Poetry Book Review: 'Brand New Ancients' By Kate Tempest

'Brand New Ancients'
By Kate Tempest
Published by Picador Poetry
RRP £9.99 (paperback)
ISBN 9781447257684
Reviewed by Lynsey Evans
Brand New Ancients won the 2013 Ted Hughes Award for Innovation in Poetry and has been published by Picador Poetry.

Rather than a poetry collection, with lots of individual poems, Brand New Ancients is an epic poem, that was written to be read aloud – as a spoken word piece. It’s really interesting to read something that is a performance piece as the way you read it, isn’t always the way the poet would deliver it, yet reading the piece makes you really appreciate the story-telling element. (Check out this YouTube Clip: http://youtu.be/1a8iFSXCHLw!)

Brand New Ancients tells the story of two families and their lives that Kate originally told over an orchestra’s score. The tales is set in the city but has myths woven into it – gods are in the betting shops and cafes! It cleverly shows how myths live on in modern society, in every day acts whether that be bravery, love or violence. It’s dramatic, thought-provoking, enchanting and quite marvellous.

Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

Visit Picador Poetry's website for further information or to buy the book.

Kate Tempest Wins 2013 Ted Hughes Award for New Work

Judges Maura Dooley, Ian Duhig and Cornelia Parker have presented the 2012 Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry to Kate Tempest for 'Brand New Ancients' - an hour-long spoken story told over a live orchestral score.
Making the announcements, the judges said: “Our brief was to find the most exciting contribution to poetry this year. We judges were unanimous in feeling that Kate Tempest fulfilled this with knobs on! Lorca wrote that ‘a play is a poem standing up’ – Kate’s poem stands up in every way. Kate Tempest has created here an ambitious, unforgettable mythology and made us look at the world afresh. Kate’s work is full of promise for the future of poetry.”

The £5,000 prize is gifted by Carol Ann Duffy, funded from the annual honorarium the Poet Laureate traditionally receives from HM The Queen. Kate Tempest was presented with her prize by Carol Ann Duffy at an award ceremony at the Savile Club, London, on Wednesday 27th March 2013, alongside the winner of the National Poetry Competition 2012. Now in its fourth year, the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry is awarded annually to recognise excellence and innovation in poetry. It is one of the only awards to acknowledge the wide range of work being produced by poets – not just in books, but beyond. Read more about Kate Tempest and Brand New Ancients here.
The judges considered work in a wide variety of forms for the award – from radio-plays and installations to books and sound works – including a number of interdisciplinary collaborations. Seven poets were then shortlisted alongside Kate Tempest: Colette Bryce, Roy Fisher, Ruth Padel, Mario Petrucci, Denise Riley and Tamar Yoseloff. For more information on the Shortlist click here.

Thanks to the Poetry Society for this news.

Shakespeare Festival 2012

There is some great stuff showcasing at the World Shakespeare Festival starting on 23rd April 2012.

We're looking forward to the My Shakespeare digital project, involving the brilliant Tim Minchin and Kate Tempest. My Shakespeare can involve us all through digital media during the course of the festival as every one of us is invited to take part - to share our thoughts and ideas about what Shakespeare means to us today.

Find out more about the festival here: http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Find out more about My Shakespeare here: http://myshakespeare.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk/