Cambridge Festival of Ideas, 23rd October – 3rd November 2013

First word about some events as part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas, 23rd October – 3rd November 2013, kindly sent to us by Pete Cox:

MJ Hyland will take part in a discussion of the borders between literary genres and whether publishers and writers have become more conservative about crossing those borders in recent years.

Another session which explores the borders between genres is a word-off between rappers and poets. Three rappers will compete with three poets to explore whether rappers or poets make the best lyricists. Mark Grist, famed winner of the Don’t Flop Rap battles, Stephen Morrison Burke, the current Birmingham Poet Laureate, and Hollie McNish, Glastonbury Festival Slam Winner and BBC Radio 4 regular will compete for the poets.  For the rappers are hip hop - Skuff, this year's BBC Introducing 'Rapper of the Week', representing hip hop, Jimmy Danger, founder of record label audio Danger Records representing drum 'n bass, and grime fanatic Deanna Rodger, previous UK poetry slam champion.

Another event sees popular spoken word performer George the Poet give a performance of his work Malik at West Road Concert Hall. George, a Cambridge University student, is a spoken word performer, public speaker, writer and recording artist from North West London who offers social commentary through poetry.

More details at http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambridge-festival-of-ideas

PoetryQuest Community Project

The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts’ PoetryQuest project is supported by the MariaMarina Foundation and introduces 720 7-11 year old children from across the UK to performance poetry. The charity builds sustainble relationships between art venues across the country and their local schools to help to give schools the means and motivation to take their class into a new and inspiring environment. ach arts venue works to engage 4 local schools and 2 classes of year 5/6 students from each school.

This year PoetryQuest selected Francesca Beard and BREIS (plus Josh Solnick shadowing) at Kings Place, London; Levi Tafari and Mandy Coe at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and our very own Dead Poets (Mark Grist and MC Mixy) at Stamford Arts Centre, Lincolnshire.

PoetryQuest aims to give 720 children, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity, the chance to work with a local performance space and professional poets to develop their poetry writing and performance skills. A pupil from The Royal Exchange Manchester said: “I feel now that I can do anything, be anything and could be whoever I want to be”!

The poets worked with the pupils over several weeks with the goals of encouraging them to get to know and enjoy poetry writing and performance, to help them  feel comfortable in a performance space by using writing and performance techniques to inspire and engage them both in the venue and back at school and to encourage children to write and perform their own poems. The wider aims of PoetryQuest are to impact positively on children’s academic interest, attainment and creativity, teaching the children skills which will build their confidence and self-esteem and inspire them to visit the venue with their families after the project has finished.

In addition to working with the children, the poets also provided 24 Key Stage 2 teachers with training in using poetry within the classroom to inspire their class’s creativitywhile still meeting curriculum targets.Teacher Will Power said: “Working with poets as part of The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts’ project ‘PoetryQuest’ I saw how my pupils were energised and inspired to look at their lives in a different way and to articulate this through rap and poetry”. 

PoetryQuest is a fantastic project - building community links between poets, venues and schools, as well as giving children and teachers the opportunity to be part of something very special indeed! We caught up with Mixy (Dead Poets) after the event and he told us, "It was inspiring to work so closely with the schools around our own area, and a great feeling to see the high level of ability the students were able to achieve. A great project, run by great people".

 

For further information on PoetryQuest please visit their website.

For further info on the Dead Poets please visit us at Book a Poet. 

Featured Poem for March 2013 by Mark Grist

'What Frozen Fingers Need' by Mark Grist

‘Ketchup?’ said the first cannibal.
‘Not ketchup, no,’ said Jen.
‘Mustard?' offered the second.
‘Oh no, mustard tastes awful,’ she shivered.
‘Then what should we add?’ they asked,
looking perplexed.

‘How about you don’t add anything?’ said Jen
'How about you don’t eat my fingers at all?'
The cannibals looked at each other.
‘We are being referenced to as first and second cannibal,’
said the first cannibal.
‘It would be a little strange if we didn’t eat you,’ agreed the second.
‘That doesn’t mean anything,’ said Jen. 'This isn’t really even a poem.
It’s just a conversation
That's been given unnecessary line breaks.’

'Screw you,' said The Poet. And they ate her up.

