Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

“What is poetry?” is a question beloved of teachers, lecturers and workshop leaders. It invariably elicits a myriad responses , each one a little less sure than the one just offered. It lies all around us in different forms, guises, … Continue reading →

Parole Parlate will always have a special place in my affections. When I first ventured beyond the Birmingham conurbation poetry scene the organisers were friendly, warm and welcoming, both as an audience member and performer. Two years on that hasn’t … Continue reading →

This is a new festival which ran over the Bank Holiday Weekend at Burley Fields Lake with a full range of music on the main stage . Performance and arts activities were provided for in a tent for poetry on … Continue reading →

The Mee Club is a relatively new venture, this was its second night, offering a safe and sophisticated singles night out, running fortnightly on a Tuesday evening. Hosted by the vivacious and ebullient Cat Wetherill ,it showcases musicians, storytellers, actors, … Continue reading →

The presentation of spoken word continues to evolve, “Kick Off”, is a Kidderminster Arts Festival production , conceived to promote poetry within the context of the opening of the new football season and appeal to an audience outside the usual … Continue reading →

Host Antony Owen, and sometime host Barry Patterson who was in the audience, do much to promote the poetic cause in Coventry as the context of this evening demonstrated. The night before had seen the launch of Tony’s Hiroshima Haiku … Continue reading →

This was my first return visit after a promising inaugural event in May, which has subsequently run monthly, gaining traction and momentum such that it has now moved from the basement to the larger ground floor room. Liz Lefroy hosts … Continue reading →

This was the occasion of the launch of no less than three pamphlets from award-winning Birmingham poetry press Flarestack Poets . They comprised 2012 pamphlet competition winners David Clarke (‘Gaud’) and Nichola Deane (‘My Moriarty’) and the best of the … Continue reading →

Spoken Word Events in the area are in rude health. Recently Poetry Alight at Lichfield, Shindig at Leicester, and Spoken Worlds at Burton have all enjoyed strong attendances, and so it was tonight at Fizz in Polesworth. A balmy summer … Continue reading →

Open mic nights that rely on walk- up are always unpredictable events by their very nature. No-one has any idea who will turn up, or what they will perform, it is part of their charm. Tonight fate conspired positively, with … Continue reading →