Poetry Events

With thanks to my good  friend Gary Longden for this list! Check out his site at http://www.behindthearras.com.

 

Tues 18^th Jan Rhymes Annual Slam, Old Crown Public House, Digbeth, 8pm: £5, Flagship Slam with the Best of Midlands
Poetry Slamming it out.

http://www.rogueplay.co.uk/page/Birmingham_Creative_Space_Theatre_Tickets/Rhymes-The%20Jan-Slam

Tues 18^th Jan “The Fizz 5” Polesworth  Poets, Polesworth Abbey,Polesworth 7.30pm: Open mic. Sarah James from Worcester
Headlines
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=188369377856186

Sun 23^rd Jan Sunday Express, Adam & Eve PH, Digbeth, 3pm: Free in, Spoken Word Open Mic

Tues 25^th Jan Poetry Bites, Kitchen Garden Cafe,7.30pm: £5 .Alasdair Patterson plus Open mic

http://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk/events.php?pid=lsm&lsm_id=185

Wed 26^th Jan, History Presentation, Kitchen Garden Cafe. 7.30pm: £1, Prof  Peter Marsh on “Chamberlain Family Letters –  From Empire to Appeasement” http://highburyparkfriends.org.uk/

Thurs 27^th Jan, Bilston Voices, Metro Cafe, Bilston,7.30pm: £2, Poetry Evening with five performer bill. Not Open Mic

Fri 28^th Jan, Comedy Night, Prince of Wales Pub, Cambridge St,8pm: Free in.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=182546775103230

Tue 1st/Wed 2^nd Feb “Snug” by Brewers Troupe, Hollybush, Cradley Heath,7.30pm: £5

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=161585293886934

Thur 3^rd Feb Poetry@The Cafe, Digbeth 8pm: free admission. Open mic Poetry
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000805036895

Fri 4^th Feb, Spoken Word/ Acoustic NightHollyush, Cradley Heath  8pm; free in.Open mic

Fri 4^th Feb Espresso Theatre, Margarett Rose Abri Cafe, Digbeth 8pm: £3 An evening of short plays.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000805036895

Monday 14th February ,Pure Good and Right Poetry Night,,The Sozzled Sausage, Leamington Spa CV32 4NX  7.30pm: Free in, Open mic Poetry

Wednesday, February 23rd ,Funbags Cabaret Comedy,  The Station Pub, Kings Heath High Street, Birmingham,  7:30pm – 10:30pm £5.
Join a wealth of local comedy talent for another awesome RoguePlay Funbags Cabaret! The improvisation troupe will be joined by hilarious performance group ‘The Ugly Killers’ as well as comedy sketches from the seriously uptight yet awfully charming ‘Gillian and Jane’ and stand-up from comedy golden boy and seasoned Funbagger Aaron Twitchen. Don’t miss this jam-packed comedy jamboree! Tickets available in advance at www.rogueplay.co.uk

Thur 3^rd Mar Poetry@The Cafe, Digbeth 8pm: free admission. Open mic

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000805036895

Friday 11th March Comedy Cabaret for International Womens Week Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton,7.30pm: £5
Thursday 24th March, Poetry at St Martins Church (The Bullring) 7pm-10pm: £3, Open Mic Poetry,Lorna Meehan Headlines

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Summer workshops announced!

Hello all

Just to let you know that our next poetry and a pint is April 30th,The Spotted Dog,Digbeth from 6pm. An informal gathering of Wrote Under writer’s co-operative,chit-chat and a drink if one so desires.
Contact Bren on 07833643720,he’s running this one!

And to let you know we have confirmed our summer programme of workshops. All to take place as part of our poetry and a pint nights.

The Spotted Dog,Alcester St,Digbeth from 6pm. If you would like to attend turn up and enjoy.No booking,no paperwork,no complications.

All welcome-no leaders,no silly ‘name bingo’ games,just good honest community vibes and co-operative spirit. Everyone welcome. All free!

May 14th: An introduction to our work who we are,what we do.

May 28th: Poetry swap shop. Read each other’s poetry,or another (more famous) author with a view to finding your voice. All welcome.

June 11th: Performance workshop.Seasoned performers offer advice and a chance to practice a short performance. Poetry and prose but all welcome.

