Friday 29th April- 1st May, Much Wenlock Poetry Festival:A warm welcome to the second Wenlock Poetry Festival. We have a great festival for you, including poetry readings, performance poetry, poetry choir, poetry take-away, knitted poetry, poetry in art, poetry workshops, poetry party (for Friends) poetry for kids, street poetry and even a poetry café!
We are confident that we have lived up to our aim of providing the very best of contemporary poetry in exciting and varied ways. Our streets will be buzzing and humming all weekend. We’ll nod to the Royal Wedding with all of our High Street shops displaying their favourite love poems, and there may well be a sense of love in the air in this spring-time festival, but more than anything, there will be love of poetry in all its forms and guises.
The 2011 festival will include The Ian McMillan Orchestra, Spoz and Dreadlockalien, Andrew Motion, John Hegley, Jo Shapcott, Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, Mario Petrucci, Paul Evans, Simon Armitage and many, many more.
Contact us if you would like to become a Friend of WPF 2011 or to join our mailing list. You can even follow us on twitter @WenlockPoetry. But best of all – do come and join us. Anna Dreda, Artistic Director, WPF”
http://www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org/
Monday 2nd May Spoken word Showcase, No1 Shakespeare St, Stratford upon Avon, 7.30pm: £10 in. Headliners and open mic, an Apples & Snakes production.Lorna Meehan ,Keith Jarrett: the UK Slam Champion of the 2009/2010 season.
Ash Dickinson: “Ash Dickinson is a Performance Poet for the Lost Generation. If you haven’t seen him, you haven’t seen performance poetry” – Federation Of Writers (Scotland)
Tuesday 3rd May , Night Blue Fruit, Taylor Johns ,Coal Vaults, Canal Basin St Nicholas Street, Radford, Coventry,8pm: Free in, Open Mic
Wed 3rd -8th May,Chipping Campden Literature Festival, various events
http://www.chippingcampden.co.uk/
Wed 04 May Seven Deadly Sins, Chipping Campden Literature Festival, Eight Bells pub, Chipping Campden, Gloucs. 21:00 – 00:00: £5 in
“Bless me Father, I have sinned…” Do you have anything to confess?
A young girl hiding in the confessional overhears her neighbours’ confessions. Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride – whispered revelations of sinning and secret desires. As she listens with growing unease, stories unfold that should never be told…
At turns dark and comic, this is a performance storytelling show by Sophie Snell – twisting tales from the stones and bones of the British isles, where the Devil watches in delight and Angels weep .As each story unfolds more of the seven deadly sins are revealed in all their glorious and sometimes comic and even darkly gruesome colours/Until finally our heroine hears one final devastating revelation, and the penny drops.
You’ll be hooked from the start with each twist and turn, as you try to guess where each story is heading. So be prepared for thrills and spills on this rollicking ride through the Seven Deadly Sins
“A very expressive performer, viscerally thrilling, intellectually satisfying – Stephanie Billen, Buxton fringe 2010
“To possess that energy, that charisma, that energy, that memory. Spellbinding, better than any film or TV, a beautiful piece, a fantastic evening, spellbinding” BBC Radio Nottingham,2010rom the stones and bones of the British Isles – where the Devil watches in delight, and Angels weep… As each story unfolds, more of the seven deadly sins are divulged – in all their glorious, sometimes comic and even darkly gruesome colours. Until finally our heroine overhears one final devastating revelation – and the penny drops…
You’ll be hooked from the start, through each twist and turn, as you try to guess where each story is finally heading. So be prepared for thrills and spills on this rollicking ride through the Seven Deadly Sins!
“A very expressive performer… Viscerally thrilling… intellectually satisfying. Recommended.” Stephanie Billen, Chairman, Buxton Festival Fringe, re “Seven Deadly Sins” July 2010.
