HEAPBIG ENERGY DISCHARGE!
Just how apt is Romanian poet Marin Sorescu's description of poetry you can decide for yourself at the Brighton Poetry Festival from Thursday 4 - Sunday 7 December at The Mad Hatter Café in Hove and Grand Central in Brighton. Supported by Arc Publications, Britain's leading publisher of contemporary poetry, the Festival is organised by new literature development agency THE SOUTH which supports poets, writers and communities in the south of England. It has quickly established itself as one of the region's most innovative arts initiatives and has just received Arts Council England funding for an exciting series of commissions for poets working with screen-based visual artists, Project poetry!
Brighton Poetry Festival opens on Thursday 4 December with a special reading by Ciaran O'Driscoll from Ireland at Grand Central who will also be running a memoir writing workshop there in the afternoon. Other featured poets include Tony Curtis (also from Ireland), Julia Darling, John Davies, Chrissie Gittins, and Brighton's own Jackie Wills launching her new book from Arc 'Fever Tree'. There's a debate about poetry and public funding, a symposium with translator David Connolly and a workshop on poetry and recovery with Julia Darling. Julia's collection 'Sudden Collapses In Public Places' charts her own experience of treatment for breast cancer. "I think the imagination is a very powerful tool in combating illnesses and traumas," says Julia. "In my workshop we'll look at how the music of the written word can help to soothe and hearten you and others. This is a workshop for anyone interested in health and creativity...whether published or not."
Special tickets for all paying events throughout the weekend are available for £25 / £12 conc from 01273 242850. To discuss your own heapbig energy discharge, you can join poets, translators and publishers for lunch and dinner over the weekend at The Mad Hatter Café in Western Road, Hove.
BRIGHTON POETRY FESTIVAL 4-7 December GRAND CENTRAL Surrey Street just outside Brighton Mainline Station The MAD HATTER CAFÉ Opposite Waitrose Corner of Montpelier/Western Rd Hove. For more information 01273 242850 or email info@thesouth.org.uk. You can join THE SOUTH's mailing list at www.thesouth.org.uk
"Every individual human being, every people as a whole, needs an aesthetic release; it is part of the business of living..." Grey Owl Tales of an Empty Cabin
The image of Gery Owl is taken from 'Second Skin' the Project poetry! commission in Hastings written by Catherine Smith with visuals by Greg Daville. Greg's work is currently on display at the Nightingale Theatre at Grand Central. |
