DOUBLE BOOKED IN A FORTY YEAR OLD LIBRARY.

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?
The tiredness

What is DELIGHTING me this week?
Poem – The Magic Box – Daniel Dewhurst.

LISTENING TO:
Morrison Hotel – The Doors

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

Quadrophenia.
The last few weeks has seen my spare time taken up with writing for Quadrophenia in Tamworth along with preparing the specifications for the projections, exploring the sources of film footage of London and Brighton in the 1960’s. I am amazed as to how much I was able to find, especially cine footage taken by amateur filmmakers. In the past much of this footage would have sat in dusty box, lost at the back of the loft. But with the advent of sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, many of these amateurs are sharing their films and in doing so are opening up a view of the world that we would not otherwise have.

Double Booked.
Whilst I am talking about film, I have completed the film I made with Keith Large, Double Booked. Using Keith’s script we originally shot this in January 2012, but due to issues with the performances we decided to re-cast and re-shoot last Summer. The film featuring Nic Adams as Bob Heap the Hotel Night Porter and Joanna Linford as Nina Cole the hotel guest with an unwelcome man in her room, plays out to show that this night porter is always going to be on top.

Bob Heap (Nic Adams) and Nina Cole (Joanna Linford) in Double Booked.

The final edits were made over a weekend and the completed film passed to Keith for him to promote and enter into film festivals. We uploaded it to the Withoutabox website and I left Keith trawling through what seemed an endless list of film festivals around the world. So let’s hope that Keith has some success, If I hear any more then you’ll be the first to know through this blog.

Making Doubling Booked Photo (c) Maria Smith

Back to Quadrophenia.
Meanwhile back to Quadrophenia, the rehearsals progress to bring this new piece to fruition. I say new piece because the script is completely new, following the themes of Mod sub-culture, exploring attitudes to mental health, fashion and identity and the frictions of intergenerational relationships.

This is going to be a great show; tickets are selling really well, so if you haven’t got yours yet you need to contact the box office at:
https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/event-calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2013/05/24/15057/-/quadrophenia

Email tic@tamworth.gov.uk Telephone 01827 709581/618

The show will be performed on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May at the Assembly Rooms in Tamworth. Tickets £8 (£6 Concessions)

You can see the real me in my interview with Gary Longden at GarysWordz http://garylongden.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/quadrophenia-at-tamworth-assembly-rooms-is-previewed-by-poet-and-contributor-mal-dewhirst/

And for those who missed here is the link to Gary’s interview with the Director Simon Quinn. http://garylongden.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/quadrophenia-at-tamworth-assembly-rooms-is-previewed-by-director-simon-quinn/

POETNAV.
My workshop at the Landau Forte School in Derby introduced POETNAV to the pupils who gathered word lists based upon the themes we explored.

POETNAV is my SATNAV to help guide young poets to create interesting, engaging lines of poetry.

It was really fantastic to see them create poems with great turns of phrase and imagery. I am greatful Jo Henchley and the other teachers and pupils who made me so welcome. There is some great literary potential at the school and I suspect every school, if we can just nurture it.

Laureate Saturdays.
My Laureate Saturday in Lichfield saw a few people come along to talk to me about my poem, All around the Shire and particularly the verse for Lichfield, which the consensus seem to be that the verse I had written captured the essence of the City and therefore it did not need to change.

My verse for Lichfield will remain as follows:

In the City, Lichfield,
we find brooks that branch their
way to seek the Trent.
Cathedral raises spires to Saxon kings,
as the poet swan glides the minster pool.
Darwins and Johnsons refreshed
our thought as Garrick performed to entertain,
Bower days and festivals,
the tombolas, the writers, the Jazz.
Out among the wider fields
legions held walls on Watling St
and Earls gave halls to the Nations trust.

I much appreciated those who came along, it was good to talk to people about poetry and how it can capture their imagination and enhance their daily lives.

My next Laureate event is a reading at the Stafford Open Arts Forum at the Shire Hall Gallery on 17th May.
Followed by my Quadrophenia commission on 24th and 25th May. – I may have mentioned it.

Then..

A Wonderful Workshop. – Tamworth Library Saturday 8th June 2013 – 10:00am to 2:00pm

The 8th June sees my contribution to the 40th Birthday celebrations at Tamworth Library. The Library moved into its current building in 1973 and has seen many changes in the last 40 years which we will discover with this wonderful opportunity.

The library was built in a churchyard and architecturally is very much of its day.
This free poetry workshop will explore some unusual, quirky features of the library collections and its building as selected by the Library Staff.

It could be the least borrowed book, the oldest book, a feature of the building, something that is under appreciated or hard to like, I have left it for the staff to decide and to present to the participant the reasons for its selection.

Anything could be selected here and it will beg the question if Tamworth Library has these items then what do other libraries have that defines them.

Through exercises we will develop poems for a reading in the Library at the end of the workshop.
The workshop is sponsored by Poetry on Loan whose support and promotion of Poetry events in Libraries is much applauded and appreciated.

I am really looking forward to seeing the things that have chosen as defining Tamworth Library.
Please contact me at maldewhirst@yahoo.co.uk  or contact the library, if you want to reserve a place.

Finally – Thrasher.
Last night Thursday (25t April) saw the performance of Thrasher at the Brewhouse in Burton. Thrasher was conceived and written by Conor Mckee and saw six characters whose lives become mixed and intertwined on one night through deceit, betrayal, debt and lonliness. The play was directed by Wyllie Longmore and featured a cast of exceptional actors whose delivery and timing made the situations a reality. The cast was strong with all players giving this excellent script the justice it deserves.

