by Colin
An Ethiopian Exocet missile struck Clephan 3.01 on Wednesday.It was called Lemn Sissay. Here to pour forth a torrent of titillating, tantalising,teasing,tormenting tales of Social Security Jack boots marching over and through his early life.Of religious, manic foster parents who had him earmarked for missionary work at 2 years old, care homes and glue sniffing.The search for his Mum, denied access to him.
This was high octane anger, poetry in stereophonic, quadraphonic surround sound. All delivered with technicolour images.
"Writing," said Lemn, " Words, are gas that catches the spark and poetry the voice of the back of the mind,the unfolding of the nothingness is where creativity lies.
Although he assured the audience that he didn't perform, this was a masterclass in performance poetry.
He began with the piece 'Invisible kisses and took us on a journey to 'The prince who had no family.
It was memorable.
Showing posts with label Lemn Sissay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lemn Sissay. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Lemn Sissay
by Sossij
Today I went to see Lemn Sissay's talk for Cultural Exchanges. It was really a fascinating experience and I look forward to the rest of the feastival. I want to thank Lemn for sharing his work and his insights.
Lemn Sissay is very cool. Cooler than a cucumber in an icebox. In the Arctic. In a polar bear's fridge/freezer. Alongside the mammoth task of being cool he is also a strikingly unique poet. I have not encountered any work like his before, in particular his poem about music. I wanted to buy his new book but due to my current money crisis I was tragically unable to. However, I will be borrowing my two friends' copies of Listener for as long as I am able, or as long as I manage to scrape together the funds to purchase a copy for myself, as well as copies of his previous works.
Sissay's talk overran by around twenty minutes, but I could have listened to him speak for hours longer. A small talk, and as such incredibly intimate, this is arguably the best way to experience performance poetry. I am so glad I went to see this talk because it has really opened me up to an artist I had not encountered before. I want to see a longer talk from him, and I think I will get that by heading to the Edinburgh festival.
It made me completely forget that Charles Dance wasn't going to attend. And I was really looking forward to seeing Charles Dance.
Today I went to see Lemn Sissay's talk for Cultural Exchanges. It was really a fascinating experience and I look forward to the rest of the feastival. I want to thank Lemn for sharing his work and his insights.
Lemn Sissay is very cool. Cooler than a cucumber in an icebox. In the Arctic. In a polar bear's fridge/freezer. Alongside the mammoth task of being cool he is also a strikingly unique poet. I have not encountered any work like his before, in particular his poem about music. I wanted to buy his new book but due to my current money crisis I was tragically unable to. However, I will be borrowing my two friends' copies of Listener for as long as I am able, or as long as I manage to scrape together the funds to purchase a copy for myself, as well as copies of his previous works.
Sissay's talk overran by around twenty minutes, but I could have listened to him speak for hours longer. A small talk, and as such incredibly intimate, this is arguably the best way to experience performance poetry. I am so glad I went to see this talk because it has really opened me up to an artist I had not encountered before. I want to see a longer talk from him, and I think I will get that by heading to the Edinburgh festival.
It made me completely forget that Charles Dance wasn't going to attend. And I was really looking forward to seeing Charles Dance.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Culture
by Sossij
Next week promises to be an interesting venture. De Montfort University hosts a variety of broadcasters, writers, actors and musicians in the Cultural Exchanges festival. I am particularly looking forward to Charles Dance in conversation as I am a big fan of his work. I am also tempted by Andrew Davies and Lemn Sissay. As an aspiring writer and aspiring actor, I think these will be best suited to me.
I wouldn't say no to Trevor Nelson though. He has gained a lot of respect from his peers.
Next week promises to be an interesting venture. De Montfort University hosts a variety of broadcasters, writers, actors and musicians in the Cultural Exchanges festival. I am particularly looking forward to Charles Dance in conversation as I am a big fan of his work. I am also tempted by Andrew Davies and Lemn Sissay. As an aspiring writer and aspiring actor, I think these will be best suited to me.
I wouldn't say no to Trevor Nelson though. He has gained a lot of respect from his peers.
