to get up there. Book your place!

CAMBRIDGE: Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think Of You

Friday, 18th March, 2011, 8pm, £6
The Junction,
Cambridge
Booking: http://www.junction.co.uk/artist/613 / 01223 511 511

How does it feel to have your world blown apart? Britain is booming and Molly moves to London from deepest Cornwall full of naive dreams, high hopes and on a quest to make her life just like the movies. Then on 07/07/2005, she finds herself on an underground train blown up by terrorists and her life is forced to take a different direction. Funny, frank and poetic; this is the true story of what happened next and how we put things back together after they have been blown apart.

 "A moving, uplifting and remarkable show."  Fringe Review

“You will not see anything else as original in Edinburgh this year.” Fringe Review

Written and performed by Molly Naylor
Director and script development by: Yael Shavit
Music: The Middle Ones
Visuals: Max Naylor
Dramaturgy: Sarah Dickenson
Producer:  Sarah Ellis
Supported and developed by Apples & Snakes
Funded by Arts Council England
www.mollynaylor.com

Monday, March 14, 2011

GALWAY: March Over The Edge Open Reading

Thursday, March 31st, 2011, 6.30pm-8pm, FREE
Galway City Library,
St. Augustine Street,
Galway

The Featured Readers are Miriam Gamble, James Lawless and Anne McManus.

Miriam Gamble was born in Brussels in 1980 and grew up in Belfast. She studied at Oxford and at Queen’s University Belfast, where she completed a PhD in contemporary British and Irish poetry. She writes poems, reviews and critical essays and is a part-time tutor in creative writing at Queen’s University. She won an Eric Gregory Award in 2007, and her pamphlet, This Man's Town, was published by tall-lighthouse in 2007. A selection of her poems appears in the Bloodaxe anthology Voice Recognition: 21 poets for the 21st century (2009). Her first book-length collection, The Squirrels Are Dead, was published by Bloodaxe last year. Miriam lives and works in Belfast.

James Lawless was born in Dublin. His novels are Peeling Oranges (Mullingar, Killynon House Books, 2007); For Love of Anna (New Generation, 2009); and The Avenue (Galway, Wordsonthestreet, 2010).  His story Jolt was shortlisted for the Willenden Prize and appeared in New Short Stories 1, edited Zadie Smith (London/ New York, Willesden Herald, 2007). His other awards the Cecil Day Lewis Play Award 2005 for What Are Neighbours For? and a Hennessy Award nomination in 2010. He divides his time between County Kildare and West Cork.

Anne McManus was born and grew up in Sligo town. She trained as a Home Economics teacher in St Angela’s College, Sligo. Anne came to writing unexpectedly when in 1999 NUIG, through its Continuing Education Programme, provided Salthill Active Retirement Association with a tutor, Maire Holmes, to enable older people to take up writing. Anne has previously read her work at Galway Arts Centre’s Nuns Island Studio and at the Over The Edge open-mic. She is currently a participant in the S.A.R.A writers’ group which is facilitated by Kevin Higgins. Anne writes both poetry and fiction.

There will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748 or see our website http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/

LONDON: Poets In The Pub, with Hugo Williams

Monday, 28th March, 2011 7.30pm-9.30pm (doors open 7pm), (on the door): £3 (poets) £5 (audience)
North Nineteen Pub
194-196 Sussex Way
London
N19 4HZ

Culture Nights: Poets in the Pub
An evening of poetry in the pub, featuring poet, journalist and travel writer Hugo Williams. Poets are welcome to bring their work and read for up to 2 minutes.

Hugo Williams writes a column in the Times Literary Supplement, has been poetry editor and TV critc on the New Statesman, theatre critic on the Sunday Corrrespondent, film critic for Harper's & Queen and a writer on popular music for Punch magazine. His Collected Poems, which brings together work from eight books, was published in 2002, his poetry collection Dear Room (2006), was shortlisted for the 2006 Costa Poetry Award, and his latest collection West End Final(2009) was shortlisted for the 2009 Forward Poetry Prize (Best Poetry Collection of the Year).

Website: http://therowanartsproject.com

SHEFFIELD: Cake Slam For Japan

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011, 7.30pm, FREE
Bank Street Arts,
Sheffield

It's been a tragic few weeks around the world, from the earthquake in New Zealand, crazy floods in Australia, huge problems STILL with the cholera outbreak in Haiti and now poor Japan! At CAKE we provide you with ideas to live by, and thought for food. It seems only fitting that 'SLAM JAM part 5: THROWN TOGETHER' was the right sentiment and we're going to donate some £££ for every person who attends CAKE's SLAMJAM & a percentage of £££ from drinks.

At CAKE we will be donating some of our money donated from drinks and any spontaneous donations made by you to the RED CROSS Japan Tsunami Appeal. For every person that attends, the members of CAKE will donate some more money to the appeal. So GET AS MANY FRIENDS AS YOU CAN to attend. In addition to this, you will be supporting your local art community!

EMAIL us (hit reply cake.artgallery@gmail.com ) for a place to do your
SLAM/
POETRY (any type)/
PERFORMANCE/
PRESENTATION/
YOUR-THING
or just turn up on the night, and be inspired by the AWESOMENESS of the nights performers & audience, as it is OPEN-MIC.
Currently we have 14 confirmed performers, so if you really want to get up there. Book your place!