Conor came and visited the Runaway writers group a few weeks ago and shared a brief video trailer for the show asking us to write a brief response which would be work shopped with two of the actors prior to the show. My piece just entitled Response to Thrasher, really only picked up on the backdrop of a drawing of a rubber plant and a standard lamp, playing out a scene of perceived external threat, feminine manipulation, frogs in pans of water and the word mysandry.

This was a fascinating opportunity to see professional actors work their way through the script looking for meanings and motivations, turns and tribulations in determining how best the stage the piece.

More theatre companies providing these opportunities to writers would be more than welcome.

Darren John Langford (Hollyoaks), Conor Mckee (Writer) Lauren Thomas (Waterloo Road) workshop my response to Thrasher.

You can find out more about Thrasher and Conor McKee at: http://www.conormckee.com/

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS
Up and Coming Readings.

7th May – Night Blue Fruit – Coventry.
14th May – Poetry Alight – Spark Café – Lichfield.
17th May – Open Arts – Shire Hall Gallery – Stafford.
8th June – Laureate Saturday – Tamworth Library.

LAUREATE LINES

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Slow Technology

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

The Poetry in the Music

LISTENING TO:

Morrison Hotel – The Doors.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

LAUREATE TIMES

As the first Staffordshire Poet Laureate, I am finding my way to best give my service to poetry and the communities of this great creative county.

As part of the role I have to undertake at least four commissions, two of which I have to bring to the role.

My first commission was one that I found, “The Colin Grazier Enigma” poetry play which I was commissioned to write by Tamworth Borough Council Arts and Fired Up Theatre. The performance was an outdoor promenade play with a new musical soundscape and took part on 30th October 2012 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the events it described.

The play received great reviews and photo coverage in the local press, including a piece on BBC television Midlands Today.

My second commission came from Staffordshire Libraries and Arts to write an uplifting poem to promote the county, the poem Thinking Staffordshire was first presented to the Staff Conference in November. The poem considers all the creative facets of the county through the mottos of some of the leading organisations whose home is in the county. I will include the poem as part of my laureate readings in the coming months.

So barely a month into my laureateship and half of my commissions had been completed, which was a good job really as the events unfolded with my health, which I am glad to say is something that is now under control and I can focus on enjoying my time as Laureate and new commissions and events.

My third commission is well underway with my contribution to the new working of Quadrophenia being staged at the Tamworth Assembly Rooms on 24th and 25th May. The script which has been developed and written by Simon Quinn, has scenes that Simon left open for me to develop poetry to fit with the themes of mental health, fashion and identity, inter-generational friction, gender, drugs and anti-social behaviour in the 1960’s counterculture.

My poems have developed as sequences taking on the different personalities of the helpless dancer, the romantic, the lunatic and the hypocrite.

The scene under the pier will see these personalities acted out through the poetry. There will also be poems as projections.

My role in the production in addition to writing, sees me co-directing alongside Simon, which at the time of writing sees us in a heavy rehearsal season to bring the piece to fruition.

Plans are also in place for further commissions based around events at the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford, which I will talk about in further posts on this blog.

Laureate Saturdays.
These events will take place on Saturdays in libraries around the county – these will include readings, an exploration of my All around the Shire poem and some 15 minute workshops. Below are the dates of the planned Saturdays more will be added as and when they are agreed.

Lichfield Library – 20th April 2013 – 10:30 to 12:30.
Tamworth Library – 8th June 2013 – Times to be advised.

Other Activities.

John Donne Day.

Last Tuesday was the 400th Anniversary of John Donne writing his poem Good Friday 1613, Riding Westward. Donne had left Polesworth on the morning and was heading to Monmouth, but his thoughts were tormented by his business in the west taking him away from contemplating the events at Calgary in the east.

The event at Polesworth saw the discussion on the poem, its themes and meanings. The afternoons events were reviewed by Gary Longden on Garyswordz. – http://garylongden.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/john-donne-day-polesworth-abbey-2013-400th-anniversary-celebration/

The evening saw the reading on four commissioned responses to the poem, from Gregory Leadbetter, Jacqui Rowe, Jane Commane and myself for which I wrote Good Friday 2013, Writing Westward, taking as my theme the commercialisation of Easter and all that takes our thoughts away from the real meanings of the events on the hill at Calgary almost 2000 years ago.

Following the success we hope to make this an annual event. The event was publicised in the Times Litarary Supplement, http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1236615.ece

My thanks go to Jonathan Davidson of Writing West Midlands, Dr Gregory Leadbetter, Dr Anthony Mellors, Dr Anthony Howe and Dr Derrick Littlewood from City of Birmingham University. Jane Commane and Jacqui Rowe for their contributions and Fr Philip Wells.

Other Doings of Interest.

Conor McKee is a Manchester based playwright whose play Thrasher is playing The Brewhouse in Burton Upon Trent on 25th and 26th April.

A gripping story laced with genuine warmth and vicious comedy. Six people spiral towards destruction over one night in the city. Once lost, can faith, friendship and love ever be recovered?

Conor has invited the Runaway Writers to create around 7 minutes of script to be work-shopped on the first night of the production in Burton.

More information can be found at http://www.conormckee.com/  – Tickets are available from the Box Office at the Brew House in Burton.

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Up and Coming Readings.

13th April – St Giles Charity Event – Poleworth Abbey, Polesworth
Organised by Steph Knipe.
20th April – Laureate Saturday – Lichfield.
26th April – Spoken Worlds – Burton On Trent.
7th May – Night Blue Fruit – Coventry.

THE BBC PRESENTS THE SNOW AWARDS.

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Constant Pains.

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

My snow covered garden – looks as good as everyone elses’

LISTENING TO:

One Man Army – Kassidy.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

Snow and the freeze slows the pace of all things. Not that is anything different for me at the moment, but whilst it perhaps brought the rest of you to the pace that I am forced to live, the cold snap took me to my bed with a head full of cold and flu.