© Mark Grist 2013
Please do not use without the poet’s permission.
 

 

For further information about Mark Grist and his work please visit Mark's page here.

You can find out more about the Dead Poets here.

 

The Poetry Archive features Mark Grist

Mark Grist

The Poetry Archive exists to help make poetry accessible, relevant and enjoyable to a wide audience. It came into being as a result of a meeting, in a recording studio, between Andrew Motion, soon after he became UK Poet Laureate in 1999, and the recording producer, Richard Carrington. They agreed about how enjoyable and illuminating it is to hear poets reading their work and about how regrettable it was that, even in the recent past, many important poets had not been properly recorded. 

We were delighted when The Poetry Archive invited Mark Grist to take part and create his own Guided Tour. If you haven't already visited The Poetry Archive, The Children's Archive or read and heard Mark's contribution, then get yourself over to www.poetryarchive.org. You can read Mark Grist's Guided Tour here.

Peterborough Arts Festival is back for 2012

The full line up for the Peterborough Arts Festival, organised by Vivacity Culture and Leisure and sponsored by Perkins Engines Company Limited, has now been announced.

This year’s Festival, which takes place from 30th June to 8th July, is set to be a magical feast of entertainment: from headliners Hard-Fi in Central Park, to Helter Skelters and Giant Elephants in Cathedral Square, to some of the best talent from the Edinburgh Festival at the Key Theatre. Whatever your taste in music, art, culture and entertainment, there’s bound to be something for you and your friends and family to enjoy. 

Peterborough Arts Festival kicks off with a Victorian Circus extravaganza in the city centre. On Saturday 30th June, Cathedral Square will be transformed by a multitude of extra-ordinary performances and entertainment. Come and be amazed by wonderful, bizarre, magical and hilarious performances popping up all over the Square to celebrate the Festival opening, featuring artists from around the world: Cirk Isis will be astounding crowds with their acrobatic trampoline act. Walking giants – a mechanical elephant and a giant Fire bird – will be witnessed touring the city centre. Or, you can get a different perspective on the city from the top of a Victorian Helter Skelter.

Then make your way over to the Key Theatre to experience the Reduced Shakespeare Company performing The Complete World of Sports – every sport ever played on every continent in the entire history of the world, in less than two hours …

Festival Plus returns for the second year with a week of dance, music, theatre, master classes and much more, from 2nd – 6th July. This year, Peterborough gets the opportunity to experience a taster of the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival material: leading comedic conjuror and star of the BBC’s The Magicians, Pete Firman, performs brand new material for his forthcoming Edinburgh appearance, as does Peterborough’s very own Mark Grist. Maison Foo will also be performing their Edinburgh Festival sell-out show, Memoirs of a Biscuit Tin, a topsy turvy tale for grown-ups. The week will end with the Key Theatre opening its doors to a Through the Looking Glass experience, with unexpected performances taking place in every corner.

The Peterborough Arts Festival also provides the back drop to the Olympic Torch Relay celebrations on the city’s Embankment on 3rd July, organised by Peterborough City Council working in partnership with Vivacity and Voyager Academy. World renowned Close Act will provide an unforgettable welcome to the Olympic Flame, and there will be an exclusive performance of the specially commissioned Song for Peterborough by schools and communities from across the city with the Peterborough Male Voice Choir. More information about the Olympic Torch Relay can be found at www.peterborough.gov.uk/OlympicTorchRelay.

The grand Festival Finale returns to Central Park on 7 – 8 July for a weekend of epic entertainment!

The fun begins on Saturday 7th July at 12 noon with the Demon Barbers turning traditional Morris dancing on its head with their memorable Time Gentlemen Please. Visitors can have a go themselves at the Big Dance Workshops taking place throughout the weekend.
Families will enjoy a visit to a vast (50ft!) inflatable whale, where they might encounter a shipwrecked Pirate and real live Mermaid, or a visit to the Monster Take Away, where you can create your very own custom monster. At the other end of the scale, you can visit the Insect Circus Museum to behold the Liberty Beetles and Cheeky Ladybirds!

Throughout the weekend, there will be entertainment in every corner, from live literature, acoustic performances, music workshops and art displays.