LONDON: Lumen Poetry Series

Tuesday, 15th March, 2011, doors open 6.30pm for 7pm, £5/£4, WINE
LUMEN,
88 Tavistock Place
WC1
Tubes: Russell Square , Kings Cross, St Pancras.

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Cinnamon Poets Anne Caldwell, Sally Douglas and Andrea Siviero.
Poets from the floor very welcome.

LONDON: wordPLAY

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011, 7pm-11pm, £3
The Good Ship
Kilburn


wordPLAY returns in aid of Cancer Research UK

Matt Thorne + Carol Oheema + Jack Kelly + Leslie Tetteh + Liz Adams + Sophie Buchan + Sam Buchan Watts


wordPLAY is very pleased to announce that we are returning to the Good Ship in Kilburn for a one-off charity special on Tuesday 15th March in aid of Cancer Research UK. Booker nominee Matt Thorne will be headlining alongside dynamic poetry sensation Carol Oheema, cult Clinic founder Sam Buchan Watts presenting his lyrical take on modern life, as well as a peppering of new and established writers as guest stars ready for a riotous evening of explosive, inspiring and wonderful words.

wordPLAY has been North London’s foremost spoken word event since its beginnings in 2009, and has played host to a wide array of writers such as Laura Dockrill, Kate Tempest, Bernadine Evaristo, Edinburgh award-winning comedian Tim Key, TS Eliot-winning Poet George Szirtes, author of 'Return to The Hundred-Acre Wood' (the Winnie the Pooh sequel) David Benedictus, and an eclectic array of guest stars who are generally less established/unpublished yet generally wonderful writers, varying from traditional poets to MCs, beatboxers and freestylers to prose writers and storytellers.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183936374977029

BRISTOL: Brizzlemania 8

Tuesday, 15th March, 2011, 8pm, £3
Arts House,
108a Stokes Croft,
Bristol

BRIZZLEMANIA 8: MARCH MENTALISM

OPEN POETRY SLAM featuring:

Summery Soliloquies from THE SUNSHINE KID

Brizzle's own poetry hero JULIAN RAMSEY-WADE

From Seoul to the Southwest, lyrical bluesman JEREMY TOOMBS

Sunday, March 13, 2011

LONDON: Hammer and Tongue Camden

Monday, March 14th, 2011, 7.30pm, £5
Green Note Cafe
106 Parkway
Nearest tube: Camden Town

Free for first 8 slammers


We are back at the Green Note and will be kicking off the night with something suitably springlike- be it rain or eggs or chickens. Hosted by Michelle Madsen and Sophia Blackwell.

We are very very excited to welcome....
...
Salena Godden, host of London's sexiest literary salon, The Book Club Boutique, will be featuring. Salena is a British poet, performer and writer living in North London. Her stories and poetry have appeared in Dazed & Confused, Salzburg Review, Le Gun, Penguin’s IC3, Canongate’s Fire People, Serpents Tail’s Croatian Nights and Hodder & Stoughton’s Oral. She's simply marvellous.

Richard Tyrone Jones’ material ranges from the downright daft, through the witheringly self-deprecating to the poignant and formal, always cut through by a strong vein of sardonic humour, bold leaps of the imagination, a strident voice and a deft touch. He runs the successful ‘Utter!’ spoken word events across London (and Edinburgh 2009: http://bit.ly/uttered1 ) with its exciting 'Ajar' Mic contest for new acts. He has hosted the legendary UK Antifolk festivals and runs his own popular (Mis)Guided literary tours of London's suburbs and is the creative genius behind the Sylvia Plath puppet show... not to be missed.

AND - VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST- UK HIP HOP STAR CHESTER P
Founding member of Task Force and member of Bury Crew, Chester is a legend of the UK Hip Hop scene. We're very lucky to have him, make the most of it.

Sanwiched happily between Salena and Richard we will of course have...

THE OPEN SLAM- CALLING ALL POETS FROM LONDON AND BEYOND! Come along and test your mettle.. slam rules apply- 3 minutes, original material, no props. We'd love to see you... first 8 on the door get to slam. Sign up early to get a place.

"Hammer & Tongue has reinvented the medium for the hip hop generation" The Guardian

"The best live poetry is to be found at the Hammer & Tongue slams" The Sunday Times

"The best gig in Europe, hands down" Buddy Wakefield (World Slam Champion)

LEAMINGTON SPA: PUREandGOODandRIGHT

Monday, March 14th, 2011, 7.30pm, £3 (£2 Student/OAP)
The Sozzled Sausage,
Leamington Spa
CV32 4NX.

This month we are delighted to have the inspiring Craig Lambert. Craig Lambert is a perspiring poet. Or at least he will be on the 14th March, having never attempted to fill the guest spot at any poetry event before! He refers to PGR as his 'spritual home' because it was here that he turned up in 2008 with two poems about depression and embarrassed himself and the audience by proceeding to enter 'meltdown' before their very eyes! However, thanks to the extremely supportive ethos surrounding PGR, he managed to get through to the end and has returned regularly to the 'open mic', generally in a better state of mind and with some less miserable material to hand.