June 25th:Favourite author’s: An evening of sharing favourite authors. Readings and bookswapping.

July 9th and 23rd: New project workshop: come and pitch your book,cd,multimedia,prose,play,exhibition and everything else to us! Anything goes all welcome!

Contact Sammy
sammywroteunder@googlemail.com
07880675506

Musings From Brenda Higgins

This just in my inbox:

 

                           NOBODY’S STOPPING YOU

 

SO YOU’RE A POET, ARE YOU?

WELL BE FUCKING POET THEN

NOBODY’S STOPPING YOU

I CERTANLY AIN’T

I SEEN YOU DO A PERFORMANCE ONCE

WELL, IT WASN’T SO MUCH AS A PERFORMANCE

IT WAS MORE LIKE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

WHAT IS IT YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT ME

IS IT BECAUSE I HAVE THE CONFINDENCE THAT YOU LACK

OR IS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE ME?

DON’T BE JEALOUS OF ME LOVE

I’M NOT COMPETING WITH ANYONE

IF YOU’RE A POET

BE A FUCKING POET THEN

NOBODY’S STOPPING YOU

I CERTANLY AIN’T

LISTEN, I’VE WORKED FUCKING HARD TO GET TO

WHERE I AM TODAY

IF YOU WASN’T SUCH A SILLY LITTLE GIRL

IF YOU WASN’T SUCH A TWISTED PARANOID FUCK HEAD

YOU COULD HAVE SOME OF THIS

BUT NO

YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP PLAYING YOUR STUPID LTTLE GAME

I OFFERED YOU AN OLIVE BRANCH

I INVITED YOU TO PLAY A GIG

BUT NO

IT SEEMS YOU DON’T WANT TO BE A POET AFTER ALL

AND WHAT’S STOPPED YOU

I CERTANLY HAVEN’T

 

                   BRENDAN HIGGINS 2007

                   THEORY OF HOMOPHOBIA

YOU’RE THE GEEZER

YOU’RE THE CEASER

GOD’S GIFT TO THE FEMALE BREED

FULL OF BOOZE

AND RIGHT WING VEIWS

YOU THINK EVERY BIRD WANTS YOUR SEED

AND ANYONE WHO IS INTELLECTUAL

IS WRITTEN OFF OF AS HOMOSEXUAL

“I WOULDN’T LET NO GAY PUT HIS COCK UP MY ARSE”

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT A GAY MAN WOULD WANT TOO?

IS IT BECAUSE

THAT YOU’RE THE GEEZER

YOU’RE THE CEASER

GOD’S GIFT TO WOMEN

GIVE SOME CHAT

AND THEY FALL DOWN FLAT

THEY ALL COME ROUND SWIMMING

YOU’RE SO CAUGHT UP IN OWN LITTLE WORLD

THINKING THAT YOU CAN HAVE ALMOST ANY GIRL

THAT YOU’RE AFRAID THAT ALL GAY MEN WILL FANCY YOU TOO

BUT NO PERSON IN THEIR RIGHT MIND

WOULD BE SEEN FUCKING DEAD WITH A TWAT LIKE YOU

BECAUSE YOU’RE A CREEP AND WEIRDO

AND YOU’VE GOT A FACE LIKE A PIG ARSE

WITH A SEVERE CASE OF DIARRHEA

SO STOP BOTHERING THOSE POOR YOUNG GIRLS

WHO ARE ONLY OUT FOR A QUIET DRINK

 AND GO HOME AND WANK.

                            BRENDAN HIGGINS

What I have been doing with my spare time..

And so it begins. I don’t actually have any spare time because actually I am doing these things..  and here are a few suggestions of things you might like to do to with your time,spare or otherwise.

• Reading Khaled Hossini’s The Kite Runner. http://www.khaledhosseini.com/

• Watching Being Erica on E4, if you miss this time travel therapy series you can always enjoy it on 4OD. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/being-erica/4od

• Visiting The Coffee Shop Poets: Every 1st Thursday,58-59 Cheapside Digbeth (the old Post Office), 8.30pm Free in.

• Shouting at Jeremy Kyle,and being enthralled by his make -up and make- believe. If you miss the pantomime,it’s on ITV2 as well. Heaven help us, he’s even got a DVD out. http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/jeremykyle/default.html

• Going to the Christmas Sunday Xpress- Dec 13th,The Adam And Eve,Digbeth, 3pm til late.Free in.Raffle.