“To possess that charisma, that energy, that memory! Spellbinding and better than any film or TV… a beautiful piece… Fantastic evening – wonderful!” Amanda Bowman, BBC Radio Nottingham, SDS Notts Libraries StoryFest, March 2010.rom the stones and bones of the British Isles – where the Devil watches in delight, and Angels weep… As each story unfolds, more of the seven deadly sins are divulged – in all their glorious, sometimes comic and even darkly gruesome colours. Until finally our heroine overhears one final devastating revelation – and the penny drops…
You’ll be hooked from the start, through each twist and turn, as you try to guess where each story is finally heading. So be prepared for thrills and spills on this rollicking ride through the Seven Deadly Sins!
“A very expressive performer… Viscerally thrilling… intellectually satisfying. Recommended.” Stephanie Billen, Chairman, Buxton Festival Fringe, re “Seven Deadly Sins” July 2010.
“To possess that charisma, that energy, that memory! Spellbinding and better than any film or TV… a beautiful piece… Fantastic evening – wonderful!” Amanda Bowman, BBC Radio Nottingham, SDS Notts Libraries StoryFest, March 2010.
Wed 4th/ Sat 7th May, Friction Present “Catchment Christians ”, Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Great Hampton Street, Jewellery Quarter, Brum: 7.45pm,£10 in, A play about parents shaping their own religious faith to meet the admission requirements of a Faith School
The Blue Orange Theatre opened new in April and is a 107 seater community theatre.
Thursday 5th May “Parole Parlate” Little Venice 1-3 St Nicholas St, Worcester,7.30pm.£3 Headliner plus Open Mic
Parole Parlate : The Spoken Word” is back on Thursday5th May and is Worcester’s orginal and premiere dedicated spoken word and “music that tells a story” platform. If you would like the chance to read your short stories, poems, prose, try out your performance poetry or music that tells a story, this evening is for you!
Hosted by Little Venice in Worcester, there will be a full bar service, cakes/snacks and you can of course take… advantage of their full menu and enjoy… their delicious pizzas, pastas or salads. Try out their £7.95 menu which includes a main course and a drink.
Already confirmed to perform on May 5th:
Fergus McGonigal
Hitchhiker – unplugged
Trev Meaney
Hayley Francis
Suz Winspear
Mark Ellis
Giovanni “Spoz” Esposito – back by popular demand!
ENTRY FEE AND HOW TO PAY
The entry fee for this event is £3.00 on the door, but if you pay in advance using Paypal the entry fee is reduced to £2.00.
Please visit our facebook shop – http://www.facebook.com/wlfshop to pay via paypal or buy tickets on our website – http://www.worcslitfest.com.
We will then email you an entry ticket on receipt of payment via paypal.
Please note that all money raised will go towards funding these events and future Worcestershire Literary Festival events.
TAKING PART AND PERFORMING
If would like a slot to perform on one of these dates please let us know by emailing Ruth or Lisa via info@worcslitfest.com to book your slot, leaving a post on the wall of this event or visiting http://www.facebook.com/worcslitfest and leaving a post on the wall.
Performers get free entry, a choice of an alcoholic or soft drink and cake for taking part.
ADVANCE INFORMATION
“Parole Parlate : The Spoken Word” is on the first Thursday of every month, so advance dates for your diary will be:
Thursday 2nd June 2011 – this will be a pre-Worcestershire Literary Festival event.
Thursday 23rd June 2011 – A WLF Festival Special Event.
And look out for some exciting spoken word events that will be part of the Worcestershire Literary Festival 2011 that are online now in the WLF Festival programme – http://www.worcslitfest.com.
Thursday 5th May, Contemporary Poets Upper Room, Town Hall, Chipping Camden, 7.30pm: £8How work, family, and poetry fit together in the twenty-first century.
Silence and Words: Philip Gross and Angela France read their poems and continue Nov 2010 Iota poetry journal conversation.
20 minute interval
The Work of Words: Alison Brackenbury continues her conversation with Angela France Iota (Feb 2009) and reads from her seventh collection Singing in the Dark (2008) and Angela France read their poems and continue Nov 2010 Iota poetry journal conversation. 20 minute interval
Fri 6th May “Dreams & Wishes” Stratford upon Avon High School, 7pm: £5 in. A collaborative effort between eightschools exploring the theme of Dreams and Wishes using music,poetry, and storytelling. The close of the Stratford Literary festival.