Craig's poetry has been accurately described (by him) as a hotchpotch of the serious, the surreal and the self-deprecating. Sometimes combining elements of all three, such that the audience doesn't know whether to laugh or cry!
DEFINITELY AN EVENING NOT TO BE MISSED!
With open mic support from…….yes……YOU!
Come and share your poems - seasoned poets & first time performers most welcome!

If you're planning to come along, or would like to know more about the night, please email pgrpoetry@gmail.com
rd to seeing you there!

Remember to check out our blog at http://pgrpoetry.blogspot.com !!!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

LONDON: Jazz Verse Jukebox

Sunday, March 13th, 2011, 6.30pm, show from 8pm, £7 (on the door only)
Upstairs @ Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (Aka Ronnie's Bar),
47 Frith Street,
London
W1D 4HT

Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Web :www.jumokefashola.com
Email: JazzVerseJukebox@me.com

JAZZ VERSE JUKEBOX
Join us to celebrate the beginning of spring, featuring spoken word from HKB FINN; Mark Gwynne Jones; Paul Lyalls; Raymond Antrobus with music from Claudia Parisi, plus open mic for poets/singers.

featuring

HKB FiNN is a spoken word artist with a difference. His work explores the connections between cultures and his music combines elements of Jazz, Hip Hop & Reggae into a unique blend. With Poetry and occasional Raps that covers a wide range of topics from Love to Spirituality, he creates incredible soundscapes that examines our collective roots.
In the late '90's he was inspired to create a form of urban music that embraces folk traditions as well as charting urban realities. He calls this sound: Organica. FiNN describes Organica as: “A fission of Jazz, Hip Hop & Reggae with West African over tones”. His solo recordings have been themed around particular aspects of Organica and have gained him worldwide popularity as an innovator of ‘underground music’. An engaging performer, FiNN has also collaborated with a number of musical luminaries including: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Nojazz, Soweto Kinch, Orphy Robinson, Viva Sinfonia, Nitin Sahwney, Kasse Mady Diabate, Tunde Jegede, The Orb, Shur-I-Kan, The Royal Opera House, Robert Mitchell’s Panacea and many more. Over the years, FiNN and his ensemble have performed in over 25 countries worldwide and describes this work as: “Making music based on sharing truth, spreading love and delivering exceedingly good grooves.”
www.hkbfinn.com

Four times fringe-award winner, Mark Gwynne Jones is well known for mind altering poetry with an almost music-hall edge. He mixes humour and poignancy with great skill and through collaborations with film-makers and musicians he is pushing poetry in new and exciting directions. Mark’s work is contagious, gritty and sometimes startlingly sensitive.
Appearing solo and with The Psychicbread, a show combining poetry and music Mark has toured with Kate Rusby and performed alongside The Levellers, Alan Bates, Mark Radcliffe and John Peel favourites Half Man Half Biscuit. He has sold poetry to the CIA; written poetry with disenfranchised kids in some of the most deprived areas of Britain and held various writing residencies in galleries, prisons and cinema. Mark regularly performs at music and literature festivals throughout the UK and abroad. In 2008 Loughborough University commissioned Mark to write a series of poems for a performance walk and following the event’s success, Gunpowder Parks commissioned him to write in and around four of London’s central parks exploring what is meant by ‘common ground’ in 21st century Britain. Mark has won The National Trust Poetry Competition and the Buxton Festival Fringe. With filmmaker Andy Lawrence, Mark produced a unique series of 6 film-poems. It’s Only Water was broadcast by ITV and The Message, a screenplay mixing poetry and drama, ran for seven nights on SKY television.
www.psychicbread.org

Paul Lyalls' work is funny, fast-moving, hip, accessible, rhythmic, clever and real. He has run hundreds of workshops in secondary and primary schools, youth projects and prisons. As a performance poet, Paul has gigged 10 Edinburgh Festivals and many prestigious venues in cities as diverse as New York to Belfast. In 2008 Paul was Poet for the London Borough of Brent, becoming the first poet to perform at the New Wembley stadium. Paul presented and starred alongside former World Poetry Slam Champion Kat Francois in the BBC/CBBC television programme 'The Big Slam Poetry House. He has 2 poems published in the new 'Michael Rosen's A-Z of poetry' (Penguin/puffin). In 2005 Paul was invited to take part in the Cheltenham Literature Festival's 'All star poetry slam show', returning in 2009 performing to as support to   Michael Rosen. He has performed with Will Self, John Hegley, Jean ‘Binta' Breeze, Roger McGough, John Cooper Clarke, Andrea Leavy and George Best. More unusual gigs have included opening for 'The Libertines' and appearing on the national news, as a result of a scheme to bring poetry to the masses in which Paul performed on a regular working No73 bus as it wound it way through central London to Oxford St. His first full collection is entitled, 'Catching the cascade' - (Flipped Eye)
http://www.paul-lyalls.com