But that is behind me with the turn of the new week.

ANOTHER APPEARANCE ON THE BBC.

Saturday Night saw my fleeting appearance on prime time BBC telly in Britain’s Brightest, for those who missed it here is a still captured from the BBC Iplayer.

Britain’s Brightest – with me in the flatcap – (c) BBC

JAYNE STANTON.

Jayne Stanton

Fantastic news and massive congratulations this week go to the Leicester Poet Jayne Stanton whose poem Sin έ, was one of ten Highly Commended by judge Thomas McCarthy, in the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Prize 2013.
Jayne is a regular reader at poetry events in the Midlands and last year represented Coventry as part of the Coventry Cork Literature exchange.
You can find more details on the poetry prize here http://www.corkpoetryfest.net/prize13.html

Jayne’s Blog can be found at: http://jaynestantonpoetry.wordpress.com/  always a good insightful read.

I want to continue to promote a few events that are taking place over the coming weeks and involve some of my good friends.

SHARE THE WORD – WARWICKSHIRE LIBRARIES BOOK FESTIVAL.

This has been running since October 2012 and runs through to March with events in Libraries across the county. I have been involved with Writers Group at Coleshill Library, but there are lots of other events taking place in the coming weeks, with several author events.

Elvis Mcgonagall.

Including – Performance Poet Elvis McGonagall – one man and his doggerel will be performing at Atherstone Library on Friday 22nd February 7:30 to 8:30pm – this event is Free but is an all ticket event as numbers are limited – you can obtain tickets through the libraries check the website at:

http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/sharetheword

FLOYDIAN SLIP.

26th January – Tamworth Assembly Rooms sees the return of Floydian Slip who provided the excellent sound for our production of the Wall last June.

This gig promises and evening of Pink Floyd beyond the Wall and includes the complete Dark Side of the Moon album.

Tickets are available from Tamworth Information Centre.

http://www.floydianslip.org.uk/
https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/01/26/10734/-/floydian-slip

THE BEATLES IN TAMWORTH

1st February sees the 50th Aniversary of The Beatles performance at the Tamworth Assembly rooms and to mark this event a weekend of Beatles themed performances.

The 1st Feb sees the Counterfeit Beatles playing on the very same stage, followed by on 2nd Feb Tamworth Music Scene does the Beatles, which includes a performance from Poetry Trail Singer and Guitarist Barry Hunt with his daughter Chloe, along with performances from Colin Brown and Friends, Daniel Thompson and Friends, Structures, The Ganders and Pressure Kids plus DJ Malys with a set of 60’s classics.

The performers will be delivering their takes on Beatles Classics.

Promises to be another great night of music.

https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/02/01/10736/-/the-counterfeit-beatles

https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/02/02/10737/-/local-with-the-beatles

THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND. – TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS – 7th/8th Feb.

The Tamworth Theatre Company see their first production of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound at the Tamworth Assembly Rooms on the Thursday and Friday 7th and 8th February.

The Real Inspector Hound is a short one act play, The plot follows two theatre critics named Moon and Birdboot who are watching a ludicrous set up of a country house murder mystery in the style of a who dunnit.

Tickets are available from the box office, further details can be found at:
https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/02/07/10977/-/tamworth-theatre-company-presents-the-real-inspector-hound

QUADROPHENIA COMES TO TAMWORTH.

Fired Up Theatre and Tamworth Repertory Theatre are to stage a new version of Quadrophenia.

Simon Quinn the Director has received permission from Pete Townsend of the Who to stage a new scripted version which delivers a roller coaster theatrical, musical and multi arts exploration of the counter culture, fashion and identity, gender, anti-social behaviour, intergenerational timeline, drug misuse and mental health illness and attitudes.

The project launch took place on Saturday 12th January and saw many local people come along to sign up to take part in the performance, from actors, dancers to backstage roles. An excellent start, which will develop over the coming weeks.

We are still inviting you to become part of this Community Arts project. If you are an individual, a community group or a school/college that is interested in acting, dance, music, visual art, photography, textiles etc and wish to express an interest in becoming involved in this project, please e-mail: fireduptheatre@aol.com or call Arts and Events team, Tamworth on 01827 709314.

http://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/arts-activities/tamworth-repertory-company

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Up and Coming Readings.

15th Feb – Spoken Worlds – Burton on Trent.
19th Feb – Poetry Alight – Spark Café – Lichfield.

THE DARKSIDE OF A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JIMMY COOPER.

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Imposed Limitations

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

Quadrophenia – Tamworth

LISTENING TO:

Rodrigo y Gabriela – Live Manchester and Dublin.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

This week I want to promote a few events that are taking place over the coming weeks and involve some of my good friends.

FLOYDIAN SLIP.

26th January – Tamworth Assembly Rooms sees the return of Floydian Slip who provided the excellent sound for our production of the Wall last June.

This gig promises and evening of Pink Floyd beyond the Wall and includes the complete Dark Side of the Moon album.

Tickets are available from Tamworth Information Centre.

http://www.floydianslip.org.uk/
https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/01/26/10734/-/floydian-slip

THE BEATLES IN TAMWORTH

1st February sees the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles performance at the Tamworth Assembly rooms and to mark this event a weekend of Beatles themed performances.

The 1st Feb sees the Counterfeit Beatles playing on the very same stage, followed by on 2nd Feb Tamworth Music Scene does the Beatles, which includes a performance from Poetry Trail Singer and Guitarist Barry Hunt with his daughter Chloe, along with performances from Colin Brown and Friends, Daniel Thompson and Friends, Structures, The Ganders and Pressure Kids plus DJ Malys with a set of 60’s classics.

