The James Berry Fundraising Project presents A STORY I AM IN: A Benefit Performance Poetry, Music & Spoken Word celebrating James Berry’s Life in Literature

FRIDAY 27th SEPTEMBER

The James Berry Fundraising Project presents
A STORY I AM IN:
A Benefit Performance
Poetry, Music & Spoken Word celebrating James Berry’s Life in Literature

The Tabernacle, London W11
7pm - 10pm

Acclaimed poet James Berry celebrates 90 years of poetry, stories and song in 2014. James was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease nine years ago.  He has been in residential care for over two years, and during that time has been in five different care homes and has spent four months in hospital. Despite the serious nature of his illness, he continues to enjoy listening to poetry and talking about everything under the sun.  In this special fundraising benefit at the Tabernacle, fifteen outstanding poets, musician, performers and wordsmiths will share a stage to mark Berry’s life in words and bear witness to his contribution to the transformation of the national, Caribbean and international literary landscapes.
Featuring

Roger McGough, Grace Nichols, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Ian Macmillan, Maura Dooley, Andrew Motion, Michael Rosen, Hannah Lowe, John Agard, Inua Ellams, Dean Atta, Susanna Howard, Myra Barrs, Melanie Abrahams, Keith Waithe and special guests.

Tickets £45 each - price of ticket includes entertainment and a food buffet.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available at £35 (offer ends 12th Sept 2013) BOOK a ticket HERE
All Proceeds from the event go to the James Berry Trust.  Event in partnership with the Tabernacle.

Collective Noun: An Evening with 4 Poet Laureates

This is an evening performance to celebrate the contribution of 4 of our local Poet Laureates and to also say a big thank you to St John's Poet-in-Residence, Pete Cox. This will be a event full of beautiful and exciting verse that will display the imaginative of these East Anglian bards and the things and places that have inspired them in their laureateship.

The night includes the wonderful following:

Pete Cox, Poet-in-Resident at St John the Baptist Church
At Easter 2012 Pete Cox was appointed Poet-in-Residence for St John the Baptist Church. Hear some of the work he has produced in that time and about some of the events he has attended.
“Cox is a poetic wildcard, spinning off all kinds of funny, bizarre and fanciful versa…” Neal Wilgus, Small Press Review (USA)
 “Is there no end to this man’s versatility?” Keith Walker, Fanzine Fanatique (UK).

Elaine Ewart, Fenland Poet Laureate
National award-winning poet and Fenland Poet Laureate Emeritus, Elaine Ewart is currently studying for an MA in ‘Wild Writing: Literature and the Environment’, at the University of Essex. She writes poetry and short fiction, as well as creative non-fiction about the natural world. Elaine, a former lawyer, lives in Ely and volunteers at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust at Welney.
Enjoy her work and follow her poetic adventures online at: www.flightfeather.wordpress.com


Simon Stabler, Peterborough Poet Laureate
The last time Simon performed in a church was as a boy soprano more than 20 years ago. While he still has his medal from the Royal School of Church Music, his ability to sing left him many years ago, thanks in part to underage smoking and barking along to punk records. He may have given up smoking some years ago but still enjoys a spiky rant, with his poem 'This Is Peterborough ...' and 'We Deserve More' earning him the title of Peterborough Poet Laureate at last September’s finals. Having known Pete for many years, Simon is honoured to be at tonight’s celebration and for once, will be turning down his irreverence settings.

Darren Rawnsley, Stamord Poet Laureate
Take a brief journey with Darren Rawnsley, from the 1960s to the present day. A weave of reflection, truth and empathy. From buttercups to riots, intimate cafes to traditions passed down through generations. A 'Box of Allsorts' for the listener to digest.

Please take a poetic pew at our very own St John the Baptist, Peterborough, just behind the Guildhall in Peterborough City centre.

When: 23rd of April 2013
Time: 7:30pm-10:00pm
Price: £3 and please pay on the door, no advance tickets.

For further enquiries please visit the Facebook Event page.