Raymond Antrobus is a spoken word artist, photographer and writer, born and bred in Hackney. Described by Michael Horovitz as a "unique and talented young poet" Raymond has been performing spoken word poetry since 2007 and is the International Farrago slam champion 2008. His writing is often perceived to be provocative, delicate and thoughtful. He has performed at London's South Bank Centre as part of the Literacy Festival, at universities across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Coventry, as well as in venues overseas - Berlin, Venice and the NYrican Poets Cafe in New York. He has performed at festivals such as Latitude, Vibe Festival and Secret Garden Party. He is one half of 'Speed Camera Shy', a music project that combines Spoken Word/Rap with Dub Step echoes. Raymond Antrobus is also a member of one of the world’s leading collectives of spoken-word artists known as, ‘A Poem in-between People’, (or PiP) who have been described as “London’s hottest spoken word talent” by The Times and are comprised of ten members. www.raymondantrobus.blogspot.com

A Jazz singer with Italian origins, Claudia Parisi lives in Paris. She spent years on the roads performing in rock bands, giving piano bar performances and even some “bal musette”. Settling down in Paris about 10 years ago, she studied at the Conservatoire de St Denis and then subsequently embraced the jazz idiom after a two year course at the Bill Evans Music Academy. She is both an original singer/songwriter and a superb interpreter of classic standards. Her unique style combines the passion of traditional Italian songs with colourful jazz improvisation.
 http://claudiaparisi.free.fr

PLUS Jukebox Open Mic:
Come & sing with our amazing house band or perform some poetry.

LEIGHTON MOSS: Grey Hen anthology launch

Saturday 26th March, 2-4pm
Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve,
Silverdale
LA5 0SW
 
A reading to celebrate the launch of No Space But Their Own - new poems about birds.

With Pat Borthwick, A C Clarke, Pamela Coren, Kathryn Daszkiewicz, Ann Drysdale, Joy Howard, Gill McEvoy, Alwyn Marriage, Hermione Sandall, Gina Shaw and Christine Webb.

Friday, March 11, 2011

LONDON: Kid, I Wrote Back

Monday, 14th March, 2011, 7.30pm, £3 on the door/FREE to perform
Bar Kick,
127 Shoreditch High Street,
London,
E1 6JE
Nearest Tube: Shoreditch High Street
kidiwroteback@instorage.org.uk
www.facebook.com/kidiwroteback
www.myspace.com/kidiwroteback

KID, I WROTE BACK invites both established and as yet unheard talent to the stage to perform – offering a much needed dose of full-on liberalism and authenticity – that will really agitate, challenge and tickle your minds.

STOCKTON-ON-TEES: Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think Of You

Wednesday, 23rd March, 2011, 7.45pm, £8
The Arc,
Dovecot Street,
Stockton on Tees
TS18 1LL
Booking: http://www.arconline.co.uk/detail.php?id=2282 / 01642 525180

How does it feel to have your world blown apart? Britain is booming and Molly moves to London from deepest Cornwall full of naive dreams, high hopes and on a quest to make her life just like the movies. Then on 07/07/2005, she finds herself on an underground train blown up by terrorists and her life is forced to take a different direction. Funny, frank and poetic; this is the true story of what happened next and how we put things back together after they have been blown apart.

 "A moving, uplifting and remarkable show."  Fringe Review

“You will not see anything else as original in Edinburgh this year.” Fringe Review

Written and performed by Molly Naylor
Director and script development by: Yael Shavit
Music: The Middle Ones
Visuals: Max Naylor
Dramaturgy: Sarah Dickenson
Producer:  Sarah Ellis
Supported and developed by Apples & Snakes
Funded by Arts Council England
www.mollynaylor.com

CAMBRIDGE: Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think Of You

Friday, 18th March, 2011, 8pm, £6
The Junction,
Cambridge
Booking: http://www.junction.co.uk/artist/613 / 01223 511 511

How does it feel to have your world blown apart? Britain is booming and Molly moves to London from deepest Cornwall full of naive dreams, high hopes and on a quest to make her life just like the movies. Then on 07/07/2005, she finds herself on an underground train blown up by terrorists and her life is forced to take a different direction. Funny, frank and poetic; this is the true story of what happened next and how we put things back together after they have been blown apart.

 "A moving, uplifting and remarkable show."  Fringe Review

“You will not see anything else as original in Edinburgh this year.” Fringe Review

Written and performed by Molly Naylor
Director and script development by: Yael Shavit
Music: The Middle Ones
Visuals: Max Naylor
Dramaturgy: Sarah Dickenson
Producer:  Sarah Ellis
Supported and developed by Apples & Snakes
Funded by Arts Council England
www.mollynaylor.com

EDINBURGH: Inky Fingers Wordlab

Sunday, 27th March 2011, 2-4pm, FREE
Bristo Hall @ Forest Café,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EY

A new series of workshops for writers and performers, launching with an open session from ZORRAS!

"Poetry with Music and Film: BEYOND RANDOM MULTIMEDIA"

Building on our hugely popular monthly open mic (fourth Tuesday) and writers' groups (second Thursday), Inky Fingers is launching a new series of special free workshops, where the best of local and national writing and performing talent will be sharing their skills. Each month, one of our open mic feature performers will be running a workshop to stimulate your brains and help you expand the horizons of your writing and performance.

The series launches on March 27th with a session from the poetry-music-film fusion act Zorras, who've been taking bars, clubs, theatres and autonomous centres by storm since 2007 They'll be working with you on looking at how different forms can work together, expanding the possibilities for poetry and performance, without just becoming "random multimedia". This is an amazing opportunity to have a masterclass with some very special performers -- and it's totally free!

