Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

Summer sees a slew of festivals encompassing all manner of artistic endeavour of which poetry is playing an increasing part. The Lydney festival is a sprawling affair taking in all of June and the first two weeks of July with … Continue reading →

It’s a question of trust. When I attend Shindig I expect headline poets who are going to interest me, entertain me and challenge me. As usual, I was not disappointed . The bar in which the performance was taking place … Continue reading →

The Ludlow Festival is a well established affair. This year a fringe has been established which included a poetry day on the Saturday boasting a day long range of events from readings and workshops, through to the highlight, Poetry and … Continue reading →

This Parole Parlate special was billed as a “Best of” the years performers, and sure enough the year’s poetic troubadours turned out in force to celebrate, and support, Worcestershire’s longest running Poetry event. A triumvirate of Poet Laureates were on … Continue reading →

The Worcester Literary Festival is a glorious alchemy of the arts which tonight found its expression in the debut performance of the Vaginellas in a typically bold promotion. No-one knew who the Vaginellas were, how many of them there were, … Continue reading →

In this year of the Diamond Jubilee there has been much talk about defining what makes Great Britain “great”, and the English “English”, a task whose aim is as elusive as the Holy Grail, I fear. But in Malvern, nestling … Continue reading →

It was a night, and a pub, divided. You were either at home or downstairs watching England play Sweden in the Euro 2012 football tournament, or upstairs savouring the best of Burton Spoken Word whilst trying to judge what the … Continue reading →

Further to my review on the opening night, the following is from guest writer James Longden, offering a fresh perspective from someone three decades younger, true to the cross generational spirit of “The Wall”.Written without reference to the original review, … Continue reading →

Rhymes, previously a worthy and popular regular event on the Brum poetry circuit, now appears occasionally under the curatorship of poetry svengali Lorna Meehan and is as special in its irregular form as it was when it ran regularly. Tonight … Continue reading →