The performers will be delivering their takes on Beatles Classics.

Promises to be another great night of music.

https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/02/01/10736/-/the-counterfeit-beatles

https://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2013/02/02/10737/-/local-with-the-beatles

QUADROPHENIA COMES TO TAMWORTH.

Tamworth Repertory Theatre is to stage a new version of Quadrophenia.

Simon Quinn the Director has received permission from Pete Townsend of the Who to stage a new scripted version which delivers a roller coaster theatrical, musical and multi arts exploration of the counter culture, fashion and identity, gender, anti-social behaviour, intergenerational timeline, drug misuse and mental health illness and attitudes.

The project launch is on Saturday 12th January between 11:00 and 3:00pm at the Assembly Rooms.

We are inviting you to become part of this Community Arts project. If you are an individual, a community group or a school/college that is interested in acting, dance, music, visual art, photography, textiles etc and wish to express an interest in becoming involved in this project, please e-mail: fireduptheatre@aol.com or call Arts and Events team, Tamworth on 01827 709314.

http://www.tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk/arts-activities/tamworth-repertory-company

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Up and Coming Readings.

18th Jan – Spoken Worlds – Burton-on-Trent.
19th Feb – Poetry Alight – Spark Café – Lichfield.

MAL’S MISCELLANY 2012

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Aches.

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

Being Alive

LISTENING TO:

Reflections – Les Fleur De Lys.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

As many of you know I am recovering from a health situation, hence my lack of postings of late. I am very grateful to all of you that have supported me through last few weeks with emails, phone calls and text messages.

I am very much of the mind that I do not want to let my health conditions define me and will continue to push on with new projects in 2013.

Here is a review of 2012 and some really remarkable events that I am proud to have experienced and been part of:

Top 10 of my Doings

DIRECTING DOUBLE BOOKED

The short film written by Keith Large, where I cut my teeth as a film Director – the film is in post production.

(C) Maria Smith – 2012

MARS ON THE RISE BOOK LAUNCH

With the book held up in a warehouse in New York – we carried on regardless and partied to celebrate the launch of RAE GEE’s first book and I introduced my alter ego Sir Nigel Mallard to the world – read about that evening on May in my post at:

MARS ON THE RISE

THE WALL

The biggest production ever staged in Tamworth that drew sell out audiences every night of its run, with splendid reviews, this great triumph saw my first collaborations with Simon Quinn and Ami Radcliffe, working with the brilliant Floydian Slip and wonderful cast – Read about the show in my posts at:

THE WALL 1

THE WALL 2

Floydian Slip are returning to Tamworth Assembly Rooms on 26th January for a performance of some of Floyd’s other great albums. Tickets £10 from the Tamworth Information centre.

WIMBLEDON

The view from Court No 1

Everyone should experience this wonderful truly English sporting occasion – Read about the experience in my post at:

Wimbledon

A DAY OF POETRY ON TINKER

A wonderful Saturday spent in the company of Jo Bell and Gary Longden when Jo was moving her boat from North to South, days like this don’t happen very often, which is a pity because they should. Read about the day in my post at:

Canal Poetry

My part in Jo’s epic Journey – with Jo Bell

DIG THE POETRY

The wonderful workshops that ran through the Summer and saw both new and established poets gather at Polesworth Abbey to explore Archaeology through Poetry – you can see information on Dig the Poetry at the Dig the Abbey website and Dig the Poetry Blog.

http://www.digtheabbey.co.uk/ or http://digthepoetry.wordpress.com/

TOUR OF IRELAND

A great very much needed holiday that saw the best of Ireland and a chance to read at O’bheal in Cork again.

IRELAND

Galway Bay.

STAFFORDSHIRE POET LAUREATE

This post was something that started on this blog during discussions on this blog, which saw Staffordshire County Council take up the reins and develop the role which I was honoured to be inaugurated in October.

INAUGURATION

Cllr Corfield presents me with two books for the Laureateship (c) Gary Carr

COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA.

My first commission of the Laureateship was my poetry play on the events on October 30th 1942 which was performed on the streets of Tamworth exactly 70 years later to much acclaim. It brought together the creative team from the Wall, with Simon Quinn and Ami Radcliffe and the tech team from Tamworth Assembly Rooms.

You can view the performance here:

http://vimeo.com/53128350

STROKE ASSOCIATION ANTHOLOGY.

I was honoured to be approached by Simon Cook of the Stroke Association to gather some new writing for an Anthology of Poetry and short stories. The poems and stories are being reviewed and will be announced in the new year when we have planned the launch.

STROKE 20 ANTHOLOGY

My 5 favourite readings in 2012.

Poetry Alight – Lichfield – February 2012.
The Wall – Tamworth – June 2012
The Fizz Dig the Poetry – September 2012
O’Bheal – Cork – September 2012
Staffordshire Poet Laureateship inauguration – October 2012.

Fizz guests 2012

January – Gary Carr
March – Barry Patterson
May – Margaret Torr
July – Terri Jolland
September – Dig the Poetry – Jo Bell, David Calcutt, Maeve Clarke, Jenny Hope, Matt Merritt and Jacqui Rowe.
November – Cork Poets – Matthew Geden and Conor McManus – Held at the Moat House in Tamworth.

DIG THE POETRY POETS AND WRITERS.

Cat Weatherill
David Calcutt
Jenny Hope
Matt Merritt
Mal Dewhirst
Jacqui Rowe
Maeve Clarke
Jo Bell.

PEOPLE I AM HONOURED TO HAVE WORKED WITH IN 2012.