The Cursive Crowd Spoken Word News

The Cursive Crowd is a company set up by Deanna Rodger and Rosie Knight. Its primary ambition is to showcase all the wonderful projects we are involved in and love.
Anyone can be in The Cursive Crowd providing they are actively promoting the ferocious beauty that is Spoken Word and everything it touches which is, more or less, everything!!
So here is the news and upcoming goodness for the next three months:

COME RHYME WITH ME
@comerhymewithus

With a three course menu of the best performers and an appetiser (open mic) section for all those who fancy performing for three minutes, this event is the perfect way to spend your Friday night.  Set up by Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger it is now a monthly event running in London and Brighton. Check out our fabulous new flyers for all the information you'll need (designed by the clearly awesome Ben Connors).
 

 
Dean and Deanna are honoured to be part of the Know More Festival on February 10th. This festival is set up by TwentysomethingLondon, the coolest place to check out what to do in London. Click and discover!
 

CHILL PILL @chillpilluk
 

Chill Pill: A Mellow Night of Music and Spoken Word. Set up by Mr Gee, Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole and Adam Kammerling. This year we will be reaching even further...

Friday 1st February Chill Pill heads up to Shropshire to deliver a Chill Pill night of entertainment featuring the buffness of Martyna Baker.

Wednesday 13th February Chill Pill needs all of your support for a new venture at the Roundhouse Camden - Chill Pill Connects
Thursday 28th February Chill Pill is back at The Albany, Deptford. Headliners are David J and Ross Sutherland Book now 

RUBIX
@rubixcollective

A collective of different voices and perspectives: Deanna Rodger, Dean Atta, Sean Mahoney, Bridget Minamore, Lara Zade, Paul Cree, Justice Lyric, Belinda Zhawi
Our first collective album 'RED' is out on iTunes Buy now Watch promo video here 

“When artists are excited, energetic, open and really talented it's inspiring.
When those same artists collaborate as a collective and strive to push each other and themselves it's just plain amazing.
Rubix are easily the most exciting group of writer performers I've ever come across. Bar none.”
Polarbear - Spoken Word Artist and Theatre Maker


POINT BLANK POETS
@pointblankpoets

'Poetry with Purpose'
We are Bridget Minamore, Chimene Suleyman, Deanna Rodger, Dean Atta, Hollie McNish and Sabrina Mahfouz

This year we have an album and will be performing later on in the year stay tuned for more news


DEANNA 
@deannarodger

At the moment I am in rehearsals for a new play called 'The Mumblars'. Written by the super cool Charlie Dark, it will debut at the Arts Depot Theatre in Finchley and transfer to The Albany on 3rd Sunday. It's a 4+ show so bring any kiddies you happen to have.

Poetry performance wise, I have a fair few gigs so do come and join me at any or all of the following events:
 Carib2UK, Jazz Verse Jukebox, Outspoken

At the end of last year I was lead for the Anthony Anaxagorou's poetry video 'The Master Revenge'

I have also recorded a track for Benin City's album which will be out later this year. Here is me in their 'Baby' video

Other great news is that poetry album 'Heavy Poetting and a Little Peace' featuring myself, Raymond Antrobus, John Hegley, Benjamin Zephiniah plus many others, is out and available for purchase. All proceeds go to St Joseph's Hospice. For more information please email paulromane@hotmail.co.uk

and The Rhyming Thunder Anthology featuring some of the best Spoken word poets, is out and available to purchase.
Oh and, I am extremely excited to be Ideastap's January member of the month. I am a massive fan of the site and recommend it to everyone interested in creative arts and collaboration. I have applied for many briefs and funding pots, most recently The Sky Arts Ignition Futures Fund with The Cursive Crowd so fingers crossed I am successful....
The member of the month article isn't out yet but keep your eyes peeled for it!!!
 

Dates for the Diary

9/01/13 - Carib2UK

13/01/13 - Jazz Verse Jukebox

18/01/13 - Brighton Come Rhyme With Me
22/01/13 - Outspoken

25/01/13 - London Come Rhyme With Me
27/01/13 - The Mumblars Arts Depot

3/02/13 - The Mumblars The Albany
10/02/13 - Know More Festival 13/02/13 - Chill Pill Connects
15/02/13 - Brighton Come Rhyme With Me 
28/02/13 - London Come Rhyme With Me

8/03/13 - Simon Moles mum's event for International Women's Day Brighton
9/03/13 - Inua Ellams RAP Party 

Well thats all from The Cursive Crowd at the moment!
For news and information on everything featured here check out thecursivecrowd.wordpress.com and follow us on twitter @thecursivecrowd

 

Source: The Cursive Crowd Newsletter