Friday 6th May “Spoken Word” The Hollybush, Newtown Lane, Cradley Heath, 8.30pm, Free in, open mic
Friday 6th May “Slam Poetry- Women Special”,The Hubb, 9 Stoney Lane, Balsall heath, Birmingham, B12 EDL, 6.30pm:£7 in, Hosted by Charlie Jordan | Birmingham Poet Laureate and Radio Presenter,Guest poets and slam judges:
Zena Edwards | Internationally acclaimed spoken word artist,Fatima Al Matar | Poet and Author.cash prizes for winner and runner-up plus 1-2-1 mentoring with UK’s finest female spoken word artists
Friday 6th May ” Talking Emotions” Library Theatre, Birmingham Central Library, 2pm, free in, Roy Mac Farlane,Jacqui Rowe and Community Vibe. An afternoon of Poetry and Peformance
Saturday 7th May,’Hope’ a benefit concert for the victims of the Japan floods,The Public,New Street,West Bromwich, 7pm: Poetry, music and live entertainment.
Saturday 7th May The 15th Swindon Slam, 7.30pm, at the Arts Centre, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4BT. Festival details at http://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/
Monday 9th May:”Pure and Good and Right”Sozzled Sausage, 141 Regent St, Leamington Spa, 7.30pm, £3: Open mic and headliner
Mon 9 May, Pub Poetry Nottingham ,Canalhouse, 48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7EH ,8pm: Free in; Open Mic and friendliness An informal and fun evening of strictly comic and light-hearted poetry or short stories. Read your own, or someone else’s – all readers and listeners welcome. Anyone is welcome to read, someone will win the limerick competition, but everyone will enjoy a beer and get some culture down them. Pretentious and overly-serious folk not required! Contact Nick on pubpoetry@nottscomedyfestival.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May “City Voices”, City Bar, King st Wolverhampton7.30pm £3 in, set bill.
Tuesday 10th May “Scribal Gathering”,The Crown, Market Square, Stony Stratford , 8pm:
Scribal Gathering is back once again for another monthly dose of open mic music and poetry,
Wed 11th May Performance Storytelling at the VoiceBox, on Forman St, in Derby7.30pm: A Flying Donkeys production.An evening which brings you the very best of storytelling performers from across the UK and beyond, as well as showcase more local storytellers.Second wedneday of the month
Friday 13th/ Sat 14th May, Shoebox Theatre Present “An evening of three plays”, Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Great Hampton Street, Jewellery Quarter, Brum: 7.45pm,£6 in, the three short plays by Midlands Writers are:
FAQ – How many facts do you need to know about parking your car? This encounter with a car- park attendant might encourage you to take the bus next time. A comedy curtain-raiser by Michael Thomas.
Service – Dora visits her mother in the nursing home on a busy afternoon. A darkcomedy by Margaret Manuell.
When? – by Michael Thomas.
What can be said at all can be said clearly, and what we cannot talk about we must pass over in silence – Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian-born British philosopher, Tractatus Logico-
We’ve all been there – an unresolved matter to be confronted, a decision shelved, the displacement activity. This husband and wife still haven’t got round to facing the question… when?
Sun 15th May “ Sunday Xpress”, Adam & Eve PH, Bradford St Digbeth, 4pm: Free in, open mic.
Tues 17th May, Fizz 7, Polesworth Poets ,Poleworth Abbey, Polesworth,7.30.: free in ,open Mic/ Polesworth Poetry Trail poems.
Wednesday May 18th. – Talk by the author of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ at Walsall Library,2pm: Free in, Best selling author John Boyne will discuss his dazzling new novel ‘The Absolutist’ – ‘a wonderful, sad and tender book’ (Colm Tóibín). John Boyne was born in Dublin, Ireland. He has won many literary awards and his novels are translated into over 42 languages. He is most well known for his children’s book ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas which was made into a hit film by Miramax and has sold 5 million copies worldwide.