Keith Large – Double Booked.
Simon Quinn – The Wall and Colin Grazier Enigma.
Ami Ratcliffe – The Wall and Colin Grazier Enigma.
Jimi Dewhirst – Colin Grazier Enigma.
Antony Owen – The Wall (Scent of a son sequence).
Simon Cook – The Scope Association Anthology.

MY FAVOURITE READINGS AND PERFOMANCES IN 2012.

Gary Carr – The Fizz, Polesworth- January 2012
Charlie Jordan – Poetry Alight, Lichfield – February 2012
Barry Patterson – The Fizz, Polesworth – March 2012
Antony Owen – Scent of a Son Film for the Wall – Tamworth – April 2012
Margaret Torr – The Fizz, Polesworth – May 2012
Being Human – Belgrade Theatre Coventry – June 2012
Terri Jolland – The Fizz, Polesworth – July 2012
Ilya Kaminsky – O’Bheal – Cork – September 2012
Brenda Read Brown – Lichfield – October 2012.
Danny Macbeth as Colin Grazier – Tamworth – October 2012

PUBLISHED IN 2012 – Collections from my pen in 2012

The Wall – New Poetry
Thin Ice – Empty Spaces – Bricks and Mortar Pt1 – Young Lust – Bricks and Mortar PtII – Lament.

Midland Purple
Poems from Dig the Abbey.

Colin Grazier Enigma.
Poetry Play.

The Staffordshire Poems.
All sides of the shire – Staffordshire Drift – Thinking Staffordshire.

MY COMMISSIONS IN 2012.

Film Maker – Director
Double Booked – Carrot Napper Productions

Creative Director and MC
Mars on the Rise book launch

Poet – Community Café’s
Fired Up Theatre.

Poet, Film Maker and Assistant Director
The Wall project – ArtsConnect Tamworth and Fired Up Theatre.

Poet and Writer
Pooley Country Park an Interpretation.

Poet in Residence
Dig The Abbey – Polesworth Abbey CIC

Poet Editor – Stoke Association 20 Anthology.
Stroke Association

Poet – Director
Colin Grazier Enigma
Tamworth Repertory Company.

Poet In Residence
THE BOUDICCA PROJECT.

Creative Writing Tutor
Warwickshire County Council.

Poet and Broadcaster
Lost Poets – Radio Wildfire.

LOST POETS BROADCAST ON RADIO WILDFIRE.

February – Michael Drayton.
March – Banjo Patterson.
April – Kenneth Rexroth.
May – John Taylor
June – Alfred Williams
July – William Langland
August – Basho
Sept – No Poet
Oct –Anna Letitia Barbould
Nov – No Poet
Dec – No Poet

MY FAVOURITE BLOGS OF 2012.

Fox Tales – Myfanwy Fox. http://myfanwyfox.wordpress.com/
Garyswordz – Gary Longden. http://garylongden.wordpress.com/
Jayne Stanton Poetry – Jayne Stanton. http://jaynestantonpoetry.wordpress.com/
The Bell Jar – Jo Bell – http://belljarblog.wordpress.com/
The Secret Writer – Benadette O’Dwyer http://secretwriter1.blogspot.co.uk/

FIVE POETRY BOOKS – I BOUGHT FROM THE POET.

Gopagilla – Roy Marshall.
Melanchrini – Maria Taylor.
Navigation – Jo Bell.
Dancing in Odessa – Ilya Kaminsky.
Home More or Less – Paul Casey.

FIVE THINGS I DID IN 2012 THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD.

Direct a film.
Be part of a Production of Pink Floyd’s THE WALL.
Become Staffordshire Poet Laureate.
Visit Wimbledon.
Get myself a dickey ticker!

I would like to wish you all my readers a very happy and prosperous New Year.

THE ENIGMA OF RECOGNITION.

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

The aches always the aches.

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

THE DANCE still THE DANCE.

LISTENING TO:

FINAL VERSION of CGE – JIMI DEWHIRST – HYDRANOID MUSIA.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

STAFFORDSHIRE POET LAUREATE COMMISSION

COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA.

THE BBC broadcast their piece on The Colin Grazier Enigma last Monday evening on Midlands Today –
I had to wait until Wednesday until I finally got to see it and a fine piece it was too.

The strange pheonominan of being recognised by strangers was also something that entered my experience, being served in shops and being asked “Are you that poet bloke who has done the enigma thing, that was on the telly?” Then going on to tell me how great they thought it was that Colin was being remembered in this way, or that they were related to Colin or Olive.

The people of Tamworth know who Colin was and what he did. There is a pride that lives within the psyche of Tamworth. Everyone wants to tell you the Enigma story, they all want to be part of it. Lets hopw they turn up tomorrow evening.

My post is late this week due to the final preparations of the technical media, but as I write I can say that both the Music and the Film Projections have been rendered into their final forms.

Yesterday saw the cast perform as part of the Colin Grazier Memorial Service which was a pleasant change to the rehearsal schedule, which continued straight afterwards and meant that we could not join the Royal Navy Association for a rum or two afterwards.

More rehearsals tonight and tomorrow afternoon with the big performance at 6:00pm starting at the bandstand – then to under the town hall – then to the Almshouses – the to the railway station. A quick drink in the pub before heading to the Market Square for the 2nd act.

Do come along if you can, ensuring you wrap up warm and wear shoes suitable for walking.

This is a new approach to bringing poetry to new audiences with a FREE promenade theatre piece for all the family.

You can read more details on the performance at http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/Tamworth-naval-hero-Colin-Grazier-commemorated/story-16998769-detail/story.html

I am also working on a couple of poem commissions as part of my laureateship more of which in the coming weeks.

THE FIZZ.

The next Fizz takes place in TAMWORTH on Wednesday 7th November at THE MOAT HOUSE, LICHFIELD ST, TAMWORTH. Starting at 8:00pm

The guest poets will be the CORK POETS, Matthew Geden and Conor McManus with the usual open mic.