For more about Zorras, see http://www.blissfultimes.ca/zorras.htm

You can find out more about Inky Fingers at our website
(http://inkyfingersedinburgh.wordpress.com), on our Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101994993200164), or by following
us on Twitter (@InkyFingersEdin)

DUBLIN: From Inspiration to Publication, Publishing Seminar

Saturday, March 12th, 2011: 10.30am-4.30pm
Irish Writers' Centre
19 Parnell Square
Dublin 1
t: +353 (0)1 872 1302
e: info@writerscentre.ie
w: www.writerscentre.ie

Novelist Emer Martin will join the Irish Writers’ Centre in hosting an information day on publishing that will include literary agent Yvonne Kinsella and book editor Deirdre O'Neill. The day will feature talks from industry experts and will offer the opportunity to pose questions to the speakers.

The day will commence with a talk on 'The Editorial Process' by Deirdre O'Neill, former managing editor at New Island Books (2008-2010). This will be followed by 'The Author-Agent Relationship’ by Yvonne Kinsella, Literary Agent for Prizeman & Kinsella Literary Agency. The next talk, ‘Publicising a Book from Manuscript to Paperback’,  will be given by Helen Gleed O'Connor, Literary Publicist for Gill Hess Ltd (clients include Random House, Transworld, Simon & Schuster and Faber & Faber). After lunch, Fiction Buyer for Eason's Stephen Boylan will discuss 'Book Trends and the Marketplace'. The final talk will be 'Sustaining a Writer's Life' from Emer Martin.

Registration is from 10.30am; tickets are €60 for non-members, €50 for members and must be booked in advance by paying online or calling the Centre.

The Irish Writers’ Centre is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers, which promotes contemporary Irish literature. Since its foundation in 1991, the Centre has welcomed many award-winning writers through its doors, including Nobel, Costa, Man Booker, IMPAC, and Pulitzer Prize winners. It has also served as an important platform for breakthrough talent, with many young writers giving their first public readings here.

DUBLIN: From Inspiration to Publication, Publishing Seminar

Saturday, March 12th, 2011: 10.30am-4.30pm
Irish Writers' Centre
19 Parnell Square
Dublin 1
t: +353 (0)1 872 1302
e: info@writerscentre.ie
w: www.writerscentre.ie

Novelist Emer Martin will join the Irish Writers’ Centre in hosting an information day on publishing that will include literary agent Yvonne Kinsella and book editor Deirdre O'Neill. The day will feature talks from industry experts and will offer the opportunity to pose questions to the speakers.

The day will commence with a talk on 'The Editorial Process' by Deirdre O'Neill, former managing editor at New Island Books (2008-2010). This will be followed by 'The Author-Agent Relationship’ by Yvonne Kinsella, Literary Agent for Prizeman & Kinsella Literary Agency. The next talk, ‘Publicising a Book from Manuscript to Paperback’,  will be given by Helen Gleed O'Connor, Literary Publicist for Gill Hess Ltd (clients include Random House, Transworld, Simon & Schuster and Faber & Faber). After lunch, Fiction Buyer for Eason's Stephen Boylan will discuss 'Book Trends and the Marketplace'. The final talk will be 'Sustaining a Writer's Life' from Emer Martin.

Registration is from 10.30am; tickets are €60 for non-members, €50 for members and must be booked in advance by paying online or calling the Centre.

The Irish Writers’ Centre is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers, which promotes contemporary Irish literature. Since its foundation in 1991, the Centre has welcomed many award-winning writers through its doors, including Nobel, Costa, Man Booker, IMPAC, and Pulitzer Prize winners. It has also served as an important platform for breakthrough talent, with many young writers giving their first public readings here.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

BIRMINGHAM: Hit The Ode

Thursday, March 24th, 2011, 7.30pm, £5 on door only
The Victoria,
48 John Bright Street,
Birmingham
Info: bohdan@applesandsnakes.org

Hit The Ode
We’re only three nights in, and already it seems hard to imagine the Birmingham scene without Hit the Ode. For the fourth edition, the Victoria will welcome veteran dub poet Moqapi Selassie, multi-talented poet/musician Dizraeli, as well as L&D, the poetry team featuring two Dutch poetry slam champions, Ellen Deckwitz and Daan Doesborgh.

All this poetry goodness will be expertly punctuated with carefully selected tracks from our... resident DJ Soesmix.

And if you write and perform poetry yourself - there will be a (very) few open mic slots available, so get there early on the day to sign up!

Line-up:
From Birmingham: Moqapi Selassie
Moqapi is a Rastafari dub poet, born and raised in Birmingham. A veteran of the scene, he has been performing since 1984. He was a founding member of the Conscious Poets Society and the New October Poets Society. His poems were published in Five Birmingham Poets Book; he was part of the groundbreaking "Word Temple" directed by Amani Naphthal; he directed documentary entitled "Sumbrumpoets" featuring Martin Glynn, Birry, Mandisa and Kokumo. Aside from writing and sharing his poetry, Moqapi is also a radio presenter - you can catch his Word Sound Power on www.banturadio.com Fridays 6 to 8 Gmt.
Find out more: http://www.myspace.com/moqapiselassie