Give it a go...what's the worst that could happen?
By Thurms
What is the image of cultural exchanges? To some it is a week off where they can spend the week at home and relax because lectures and workshops are cancelled for one whole week. To others it is an opportunity to see some of the most inspirational people (that were available and could be bothered to talk to a load of university students) in Britain. Until about a week ago i was definitely one of the stay at homies, having a week relaxing...that was until i looked at some of the speakers. (And when i was told i had to see at least three performances)
Once i was told i had to see at least three performances, i decided to get behind the idea as there is no point in dreading something and expecting it to be awful because (even if you are 99.9% sure it will be) it will probably live up...or down to your expectations. So after re-looking through the Festival guide i have seen a number of performances and speeches that look very interesting and ones that i would like to go and see. These include Lemn Sissay, Charles Dance, Billy Bragg and Chris Cowey to name but a few.
Why am i telling you about my sudden, albeit forced, change of opinion about the week? Well there are two reasons: first i have been told to write a blog about cultural exchanges but secondly (and this is definitely the most important reason behind telling you) it is because it actually looks like it will be a very interesting week. If you are one of those stay at home people who is planning to go home or just stay in bed all of next week then i urge, nay i implore you to change your mind. To stay at DMU for the next week, go to cultural exchanges, save the world in the process...OK I'll admit it is getting very preacher like now...basically i think you should take a look at the Festival guide at the very least. If you don't know many of the performers then use it as an opportunity to learn something new.
Well isn't that what you are supposed to do at university?
What is the image of cultural exchanges? To some it is a week off where they can spend the week at home and relax because lectures and workshops are cancelled for one whole week. To others it is an opportunity to see some of the most inspirational people (that were available and could be bothered to talk to a load of university students) in Britain. Until about a week ago i was definitely one of the stay at homies, having a week relaxing...that was until i looked at some of the speakers. (And when i was told i had to see at least three performances)
Once i was told i had to see at least three performances, i decided to get behind the idea as there is no point in dreading something and expecting it to be awful because (even if you are 99.9% sure it will be) it will probably live up...or down to your expectations. So after re-looking through the Festival guide i have seen a number of performances and speeches that look very interesting and ones that i would like to go and see. These include Lemn Sissay, Charles Dance, Billy Bragg and Chris Cowey to name but a few.
Why am i telling you about my sudden, albeit forced, change of opinion about the week? Well there are two reasons: first i have been told to write a blog about cultural exchanges but secondly (and this is definitely the most important reason behind telling you) it is because it actually looks like it will be a very interesting week. If you are one of those stay at home people who is planning to go home or just stay in bed all of next week then i urge, nay i implore you to change your mind. To stay at DMU for the next week, go to cultural exchanges, save the world in the process...OK I'll admit it is getting very preacher like now...basically i think you should take a look at the Festival guide at the very least. If you don't know many of the performers then use it as an opportunity to learn something new.
Well isn't that what you are supposed to do at university?
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
I'm not getting tattoos
by kb
There's something slightly alarming about this year's Cultural Exchanges brochure. I don't like needles - something to do with failing Needlework at school, I expect - and prefer to avoid them in all guises, from the large needles used for neat embroidery to the even larger implements employed for injections at the doctor's surgery. Tattoo parlours make me squirm though, at a previous Cultural Exchanges festival, I spent a happy hour or so listening as Joolz Denby talked to students about the joys of "body modification." Still, I find the new brochure cover slightly alarming.
All the more reason to open the brochure quickly and decide on my bookings. Pam Thompson on Monday for certain. She's a friend and I love her poems. And I can't miss Liz Lochhead on Thursday, though I'm not sure whether I have the nerve to attend her workshop. But I'm weaving my way through a series of painful clashes. Why does Liz Lochhead's performance clash with Lewis Wolpert? I want to hear Lemn Sissay but I'm also fascinated by the history of working-class gambling. And then there's the clash between the Granta evening and Billy Bragg "in conversation." Didn't the programme organisers know that these events would attract exactly the same people?
Hmm. ... Decision time.
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