Free Entry, with a Bar, Coffee and Cakes plus a Carvery from 7:00pm for £4.95.

NEW WRITERS GROUP.

The new writers group that I am supporting in Coleshill attracted 14 writers to the first meeting, where we discussed what they might want to look at over the coming months. Most of the participants are prose writers so we will be focusing on stories – last week we started with setting by exploring ideas around a room that was special to them. Next month we will look at Characters and Conflict, with the December session looking at Plots and Themes. So hopefully over Christmas they can develop a piece for critique in January.

OTHER ACTIVITIES.

Everything else is a little bit on hold at the moment – Although I am working on the Stroke Association Anthology, which may now be launched in the New Year so as not to rush the production. More on this as things get firmed up.

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Readings in October and November

30th Oct – COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA – TAMWORTH
6th Nov – NIGHT BLUE FRUIT TAYLOR JOHN’S– COVENTRY.
7th Nov – THE FIZZ – MOAT HOUSE – TAMWORTH
15th Nov – GIGGLING GOBLIN FOLK AND POETRY – ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE
16th Nov – SPOKEN WORLDS – BURTON – ON – TRENT.

WHEN THE BBC COMES TO TOWN.

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

LACK OF SLEEP.

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

THE DANCE OF THE SEA.

LISTENING TO:

CGE – JIMI DEWHIRST – HYDRANOID MUSIA.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

STAFFORDSHIRE POET LAUREATE COMMISSION

COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA.

All focus is on my Poetry play the Colin Grazier Enigma, rehearsals continued with the added pressure of The BBC coming along to film and article to be broadcast on Midlands Today on sometime this week.

Joan Cummins and Cameraman Nigel came along to Tamworth last Wednesday evening to film the wedding and hunt for wolves scenes, along with interviews with myself and Simon Quinn the Director.

Joan’s interview style took me by surprise, but was one I very quickly warmed too. The first question being “Colin Grazier, no one knows who he is, why would a poet want write about him?” Followed by “Well we all know the Americans captured the Enigma codes, it was in the movie, so why are we just telling the story again?” To “This is promenade theatre piece, is Tamworth ready for this, will the people of Tamworth take to this?” Provoking answers out of our passions for the piece.

The BBC’s Joan Cummins interviewing Danny McBeth who plays Colin Grazier – provoking answers.

It was also good to meet Phil Shanahan whose book the Real Enigma Heroes was my prime source of information when I was developing the script. – I must get him to sign my copy next time.

Rehearsals moved into full flow with the bringing together of the actors and dancers who worked through the excellent choreography of Ami Radcliffe, providing a seascape with all the movement and drama of the sea.

Following my technical difficulties of last week, I ended up spending £100 on a new piece of software which after a very short time in which to learn how to use it, I managed to achieve getting close to the result I wanted, just in time for the visit of the BBC crew, where I was able to mock up a piece of film the demonstrate what will be the final piece.

Projection

I now have two completed films with another three to put together.

My other task for last week was the recording of the German Voice over’s from the submariners whose voices are heard but they are now seen. Luke Comley who played Pink in recent production of the Wall in Tamworth, obliged with the recordings providing a manic, panic as the submariners realise they have been found by the sonar blips.

So all the technical parts are completed they just need to be pulled together – This performance will fill my time and thoughts for the next week, and then I can start planning some more laureate events.

The second pre-performance will be on Sunday 28th October at St Editha’s Church as part of the annual memorial service for Colin, held by the Royal Naval Association.

You can read more details on the performance at http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/Tamworth-naval-hero-Colin-Grazier-commemorated/story-16998769-detail/story.html

THE FIZZ.

The next Fizz takes place in TAMWORTH on Wednesday 7th November at THE MOAT HOUSE, LICHFIELD ST, TAMWORTH. Starting at 8:00pm

The guest poets will be the CORK POETS, Matthew Geden and Conor McManus with the usual open mic.

Free Entry, with a Bar, Coffee and Cakes plus a Carvery from 7:00pm for £4.95.

NEW WRITERS GROUP.

Tonight sees my first workshop with a new writers group that is being set up in Coleshill, North Warwickshire. I have been commissioned to run six workshops with them over the next six months to explore all aspects of creative writing and critiquing. Hopefully by the end of these workshops, I can leave them with the confidence in their writing abilities to continue on and develop into a group with the passion and enthusiasm that I have seen with both the Runaway Writers and The Mad Hatters Writing Groups.

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Readings into November

30th Oct – COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA – TAMWORTH
6th Nov – NIGHT BLUE FRUIT TAYLOR JOHN’S– COVENTRY.
7th Nov – THE FIZZ – MOAT HOUSE – TAMWORTH
15th Nov – GIGGLING GOBLIN FOLK AND POETRY – ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE
16th Nov – SPOKEN WORLDS – BURTON – ON – TRENT.

WHEN THE TEXT WON’T SCROLL

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Aches and sugar

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

ENIGMA

LISTENING TO:

Roses – The Cranberries.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

STAFFORDSHIRE POET LAUREATE.

Last week saw a planning meeting with the Libraries and Arts team to pull together the ideas for my work over the coming twelve months.

STAFFORDSHIRE OPEN FOR POETRY
My themes of Staffordshire Open for Poetry will move ahead with meetings as yet to be arranged with the variety of organisations in the county that have interesting and unusual spaces where we could develop something poetic, I will keep you informed as things progress.

LAUREATE SATURDAYS
Also moving forward is THE LAUREATE SATURDAYS for which a proposal has been put together on what sort of activities could take place. These will create special days of poetry in the towns of Staffordshire, this could be something major such as events in the Market place through out the day reminiscent of Nuneaton Summer Day of Poetry in 2011 or it could be a smaller event such as a reading or meeting with a specific group. I would really want the representatives of the town to decide.