From Brighton: Dizraeli
Dizraeli is a BBC Slam Poetry Champion and Farrago UK Slam Champion, and also fronts the hiphop/folk band Dizraeli and the Small Gods. He has toured the world as a rapper and spoken word artist, performing in places ranging from the West Bank in Palestine to the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury. Described by Venue Magazine as "a true folk hero, capturing the truth of our times with groundlevel honesty", Dizraeli has written 3 hiphop plays, including the Edinburgh Fringe award-winning Rebel Cell.
Find out more: http://www.dizraeli.com/

From the Netherlands: L&D (Daan Doesborgh & Ellen Deckwitz)
Ellen Deckwitz is a rising star on the Dutch poetry scene. She won the National Poetry Slam Championships in 2009 and has taken her poetry from Berlin to Paris, from Antwerp to Warsaw. Her first collection of poetry will be published in April 2011. The duo’s other half, Daan Doesborgh started performing in 2005 at a local open mic, and hasn't stepped off the stage since. He has lectured on performance poetry at the universities of Warwick, Amsterdam and Turin, and performed his own work all over the Netherlands and across Europe. Winning the 2010 Dutch national championships crowned Daan's curriculum to date. He published a book of poetry in 2010 called De Venus Suikerspin (The Venus Cotton Candy).
Find out more: http://www.daandoesborgh.nl/
Ellen is working on a new website of her own - watch this space.

PLYMOUTH: Forked!

Thursday, March 24th, 2011, 8.30pm, £5 in advance, £7 on door
B-Bar,
Barbican Theatre,
Castle Street,
Plymouth
PL1 2NJ

Booking: 01752 242021/ www.b-bar.co.uk

Forked is back with more delicious poets shaking their metaphorical tail feathers within the sumptuous velvet curtained b-bar. Everyone’s favourite jazz floozy Mama Tokus hosts the evening, taking us on a journey through every kind of poetic life and wonderment. Featured this month we have the fabulous talents of:

Mab Jones -  “Pam Ayres on methadone” delightfully playful, outrageously naughty; amorous, irreverent, and relevant, witty, satirical, dark at times, but always lively and infused with a sparkly sense of fun. Cardiff born poet, comic and writer sent to entertain.

Talking Tekla the Narrator – Established and respected on the reggae scene, Talking Tekla has been Mcing since his youth, sharing stories with lyrical grace.

Catherine Brogan – A poetic collision between the personal and the political, Catherine is a literature festival star and slam champion with a good dose of wit and wisdom thrown in for good measure.

Jack Dean  – ‘The Rambo of the spoken word’ Mcing his way to success and telling it how it is.

PLYMOUTH: Hannah Silva

Friday, 11th March, 2011, 7.30pm, £5
The Barbican Theatre,
Castle Street,
Plymouth,
PL1 2NJ
Booking: http://www.barbicantheatre.co.uk/booking.php
01752 267131

In her new solo show Opposition, vocal gymnast and award-winning poet Hannah Silva cuts up, juggles and reconfigures the languages of politics past and present to reveal the meaning and the music beneath the rhetoric of today’s (big?) society.

David Cameron’s Big Society speech, the Weather, the News, slang, Twitter and song – they all get transformed and recomposed using a loop pedal and her extra-ordinary vocal techniques.

South West based writer and performer Hannah Silva performs internationally, recently toured the country with Apples & Snakes Public Address and was featured on Radio 3’s The Verb. Past works include Boat on the water, a poetry/dance/theatre piece on board a small boat (2009). Hannah has a background in music, choreography and theatre, and influences spanning Luciano Berio, Tim Crouch and David J. She has been described by The Times Online as ‘one of the most ambitious and entertaining poets in the country’ (Top Ten Literary Stars of 2008).

Opposition is funded by the Arts Council England, produced by The Barbican Theatre, Plymouth and supported by Apples & Snakes.

“Hannah Silva is one of the most exciting, original artists on the UK poetry scene. Her unique word play has a piercing intelligence and genuine warmth that never fails to charm audiences”
Sarah Ellis –Head of Creative Programmes, The Albany.
http://www.hannahsilva.co.uk

Opposition is funded by the Arts Council England, supported by Apples & Snakes and The Barbican Theatre through the Flourish Programme.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Life Is A Cabaret

GALWAY: Over The Edge March Writers’ Gathering

Friday, March 11th, 2011, 8pm
at The Café @ The Museum
Spanish Arch
Galway

The Over The Edge March Writers’ Gathering presents readings by poets and fiction writers from Ireland, The Netherlands and the United States. Nick Hayes, Alex Hijmans, Lorna Shaughnessy, Anna Snyder, John W. Sexton and Alan Jude Moore will read.

Nick Hayes is a frequent guest on radio and television in the United States; he also publishes widely in newspapers, magazines, and journals. He has been the recepient of awards from the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Fulbright Program. He won an Emmy in 1991 for his work on the documentary "Television and Democracy in Russia." Nick is a professor of history and holds the university chair in critical thinking at Saint John’s University in Minnesota. His memoir And One Fine Morning Memoires of My Father (Nodin Press) was published in 2010.

