Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

Spoken Worlds was celebrating both its third anniversary, and the last session of the 2012 calendar on this evening. The event, and organiser Gary Carr, have much to be proud of. The forced change from the original venue has worked, … Continue reading →

Parole Parlate was celebrating its second birthday, and did so in some style. Organising Spoken Word Events is hard work. To create, build and sustain a monthly event over two years is quite an achievement . It is testimony to … Continue reading →

The formidable Shindig flexed its bi-monthly poetic muscles for its September offering hosted by the effusive Jane Commane and the urbane Jonathan Taylor. As is the custom, four diverse guest poets had been hand-picked, and an open mic of amongst … Continue reading →

One of the only downsides of being amongst a very few reviewers of Midlands poetry is that my own performance is rarely commented upon. I am grateful to Liz Lefroy for giving her time in this regard on the occasion … Continue reading →

“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 →