Wed 18th May, BLACK COUNTRY VOICES, Artspace, 8 Maple Hill,Mill St, Brierley Hill,DY5 2RH,7.30pm:£3 in, HUMOUR,THE BEST IN BLACK COUNTRY SPOKEN WORD Featuring…Ray Jones…Jill Tromans…Geoff Stevens…Emma Rollason (Dolly Allen Tribute) Emma Purshouse…Brendan Hawthorne…Mike Tinsley…
Wed 18th May “Rhymes”
Station Pub,7 High St,Join the Rhymes Slam Winner 2010, the fabulous Mark Niel and his fellow poet friends from Milton Keynes;
Half-pintsized poet, minx and mischief maker Danni Antagonist, fond of rhyming stuff with other stuff, and shouting it at anyone not quick enough to run away.
http://www.myspace.com/antagon1st
Fay Roberts who co-manages Poetry Kapow! with Danni and performs in Milton Keynes poetry collective Bardcore. She also co-hosts the Cambridge chapter of Hammer & Tongue.
Donna Scott, an energetic comedian, short-fiction writer and editor as well as awesome poet and was also the very first official Bard of Northampton from 2009-2010.
http://www.badgerandboodleentertainment.com
Mark Niel, a true ambassador of performance poetry, who has won Slams hands down all over the UK and is the host of the Tongue in Chic Poetry and Spoken Word events in Milton Keynes as well as being a comedian, actor and singer.
http://www.akickinthearts.co.uk
Wed 18th May “Storytelling Cafe- Heroes All” Kitchen Garden Cafe, York St, Kings Heath, 7.30pm:£7,Bringing storytelling back to adult audiences. Warriors, protectors, defenders of the realm and of the underdog, this is the stuff that the English heroes are made of. They face danger and diversity on our behalf, they stand up to be counted while others stand back and shiver. Our own storytelling heroes Graham Langley and Amanda Smith explore the myths and legends of Robin Hood and Arthur and the array of heroes that surrounded them.
Thurs 19th May “Speak Up” The Bulls Head, Moseley,7.30pm: £4 in.The first Speak Up of the year!
Speak Up has been happening for the last year, between The Bulls Head and The Hare and Hounds. I wanted something that felt like a hang out with loads of new and old buddies listening to stories and music and it’s just kind of worked. There will be open mic slots so come and park your boot early .
Joshua Idehen
A poet and musician, the founder of the highly acclaimed poetry group PiP (A Poem Between People), a frontman of Benin City, and the host, co-founder and co-promoter of PoeJazzi (‘London’s Premier Spoken Word and Music Night’- SOuthbank Centre). He has performed at many of the UK’s leading festivals, including the Big Chill, Glastonbury and Latitude; on BBC Radio One, and BBC Radio 3′s The Verb; his work has been featured by The Times, The Sunday Times and Prospect magazine, published in anthologies alongside Linton Kwesi Johnson and Anthony Joseph, as well as an LP with electronic maestros LV.
Alex Gwyther
I’ve told you how ace Alex is, heres what they say:
“Youth, charm, looks, wit AND amazing writing? Just five of the reasons I found myself jealous of Alex…” Scroobius Pip
“When someone has raw skill and a self awareness that makes it natural you can’t really touch them. Alex has two big bags of both. Ace’ – Polarbear
“Gwyther demonstrated the skills of a poet who had the crowd’s reactions varying between nods of agreement and large grins inspired by brilliant capsules of wit weaved into his poem.” – Think Growth Review
Enough?
Belinda Zhawi
A poet who never fails to give me chills. Her poetry is simply stunning, her voice commanding attention from Festival tents, The Roundhouse and the rest of the country. She’s part of the extremely talented Rubix Collective and it’s going to be the best having her in Brum again.
Friday 20th May, ‘Funny Women’ Tettenhall Library, 2.30-3.30pm: Free in, Win Saha will be appearing at the Black Country Big Book Fortnight with Jane Seagrove and Emma `Purshouse ensemble as ‘Funny Women’ . All welcome/ free event. They are all Offa’s Press writers: win is in her 80s.