Headliners Hard-Fi round off Saturday’s fun with some of their much-loved hits plus new material from their newly released album. Sunday’s programme is kicked off with the award winning Peterborough Male Voice Choir and Peterborough Voices. Don’t miss the renowned Orchestra Da Camera, who will be performing music from all corners of the British Isles to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee on Sunday evening. Bring a picnic and enjoy a magical end to a magical Festival!

The 2012 Festival is sponsored by Perkins Engines Company Limited as part of their own 80th anniversary celebrations which take place this year. Perkins employees will participate directly in many parts of the Festival, with art, dance, poetry and music workshops and performances taking place at Perkins Eastfield facility in the lead up to the event. There will also be a dedicated Perkins exhibition within the Festival Community Zone in Central Park, which will celebrate the company’s eighty year heritage and involvement with Peterborough, and invite people of all ages to take a ‘hands on’ approach to engineering.

The Arts Festival is also supported by funding from Arts Council England, with the aim of growing the Peterborough Festival into a world class platform for artists and providing a strong arts focus for the city.

Lisa Helin, Vivacity’s Cultural Development Manager, commented:
‘This year’s line-up is the strongest ever, and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase such a range of artists in Peterborough. With the support of the Arts Council, we’ve been working closely with partners such as Norwich Arts Centre and SeaChange Arts in order bring in talented new musicians and leading international artists alongside more established names. We expect attendance to be the biggest ever, creating a fantastic profile for arts and heritage within Peterborough.’

Ennodio Ramos, Perkins Sales and Marketing Director, added:
‘We’re delighted to be working with Vivacity on this year’s Peterborough Arts Festival. We hope many of our employees and their families will take an active role in the two-week festival, which is going to be a great event for our city.’

The full programme of acts is available in the 2012 Festival brochure, available from
the Key Theatre and venues across the city, or via the dedicated Festival website, www.peterboroughfestival.co.uk. Ticketed events are now on sale from the Key Theatre Box Office on 01733 207239.

Winners of the Book a Poet & Term Times competition

In the December issue of Term Times we invited readers to 'Give Poetry a Sporting Chance' by writing a poem on the theme of sports to be in with a chance of winning a great prize – a family ticket to the Roald Dahl Museum and a selection of poetry books! Peterborough-based award-winning poet, Mark Grist, has picked the winners …

Congratulations to our under 7s category winner, Niamh Brown, aged 4, from Alconbury CE Primary School in Huntingdon.

'Running'

Running makes my legs ache

And makes me need some water,

Runners can be brothers, sisters, mums or daughters.

Judge Mark Grist said: “A very different take on athletics that’s as lovely as it is short. It also contains a wonderful 2- syllable rhyme that is very unconventional and really made me smile. I kept thinking back to it throughout the day – very original – well done, Niamh!”

Congratulations to our 8-11 years category winner Rebecca Hyde, aged 10, from William Stukeley CE Primary School in Holbeach.

'Bob’s New Sport'

There once was a fish called Bob,

That wanted to play a new sport.

First he tried football,

But he was so awful.

He needed some feet,

So he couldn’t compete.

Next he tried netball,

He got a foul whistle,

For using his head,

His fins were too short to shoot in the net.

He thought and he thought,

And found his number one sport,

He and Tom Daley,

Joined as a team,

It was the best synchro-diving,

That I’ve ever seen.

Judge Mark Grist said: “I really enjoy it when people use rhyme to tell stories, and Rebecca has told us a great one, that is also very funny. Some clever use of half-rhyme as well, which really adds to the comical tone of the poem. Very original as well.”

We’ve also chosen our favourite poems from the entries we received and Mark has commented on all the poems too ...

'100 Metre Race'

by Haytham Afittou, Aged 6

Bishop Creighton Academy School, Peterborough

The gun goes off,

The start of the race,

Run, run, run, fast as they can,

Passing the spectators as they’re cheering and having fun.

Running fast, fast, fast

The finish in sight

Run, run, run

They burst through the ribbon …

1st, 2nd, 3rd,

Hooray for team GB

Another 1st!

Mark Grist said: "Some excellent use of repetition and I like that you experiment with the use of an ellipsis. You present the race really well, and give us a fantastic boost at the end. I very much enjoyed it."

'Football'

By Ewan Brown, Aged 4

Alconbury CE Primary School, Huntingdon

If I were a footballer,

I’d run and score a goal,

And I’d be really happy

Unless it bounced off the pole!