Alex Hijmans was born in The Netherlands. He moved to Galway in 1995, learned Irish, worked as a journalist and ran a coffeehouse, Café Bananaphoblacht. In 2007 he moved to Brazil, where he works as an international correspondent. Aiséirí is his first novel. A book of his non-fiction, ‘Favela’, was published, also by Cois Life, in 2009. Alex’ short stories have appeared in Comhar, Crannóg Magazine and Irish Pages. His website is www.alexhijmans.com

Lorna Shaughnessy was born in Belfast and lives in County Galway. She lectures in the Department of Spanish, NUI Galway. She has published two translations of contemporary Mexican poetry, Mother Tongue: Selected Poems by Pura López Colomé and If We Have Lost our Oldest Tales by María Baranda, both with Arlen House (2006). Her first collection of poetry, Torching the Brown River, was published by Salmon in 2008. Her second collection, Witness Trees, will be published later this year also by Salmon.

Anna Snyder is a student in the Masters of Writing program at NUI Galway, and though she sees herself as primarily a prose-writer, she has undergone a poetic renaissance while living in Galway.  Her greatest loves are writing, travelling, and playing the guitar badly.  Once her Masters is completed, she hopes to somehow find a job in Dublin so she can stay in Ireland for as long as she wants.

John W. Sexton was born in 1958 is the author of three poetry collections: The Prince’s Brief Career (Cairn Mountain Press, 1995), Shadows Bloom / Scáthanna Faoi Bhláth, a book of haiku with translations into Irish by Gabriel Rosenstock, and Vortex (Doghouse, 2005). Under the ironic pseudonym of Sex W. Johnston he has recorded an album with legendary Stranglers frontman, Hugh Cornwell, entitled Sons of Shiva, which has been released on Track Records. In 2007 he was awarded a Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship in Poetry. His fourth collection, Petit Mal, was published recently by Revival Press.

Alan Jude Moore is the author of three collections of poetry, Black State Cars (Salmon Poetry, 2004), Lost Republics (Salmon Poetry, 2008) and Strasbourg (Salmon Poetry, 2010). He is widely published, in Ireland and abroad, and his fiction has been twice short-listed for the Hennessy Literary Award for New Irish Writing. Translations of his work have been published in Italy, Russia and Turkey. He lives in Dublin.

There is no entrance fee.  The Café @ The Museum has a wine licence. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

LONDON: Grey Hen reading

Wednesday, 23rd March, 2011, 6.30pm-8pm
The Luxe,
109 Commercial Street,
London
E1

A reading from Grey Hen Press anthologies A Twist of Malice, Cracking On, No Space But Their Own and Get Me Out of Here!

With Helen Burke, Wendy Klein, Rosemary McLeish, Gerda Mayer, Ruth O'Callaghan, Anne Stewart and Christine Webb.

LONDON: Wisewords Poetry - Women's Open Mic

Thursday, 10th March, 2011, 7.30pm, £3 (£2 open mic)
The Vibe Bar,
Old Truman Brewery,
91 Brick Lane,
London
E1 6QL

Possessed by the spirit of poetry and itching to unveil your oeuvre to a like-minded crowd? Then come on down – take the mic and flex your stanzas in the happening heart of Brick Lane, alongside host Jo Overfield and special guests Catherine Brogan and Belinda Zhawi. In addition, Leicester poet Lydia Towsey will be performing an excerpt from her new show The Venus Papers. Audience required too, so bring your mates to provide cheers and whoops. Celebrating Women's History Month 2011, we have a women's open mic, but guys do come along and enjoy the show.

Info: 020 7247 3479 / www.vibe-bar.co.uk  / info@alternativearts.co.uk
/ www.applesandsnakes.org 

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

LONDON: Runnymede Festival in London

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, 6pm
The Centre for Creative Collaboration,
16 Acton Street,
London
WC1X 9NG

As part of its annual literary festival Royal Holloway, University of London presents a series of free events in London (‘Runnymede Festival in London’) in addition to events at Royal Holloway.

The first of these will be a poetry reading featuring short readings from students of Creative Writing at RHUL and feature sets from Tim Cresswell, Professor of Cultural Geography at RHUL and Adam O'Riordan, winner of an Eric Gregory Award and author of 'In the Flesh' (Chatto & Windus, 2010).

All the details are available here:
http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=6193

And the facebook event is here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203145629696366

CAMBRIDGE: Hammer and Tongues

Wednesday 9th March, 2011, 7.30pm (event starts 8pm), £5/ £3.50 concessions/ £2 for slammers
The Emperor,
21, Hills Road,
Cambridge
CB2 1NW

Cambridge Hammer & Tongue will be playing host to our usual slam competition plus the anarchic glamour of Salena Godden and the hearty anecdotage of Richard Tyrone Jones.

You can find more details in the attached Word document and Calendar file, or at the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149673901760172.

