Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

The Midlands is awash at the moment with spoken word events sometimes pulling in hundreds, as at Cafe Yum in Birmingham last week. Yet the backbone of poetry is often to be found in Libraries, with dedicated and knowledgeable librarians … Continue reading →

This is amongst the harder poetry events I have had to review, such was the diversity and quality of what was on show. Organised by Helen Calcutt, and supported by her father David who acted as master of ceremonies, this … Continue reading →

National Poetry Day is now the vehicle that the Birmingham Library Service uses to promote and announce the new Birmingham Poet Laureate. I was fortunate enough to be shortlisted this year for the position myself, so what follows is a … Continue reading →

This is an event which Behind the Arras has been meaning to get to for some time. Finally happenstance fell sweetly , and I caught up with the September instalment of this monthly event. The Britannia Hotel itself is a … Continue reading →

A packed house, the fullest I have ever seen the Cafe for poetry , turned out to see headline act Bernadette Cremin make her Birmingham debut , a just reward for her trip up from Brighton on the South Coast. … Continue reading →

Bilston Voices has one of the most loyal non-performing audiences in the Midlands, there is no fleshing out of attendance by open-mic performers here. They come to hear a set bill. Yet that does not mean that organiser Emma Purshouse … Continue reading →

And so it was not so much farewell – as adieu. The final Rhymes, which had brought out probably the best attendance in memory turned out to be the final Rhymes in this format. It was a fitting swansong. The … Continue reading →

The Shifnal Festival is a vibrant affair in a village seeking to make its mark, and succeeding. Ken Dodd opened the twelve day run of paid for and free events. Ian McMillan was appearing on the Wednesday, but on Tuesday … Continue reading →

The subtle assimilation of poetry into mainstream entertainment was much in evidence on this bill with three out of the four main acts having a poetic background, each artist taking the form into different areas. A good turn-out in very … Continue reading →

Poetry can be about pretty much anything, and so this evening proved, with subject matter confined only by the imagination of the poets. When most people see a post box they think of letters, bills they have forgotten to pay … Continue reading →