Mark Grist said: "A lovely little rhyme in this that really made me laugh. Well done!"

'Swimming'

By Alice Kemp, Aged 10

Hemingford Grey School, Huntingdon

Under the water bubbles blow,

Turquoise waves stream and flow,

Panting, gasping, paddle along,

Got to keep speedy, got to keep strong,

Feel the water wave in your ears,

Getting my eyes stung is what I fear,

Kicking my legs up and down,

Spinning my strokes, not to drown,

Holding my breath as I dive deep,

The hard tiles is who I meet,

I feel the energy burst when I rest,

My heart pounds like a drum in my chest,

It’s keeping me sporty; it’s keeping me fit,

I’ll do every stroke, bit by bit,

I love my swimming; it’s so much fun,

I feel so brilliant once I’ve done,

I love the feel of swishing blue liquid,

I love the way I swim like a squid,

The best sport that helps you slimming

Is making you love enjoying swimming.

Mark Grist said: "Wow! What a fantastic and engaging piece about swimming. I loved it all, particularly the mention of the ‘squid.’ Some great rhyming couplets and your use of meter was exceptionally strong. Well done!"

'Sport is Great'

By Kyle Olley, aged 9

William Stukeley CE Primary School, Holbeach

Sport is great,

Sport is fun,

Sport can be played by anyone.

I like to watch,

I love to play,

It keeps me active every day.

Football, rugby, snooker, pool,

All of these are really cool.

Wear a hat,

Use a club,

Pot a ball,

Slam that good.

Play with a bat,

A rugby ball,

Back of the net,

Win them all!

Mark Grist said: "Some excellent rhythms in here, Kyle. You use rhyme effectively and I love the message that you’re sending to the reader."

'I Love Sports'

By Greta Domkute, aged 10

Ramnoth Junior School, Wisbech

Basketball is great,

A thing you will not hate,

Or football if you like,

Though some people prefer to ride on their bike,

Tennis is not bad,

But when they lose they’re sad,

In hide-and-seek they smiled,

Though some people got wild,

Do you like rugby?

It’s actually funky!

Mark Grist said: "I love the ending to this, and you cover a range of sports really well, Greta."

'On the Court'

By Jodie Tawn, aged 10

Murrow Primary School, Wisbech

On the court,

Hoop and ball,

Hope one of my players doesn’t have a fall!

Shoot and score,

Shoot and score,

Dribble that basketball around the floor.

The games with my class,

So gotta make sure I pass,

There’s no doubt people will jump and shout.

I’m not sure how

He just got a foul …

But that’s basketball for ya!

Mark Grist said: "This would make an excellent chant, it’s a very vocal piece. I can imagine your classmates chanting this to cheer you on in a sporting event. Well done!"

'The World Cup Shock'

By Charlie Moughton, aged 9

William Stukeley CE Primary School, Holbeach

I was in the World Cup Final

And we wanted to win

I looked at the World Cup trophy

And we couldn’t put this game in the bin.

We went on to the pitch

Our fans shouted with glory

There was so much pressure

And the game could go in a story.

We started the match

Our hearts were beating

Germany went on the counter-attack

And we were retreating.

The whistle blew

We were sweating

We looked at the manager

And he was fretting.

The second half started

And we just ran at them all

My friend Tom got a penalty

I stood on that spot nice and tall.

I went to the penalty

I scored with joy

My friends ran at me

Like a 10-year-old boy.

The whistle blew

I ran to my friend Sophie

I gave her a hug

And I held the heavy trophy.

Mark Grist said: "A good little story, here, with some effective rhymes – and a couple of two syllable ones in there as well."

'What Am I?'

By Emma Hunt, aged 11

Alconbury CE Primary School, Huntingdon

What am I?

I like to be kicked and chased after,

I can help people win a cup,

You try to kick me in a net,

In a game you can use any part of your body to move me, except your hands.

So, what am I … ?

I am a football!

Mark Grist said: "A fantastic little riddle, here. Well done, Emma!"

We hope you enjoy reading all the wonderful poems as much as we did. A big thanks to all the budding poets who entered and to our guest judge Mark Grist. Congratulations to Niamh and Rebecca - enjoy your prizes!