LONDON: Apples & Snakes In Soho Featuring Polarbear

Wednesday, 9th March, 2011, 8pm, £8 / £6 conc / £6 under 26
Soho Theatre,
21 Dean Street,
London
W1D 3NE

Polarbear is one of the genuine phenomena of the spoken word scene. In a few short years, he’s skyrocketed from humble West Midlands lad to international lyrical, cinematically-minded storyteller. Join the Bear tonight for a paw-picked selection of his best.
 With support from fast-rising, provocative poet Indigo Williams, pith-helmeted ‘chap-hop’ prodigy Professor Elemental and – as recently featured on Woman’s Hour – feisty verse-valkyrie Mia Jerome.
The Apples & Snakes in Soho series is an opportunity for audiences to see top-flight poets and writers alongside newer pioneers from the spoken-word scene. Soho Theatre offers the perfect central location for this eclectic entertainment.
Booking: 020 7478 0100 / www.sohotheatre.com
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org

Monday, March 07, 2011

LONDON: Winged Thoughts, Words and Music

LONDON: Wordamouth Presents FreeStyles

Tuesday, 8th March, 2011, 8pm-1am
Favela Chic
91-93 Great Eastern Street
London
EC2A 3HX

Hosted by curious & Angry Sam

Wordamouth brings the freshest poets to the hottest spot in town. Come and eat, drink, think and be merry (or at least enlightened).

Featuring:
Johnny 'Fluffypunk' Seagrave
Dean Atta
Paul Cree


DJs: Anarkali Elektra & curious

NEWCASTLE: Cassoulette

Tuesday, 8th March, 2011, FREE
Newcastle City Library,
Bewick Hall

You are invited to a day celebrating women’s experiences through poetry and performance...

‘Undergrowth’ by Cassoulette - International Women’s Day,

Join Cassoulette, a team of three performance poets, in a series of creative workshops culminating in a public performance built from shared words and stories. Come to all three workshops, or just one, or join us for the final performance – it’s all free.

9.30am - 11.00am ‘Start to write and feel better’ is led Pj Buchanan.

This workshop aims to encourage women to write and looks at ways that can stimulate that writing, which in turn improves well-being. No previous experience in writing is required. The emphasis of this workshop is on the individual and unlocking stories and poetry that lie within. At the end of the workshop each participant will have poem or prose piece that can be read in the evening.

11.30am – 1.00pm ‘Story Quilting’ is led by Ah’freee.

This is a dynamic group workshop where participants are encouraged to tell a joint story based on African tradition where storytelling is synonymous with song, chant, music, or epic poetry in the bardic or ‘griot’ traditions. At the end of the session the group will have ‘quilted’ their stories together to form one whole, which can be performed as a group in the evening.

2.00pm – 3.30pm ‘Giving Voice’ is led by Sky Hawkins.

Sky is passionate about finding ways to improve women’s confidence, especially those women who have been marginalised. The focus of the workshop is on self-expression and Sky will be drawing on her background in drama to encourage participants to make their voices heard. This energetic workshop will involve the use of video, make-up, hats and masks. At the end of this session participants will be ready to take to the stage during the evening if they choose

4.00 – 4.30pm ‘Undergrowth’ - performance of the work created during the day

The performance is open to all

Cassoulette is a collaborative project - each of the poets brings her own life experience to the project; Sky Hawkins is a single mum living on a Newcastle council estate, Poetry Jack (Pj Buchanan) is lesbian and an older woman, and Radikal Queen (Ah’freee Being) is a black woman with African roots. In their own distinctive ways all three poets assert the power of womanhood and invite other women to speak up. Cassoulette means ‘scent of a woman’. www.cassoulette.co.uk

Sunday, March 06, 2011

LONDON: BEAT

Monday, March 7th, 2011, 8pm-11.30pm
Charlie Wright's
45 Pitfield Street,
N1 6DA
   
BEAT - a quality night of live music and poetry. First Monday Every Month.
And it's free! March Acts:

- Dudley Sutton - BEAT is very proud to once again welcome back to our stage comic genius and legendary screen actor Mr Sutton.
..."- I love playing with words. I think all my life what I'm unconsciously doing is struggling against respectability. That is my bete noire, my raison d'etre or whatever the f*** you call it."
Known for his eccentricity, he became a cult figure after playing a gay biker in The Leather Boys (1964). He has appeared in many films during his career, including Rotten to the Core (1965), Crossplot (1969), The Devils (1971), Madame Sin (1972), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Fellini's Casanova (1976), Edward II (1991), and The Football Factory (2004) and TV series such at Skins(2010) and Wallander(2010)
http://www.dudleysutton.com/

- Siofra McSherry - Irish Oxbridge poet/lecturer with a voice with ancient depth spiced with the fresh breath of youth

- Tomas Adejumo - when he's not busy solving the riddles of cancer, scientist/poet Adejumo is busy seducing the the ladies of london with his soulful love poetry and a voice that could put Barry White out of business

- Dougie Hastings - Another début act this month is Dougie Hastings who has been writing poetry for over a decade and has emerged as an award-winning performance poet. Dougie graduated from drama school and is perhaps best known as a comedian, performing at The Comedy Store and The Comedy Cafe. He was a semi finalist in the recent New Act of the Year, and won the Utter! poetry competition.
http://www.myspace.com/dougiehastingspoet

- Live Music from: Harriet Darling and the Good Honeys. BEAT favourite HarrietReardon returns on public demand - now, new and improved - as promised with band, or rather in the compqany of equally talented Imogen Andrews, two beautiful voices + ukulele

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1401882346282#!/event.php?eid=100228443392164

+ DJ Richard Muirhead(Jam Jah) keeping the BEAT in check before after and during

+ More to be announced

+ Notorious Debauched Raconteur and BEAT producer/MC - Andreas Grant

A night - soar to be missed! x