Fri May 20th, Spoken Worlds”, *New venue*: The Old Cottage Tavern, 3b Byrkley St, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 2BG, free entry, 7.30pm, open mic, poetry, monologues and drama,
Sat 21st May “Eerie Meeny Miney Poe” at The Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor, Oxfordshire,5pm-6.15pm: £10/£6 children. Mixing fact and fable, the electrifying narrative sees Poe reappear after an unexplained disappearance. Despite his erratic and eccentric state, he regales his audience with the events that led to his present state – interspersed with delirious re-enactments of his classic tales, including “Pit and the Pendulum”, “The Black Cat”, “Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “Facts in the Case of Monsieur Valdemar”.
Following on from their critically-acclaimed productions of “Gothicana”, “Ghouls Aloud” and “The Singular Exploits of Sherlock Holmes”, the theatre troupe promise high-spirited performances guaranteed to leave their audiences shaken and be-spooked! They have grown from strength to strength since their formation last autumn, and company director Rachel Green is delighted with this forthcoming show. “I’ve been a life-long fan of Poe and the Roger Corman adaptations of the 1960s. If I can make Oxford shudder, then my work is done!”
The company are booked to perform its vampire epic, “The Feast of Blood, or, Lord Ruthven’s Revenge!” at The Bram Stoker International Film Festival in Whitby during Hallowe’en.
Mon 23rd May -28th May, “ 42” Present “Hitchhiker’s Week” , Waterstone’s ,The Shambles Worcester, 1-2pm daily: Free in, The live reading is part of Hitchhiker’s week, a celebration of the work and life of Douglas Adams, commemorating the 10th anniversary of his untimely death & celebrating the 30th anniversary of the first transmission on television of the classic original BBC adaption of The Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Tues 24th May “Poetry Bites” Kitchen Garden Cafe, York rd, Kings Heath,7.30pm:£5, Headlinee Heather wastie plus open mic floor spots,“One of the top 10 venues for poetry in the UK” (Susan Richardson, Radio 4). Poetry Bites also includes floor spots – arrive early to book a spot. Tickets on door or by email from jacquirowe@hotmail.co.uk (07971 018 825).
Wed 25th May Story Circle, at the Brunswick Pub, just down from Derby’s railway station.7.30pm A Flying Donkeys Event.This is a more relaxed, informal sharing of stories in the side room bar, and an ideal opportunity for people to dip their toe into storytelling for the first time or try out a new story in front of a small, sympathetic gathering. We love listeners and tellers! Fourth Sunday of the month
Thursday 26th May “Shindig” Jam Cafe, Nottingham,7.30pm: Free in. Headliners plus Open Mic
Thursday 26th May “Hit the Ode” Victoria PH, Brum City Centre 7.30pm: £5in.
Luke Kennard (shortlisted for Forward prize in 2007, published by Salt, teaches creative writing at Birmingham University)
Adam Kammerling (from Brighton – amazing performer, freestyler, poet and MC)
Laura Wihlborg and Oskar Hanska (from Sweden. Each has won the title of national slam champion at some point and have toured internationally; they will be performing in English & Swedish).
Thursday 26th May “Wedensbury Poetry” The Royal Oak, Meeting St, Wednesbury,7.30pm Open mic, free in
Thursday 26th May , Bilston Voices, Metro Cafe,Church St Bilston. 7.30pm: £2 Set Bill, not open mic,
Thurs 26th May-5th June, Hay-on- Wye Festival : the headline guests will be Nobel Laureates VS Naipaul, JMG le
Clezio, Paul Nurse and Mohammed ElBaradei, historians Eric Hobsbawm, Michael Wood, Bettany Hughes and Niall Ferguson, broadcasters Chris Evans, Jenni Murray, Kevin McCloud and Evan Davis, actors Vanessa Redgrave, Ralph Fiennes, Rob Lowe, Gillian Anderson and Simon Russell Beale, and writers Paul Theroux, Linda Grant, Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson.
Saturday 28th May The 2nd Nailsworth Slam, 7.30pm, at the Comrades Club, Nailsworth GL6 0JE. Festival details at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nailsworthfestival.org.uk%2F&h=c80ea
Garyswordz 