Posted – April 30th, 2012
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Barbican Poets at Spoken, Theatre41

 
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“Miriam Nash opened the show, with a poem about growing up in the Scottish Islands. She was followed by Will Tyas, the first of the Barbican Young Poets, who read from his brilliantly self-decorated Kindle. (His poem about umbrellas also seemed pretty topical, given the current temperamental weather.) I was the next up (reading a poem entitled Cumbria, 2001, followed by a piece called Turner, which I picked because we had an audience of art people). After me came Kareem Parkins-Brown, whose piece Dream Dealer I have now heard three or four times, and which I love every time. Kareem then introduced Aisling Fahey, who seemed to be the last of the Barbican Poets – but during her reading, we witnessed the timely (or rather, ‘untimely’) late arrival of Ehsan Khan, who rounded off the Barbican Poets. We were just about to wrap up when…”

Want to read more? Head over to Katie Hale’s write up of Spoken at Theatre41, last Thursday evening…

Posted – April 2nd, 2012
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Open Arts Café

 
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Open Arts Café is now open for submissions for the Spring/Summer Season 2012

May 24th- City City Bang Bang
June 28th- Terrific Scientific
July 26th- The World’s Your Oyster Card

Open Arts Café seeks diverse new work by young artists. We welcome submissions at various stages of development: from works-in-progress to polished pieces, relating somehow to the themes. If you have any questions about the themes, send over an email!

Please submit work as soon as possible to Maya at openartscafe@wls.org.uk

Any questions about the themes? Let Maya know!

www.openartscafe.com

Posted – March 27th, 2012
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Call for submissions: Generations Literary Journal

 
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Generations Literary Journal is now accepting submissions for the fourth issue. The thematic focus for issue four is “Rites of Passage”. Please read further for a detailed description of the theme. We accept short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art. Please visit http://generations.submishmash.com/submit for our specific guidelines. 

ISSUE FOUR: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Deadline May 15, 2012

In issue four, we hope to explore the many ways in which a rite
 of passage shows up in modern society, and how it brings with it, a story from the past. The celebration of milestones, movement, and progress will be the focus of this edition. Whether it’s a ritual based on coming of age, or a ceremonial event, we want to discuss and discover. We want to know how you keep tradition, or how you disrupt and redefine it.

Send us your poems, stories, and art selections that dig deep into the rituals, the ceremonies, the traditions, and the moments that demonstrate or define your culture, your family, and your generation. Send us ideas and images that break tradition, go against rituals, and redefine your generation. We want it all!

We want work that uses language in fresh ways and images that speak to the importance of forward movement and the passage
of time. Yes! Think of learning to ride a bike, getting your driver’s license, graduations, baptisms, weddings, fraternities, sororities, 
Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceañeras, Sweet Sixteens, becoming a parent,
 a grandparent, turning 21, 40, 65, 100. Think of pilgrimages, spirit walks, vision quests, births, funerals, firsts, lasts, and all the living that happens in between. These are the stories that we want to hear.

To submit your work, visit our submission manager at http://generations.submishmash.com/submit. 

We only accept work submitted via our online submission manager. Please do not send mailed submissions. 

Posted – March 23rd, 2012
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Celebratory Meal!

 
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Just in case anyone hasn’t seen this on facebook:

 

So the showcase was AMAZING! But Dominique and I were thinking – why let it end there? We were wondering how many people would be up for a group meal this Wednesday (28th), to have a catch-up and congratulate ourselves on a wonderful showcase. Anyone?
I was thinking 6:30 at Pizza Express, since it’s 241 with Orange Wednesdays, and there’s one fairly close to the Barbican: http://www.pizzaexpress.com/visit-a-restaurant/restaurant/london-london-wall/
Anyway, let me know by Monday, since there might be quite a few of us, and I’ll probably need to book a table.
Thanks!

 

CHANGE OF PLAN:

Or rather, change of venue. Since Dorothy has to be at the Poetry Cafe shortly afterwards, I thought we could move to the Pizza Express in Covent Garden instead.

Here: http://www.pizzaexpress.com/visit-a-restaurant/restaurant/london-bow-street/

Hope that’s ok!

Posted – February 9th, 2012
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Barbican Poets: February 8th session notes.

 
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Lots of business discussed, no writing workshop.

— DEPTFORD LOUNGE – FEBRUARY EVENTS

We’ve settled on two dates: 25th Feb (Saturday) and 28th Feb (Tuesday).

Important note: Saturday looks like it’s going to be either 4-6pm or 3-5pm. Could be shorter, depending on how much material you want to present, but the building closes at 7, and many of the staff clock off at 5pm (not that we’d be the only people in the building if we stayed later). Tuesday is fine for the originally suggested 6-8pm.

Saturday 25th Feb: Kareem, Kemi, Ehsan, Ruth, Harry, Tallulah, Alex K, Dominique, Katie B, Bayan.
Tuesday 28th Feb: Kareem, Katie H, Ehsan, Will, Harry, Anthony, Tallulah, Bayan, Dominique.

! If your name isn’t down against one of those dates and you want it to be, let us know (comments or direct email).
! You are responsible for promotion of these events. The audience will consist entirely of people you bring down/inform. Promo should NOT include the term “Barbican Poets” for now.
! You need to be clear about what you’re doing, particularly if music will be involved.
! Under 18s— we need to have a conversation with the Barbican about the best way to cover your involvement re: informing parents etc. I know it’s a pain, but it needs to be taken care of properly.

There is a simple PA system (mic + amp) and a keyboard can be made available, if you wish.
For a bit more information about the space: http://crossfields.blogspot.com/2012/01/soft-launch-for-deptford-lounge.html

— OPEN MIC @ CHILL PILL – http://www.arcolatheatre.com/events/chill-pill-back-to-basics

12 February 2012 – 6pm
All tickets £5
An open mic night curated by some of UK’s finest spoken word artists; Chill Pill’s Mr Gee (host of Radio 4′s Bespoken Word and Rhyme and Reason), Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger and Simon Mole.

Ages 16+ / Arrive early to sign up for the open mic – limited slots available
24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London, E8 3DL

Again, this isn’t a Barbican event, neither myself or Dorothy will be attending, under 16s please arrange to meet with other Barbican Poets at a convenient location and make sure parents are informed (don’t make me invite your parents to the blog, guys!)

— OTHER UPDATES

Deptford Lounge March 10th event will be managed through 4 blocks of performance, 15 minutes each. We can set groups closer to the time. Be mindful of audience: e.g. NO PROFANITY or potential lawsuit-inducing poems, please.

We’ve got 6 themes for groupings of poems for the final showcase: Family, People in Society, Relationships (ahem), Outsiders, Perspectives and Water. If you weren’t at last night’s session, please select a poem for the showcase that you think fits in one of these groupings.

That’s it. Further thoughts in comments please.