• Ignoring the X Factor now all of the good ones have gone. Singing competion? Performance parade? Who cares?

• Learning to say swearwords in sign language.

• Posting blogs-Have a go, mail me sammywroteunder@googlemail.com ,it’s got to be better than this..

Sammy x

Bodies Revealed- Art,science or something more sinister?

The website and PR machine labels it as ‘fascinating and real’. In short,Bodies Revealed,which has travelled all over the world and is now at The Custard Factory,is a collection of  body parts displayed behind glass cases,in glass jars and for the actual bodies out in the open in a variety of different poses,including sitting at a desk and getting ready to throw a basketball. I visited with a friend and with a hint of caution,my young daughter.

The first thing that astounded us was the price- £14 for an adult ticket,£10 for children aged 4-12. It is the most that I (well,my generous friend) have ever paid for an exhibition,and walked in expecting something spectacular.

And it was. The skeletons were real-complete with fingernails-and each information card taught me something new,from the effects of stroke upon the brain to the full and horrifying effects of smoking upon the lungs. My daughter was enthralled with the beautiful colours that show the full glory and complexity of the nervous system and look similar to strikingly coloured fish in a tank.

But I couldn’t help feeling uneasy. The human body is a fascinating machine and the exhibition took it apart beautifully and put it back together so effortlessly. Somehow,though,the actual bodies,preserved and prepared using a vacuum technique,became less exhibits to be wondered at,and more like the proverbial goldfish. Everyone was there,it seems,for their pound of flesh. perhaps it was the unnatural position of one body detailing the muscular system or the babies in jars,collected it says,during pregnancy (and miscarried naturally),but the whole thing took on something of a sinister twist.

It was maybe the moment that my daughter asked ‘what’s that?’ and to save confusion I answered ‘a person’. They were,still are,people,and there was no mention of this in the exhibition-no mention of age,country of origin,to all intentional purposes these really were just bodies.  I’m not saying that we should have been given a person’s full medical history,but acknowledgement of their very personal contribution to this very public showing wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Some have suggested that these bodies-prepared by a company in China,were in fact victims of execution or political prisoners,or were even used without families permission because the bodies were in fact ‘John Does’- unclaimed or unknown persons. The organisers claim that the people had freely and willingly donated their bodies for medical science,and I have to admit the mind boggles at why anyone would choose to exhibit themselves in such a way.

The truth is,despite reassurances,we will never know and the sign claiming that the bodies have ‘been treated with the dignity that they deserve’ next to a gift shop selling t-shirts and a photograph book was for me,too much to stomach.

Bodies Website: http://www.bodiesbirmingham.co.uk/news/

 

(Ed- Nicky Getgood linked us and asked me in the pub the other night “Was that your blog”. Yes,it is I. the one and only forgetful Sammy.Thanks for the link.)

Eccentric City – launch of new edition tomorrow night

 

Hooray to Harry Palmer for getting the third edition of his Eccentric City newspaper out and even including a submission from Wrote Under affiliate Bom & His Magic Drumstick. We’re very excited about seeing the finished product, and some of us will hopefully be joining Harry & Friends down at The Anchor pub in Digbeth tomorrow night (Tuesday) for the launch and a pint or seven. Join us if you can from 7.30pm onwards and don’t forget to visit the Eccentric City website to buy a copy of this latest fine newssheet. Here’s what Harry has to say about it:

Echoes from the Edge

I imagine everyone who’s anyone knows about this by now, but hopefully this will still serve as a useful reminder of the latest weirdness and wonder going down at The Edge in Digbeth. Wrote Under is sending a delegation down for the dinner tour on 30th May and we can’t wait. Friction Arts are great.

Echoes From The Edge is a unique living history contemporary art exhibition, housed in a converted factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.  Over the past eighteen months, Friction Arts have been collaborating with US artist, Shannon Flattery, to create an interactive exhibition reflecting the voices, thoughts and histories of the residents and workers of Digbeth, Deritend and Highgate as the area undergoes it’s most significant changes for forty years.

One warning: make sure you book a place on one of the “tours”, I don’t think you can just turn up. Visit the site for more details.