I am keen to speak with the communities to look at their views on Poetry, hopefully to share their poetry and to encourage them to develop their own voices.

Not forgetting that my Laureate poem praised each town for their unique virtues, as I saw them. I want the local people to comment on their verse and to correct me where I am wrong. Such that at the end of my year we will have a new poem for Staffordshire.

If you are in one of the Staffordshire towns and want to host me for a Saturday then please contact me and we can discuss what we might do.

I am also keen to work with local poets and also poets who might want to join me on these Saturdays so please contact me if this is something that interests you.

We can have some good fun with this and create some new poetry; it’s got to be a good thing.

FIRST COMMISSION
My first commission to write an uplifting poem that promotes Staffordshire is well underway with the first draft well on the way. This poem will be used at The Staff Conference for Staffordshire County Councils Libraries, Arts and Tourism teams in November.

LITERATURE EXCHANGE / LITERATURAUSTAUSCH
My other commissions which have come through Tamworth Borough Council are also progressing – the Colin Grazier Enigma is discussed below. The town twinning Literature exchange is also progressing with the key contacts in Vaujours in France and Bad Laasphe in Germany both seeking out their local poets to discuss how this might happen. More news on this as it develops.

THE STROKE ASSOCIATION – 20 Anthology

The deadline for submissions has now passed, with over fifty people submitting, some with many poems or prose pieces, which I and the reviewers from the Stroke Association will now go through to select which one’s to be included in the Anthology.

There were some really clever takes on the theme, more of which I will discuss when we get closer to the launch.

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed.

COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA.

The Colin Grazier Memorial – Tamworth

My Poetry play the Colin Grazier Enigma, rehearsals continue with the added pressures of needing to add in two, part performances in the run up to the 30th October. One of which I will tell you about next week.

The soundtrack is complete and I will be collecting it from Jimi tonight. The projections however have hit a snag. Whilst the composite images of the dark silhouette of HMS Petard and the sea taken from the ferry are all rendered and complete, it is the typing of the text over the image that is proving difficult. I would have though Sony Vegas Movie Studio would have a plug in that you just dropped the text in and clicked to scroll it left and away you go.

No you can use the titles and text plug in with key frames (I lost you a few minutes ago, didn’t I, I can tell) but anyway that does not work, well not quite true, I did mange to get it to work, but I don’t know how and so can replicate it. I am searching out alternatives and any ideas from the film world would be most welcome.

How do you simulate a typewriter on a film using Sony Vegas Movie Studio or alternative plug-in?

A bit of panic and still a busy time ahead.

You can read more details on the performance at http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/Tamworth-naval-hero-Colin-Grazier-commemorated/story-16998769-detail/story.html

THE FIZZ.

The next Fizz takes place in TAMWORTH on Wednesday 7th November at THE MOAT HOUSE, LICHFIELD ST, TAMWORTH. Starting at 8:00pm

The guest poets will be the CORK POETS, Matthew Geden and Conor McManus with the usual open mic.

Free Entry, with a Bar, Coffee and Cakes plus a Carvery from 7:00pm for £4.95.

Before you shout about me abandoning Polesworth, the move is purely due to the usual venues being unavailable on the night. I do plan to keep the event at Polesworth but also to introduce alternate nights in Tamworth, making this a monthly event rather than the current bi-monthly evening.

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Readings in October and November

19th Oct – Spoken Worlds – Burton-on-Trent.
21st Oct – The Swan – Stone – Staffordshire -3:00pm to 6.00pm

6th Nov – Night Blue Fruit – Coventry.
7th Nov – THE FIZZ – TAMWORTH

A LAUREATE’S FIZZ

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Time and Tiredness

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

Laureate things

LISTENING TO:

CGE – JIMI Hydranoid Musia

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

STAFFORDSHIRE POET LAUREATE.

National Poetry Day saw my inauguration at the First Staffordshire Poet Laureate at Lichfield Library and what a splendid turnout.

The evening was opened by Alan Medway from Staffordshire Arts and Library Services who introduced Grevel Lindop who read his wonderful Shugborough Eclogues, following the seasons, through the landscape capturing the essence of place. These are really are wonderful and worth searching out.

Grevel Lindop – Delivers the Shugborough Eclogues (c) Gary Carr

Sue Ball then introduced the role of the Laureate and the expectations on the holder of the role. Introducing Councillor Pat Corfield to make to presentation. I was very much taken with Cllr Corfield’s enthusiasm for the role and his view that this was the start of something significant. He presented me with two books, one for me to keep and use to write poetry throughout my year, the second for me to write a single poem to hand on to my successor.

Cllr Corfield presents me with two books for the Laureateship (c) Gary Carr

I then had the opportunity to thank all of those who had support the creation of the role and to lay out some of the ideas that I intend to pursue. My theme of Staffordshire Open for Poetry will see me seek out the spaces that the poetry community can fill with verse in what ever form is appropriate to the place.

Never one to miss an opportunity to promote my projects (c) Gary Carr

I also Introduced Laureate Saturdays – when I will visit the towns in Staffordshire to engage with Poets, Communities for readings, workshops and an exploration of local dialects and interests through poetry.

I then read my poems, Memphised, Cobh, Setting and for the first time the complete poem All Sides of the Shire. Creating a Journey across the globe to Staffordshire.

Brenda Read Brown (c) Gary Carr

The evening was completed by a performance from the Gloucestershire Poet Laureate, Brenda Read Brown, who gave us her unique take on life, love and attending music festivals. All to wonderful effect and to the delight of the gathered company.

THE STROKE ASSOCIATION – 20 Anthology

I have created a page on the menu bar above with the details on how to submit work for this exciting new project, which has already stirred some good interest, with submissions coming in with some really inventive interpretations on the theme of 20. The deadline is tomorrow and pieces can be sent to me at maldewhirst@yahoo.co.uk.

If you have not submitted, yet, then look through your work and find a tenuous link to 20 and send it in.

COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA.

My Poetry play the Colin Grazier Enigma, began rehearsals today, with the sun shining we chose to walk the route of the promenade and rehearse the scenes in the places where they will be performed on the night of the 30th October.

Colin Grazier Enigma – Rehearsals in situ.

I am still working on the sounds from the musical soundtrack to the poetry in Morse code, bringing this together with the visuals, part of which was filmed from the ferry on my return from Ireland.

A busy time ahead.

You can read more details on the performance at http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/Tamworth-naval-hero-Colin-Grazier-commemorated/story-16998769-detail/story.html

THE FIZZ.

The next Fizz takes place in TAMWORTH on Wednesday 7th November at THE MOAT HOUSE, LICHFIELD ST, TAMWORTH. Starting at 8:00pm

The guest poets will be the CORK POETS, Matthew Geden and Conor McManus with the usual open mic.

Free Entry, with a Bar, Coffee and Cakes plus a Cavery from 7:00pm for £4.95.

Before you shout about me abandoning Polesworth, the move is purely due to the usual venues being unavailable on the night. I do plan to keep the event at Polesworth but also to introduce alternate nights in Tamworth, making this a monthly event rather than the current bi-monthly evening.

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Readings in October and November

2nd Oct – Poetry Alight – Spark Café – Lichfield.
4th Oct – Staffordshire Poet Laureate – The Library Lichfield.
19th Oct – Spoken Worlds – Burton-on-Trent.
21st Oct – The Swan – Stone – Staffordshire -3:00pm to 6.00pm

6th Nov – Night Blue Fruit – Coventry.
7th Nov – THE FIZZ – TAMWORTH

ALL THE WELCOMES

WHAT ANNOYS – DELIGHTS – AND IS OFTEN UNEXPLAINED.

What is ANNOYING me this week?

Aches.

What is DELIGHTING me this week?

Ireland

LISTENING TO:

Traditional Irish Music.

SOME OF MY DOINGS:

A MUCH NEEDED BREAK.

Apologies for not blogging for a couple of weeks, but I have been touring Ireland on a much needed break although I did manage to read in the open mic. at O’Bheal in Cork where the guest poet was Ilya Kaminsky who read in his distinct voice from his collection Dancing in Odessa, including his Musica Humana (an elegy for Osip Mandelstam, who featured as a lost poet on this blog).

Ilya’s reading was absolutely excellent delivering his poems with phonetic perfection, from someone whose first language is not English and who is also deaf, he masters a rythemn to deliver his glorious take on the world.

You can read more about Ilya at – http://www.ilyakaminsky.com/

The break itself began with the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and I slightly diverted drive across country to spend a week in Galway, which including a tour the poetical landscapes of Connemara and the Isles of Aran.

Galway Bay

The settled week was followed by a week of touring down to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, then a couple of days in and around Cork, a disappointing trip to Waterford, finishing with a trip to Kilkenny before a night in Kilrane before getting the ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke.

The Ring of Kerry

Two weeks of a wonder of welcomes and generosity, of landscapes that pour themselves out in front of you and wrap themselves into your thoughts, spilling your senses into overdrive, all of which will no doubt appear in my poetry in the near future.

Talking of which, my future in poetry is all wrapped up in………

STAFFORDSHIRE POET LAUREATE.

Notice on the Laureate.

Staffordshire County Council, through Libraries and Arts, are delighted to have appointed Mal Dewhirst for the role of Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2012/13.

We would like to invite you to join us at the Inauguration Ceremony to celebrate this auspicious event.
The ceremony will take place on National Poetry Day, Thursday 4th October, 7.30pm at Lichfield Library.

The evening will include special guests; Grevel Lindop, who will read his ‘Shugborough Eclogues’, and recently appointed Gloucestershire Poet Laureate; Brenda Read-Brown, Co-ordinator of the West Midlands Poetry on Loan Scheme and judge of the Staffordshire Poet Laureate.

Tickets for this event will be £2, including a glass of wine, and can be purchased at or booked from Lichfield Library, Tel 01543 510700.

As part of the celebration evening, Mal will answer any questions about the role, if they are submitted in advance by e-mail to alan.medway@staffordshire.gov.uk

Everyone welcome.
To find out more, visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/poetlaureate

THE STROKE ASSOCIATION – 20 Anthology

I have created a page on the menu bar above with the details on how to submit work for this exciting new project, which has already stirred some good interest, with submissions coming in with some really inventive interpretations on the theme of 20. The deadline is the 8th October and can be sent to me at maldewhirst@yahoo.co.uk.

COLIN GRAZIER ENIGMA.

The Colin Grazier Memorial – Tamworth

My Poetry play the Colin Grazier Enigma, now has a cast and rehearsals start in full next Sunday 7th October.

I need to finalise the sounds from the musical soundtrack to the poetry in Morse code, bringing this together with the visuals, part of which was filmed from the ferry on my return from Ireland.

A busy time ahead.

You can read more details on the performance at http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/Tamworth-naval-hero-Colin-Grazier-commemorated/story-16998769-detail/story.html

SOME OF MY COMING SOON DOINGS

Readings in October

2nd Oct – Poetry Alight – Spark Café – Lichfield.
4th Oct – Staffordshire Poet Laureate – The Library Lichfield.
19th Oct – Spoken Worlds – Burton-on-Trent.