loose muse

Loose Muse, ANGEL POETRY AND 'TIME FOR SONG' LAUNCHES

2009-04-01T13:42:00.001+01:00

Hi gang,

Spring is definitely springing, the daffs are bellowing poetically on every patch of grass in the country, Obama's in town (!) and there's even a hint of warmth in that sunlight. There's something about the air of April that brings out the smile in all of us, and there's a truck load of events to be whetting your poetic appetite this month, so if you're not inspired by any of the following I'll be amazed and dumbfounded.

Don't forget that the Angel Poetry readings are no longer at the Borders book shop, but are now at the very nice Waterstone's on Islington Green instead. The staff there treated us with enormous grace so I'm actually really pleased that we've made the move. Anyway, here are the event details, and do try and make it to one of them….you won't regret it.

First on Wednesday, 8^th April – we have LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London's only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. First we have the gloriously talented Heather Taylor – poet, actress, playwright, film-maker – is there no end to this woman's talents. Here she shares insights on how best to translate poetry to the stage or screen. Not to be missed. And then we have the marvelous Maggie Butt, a poet of great perception bringing us a range of pieces from her latest collection to open our eyes to life in the creative fast lane. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Then as usual on the second Thursday of the month we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 9^th April starting as usual at 7.00 p.m., now at Waterstone's Bookshop, 11 Islington Green, N1 2XH – just one bus stop further up either Upper Street or Essex Road or 2 minutes walk Angel tube station. This month we have the usual triple bill of fantastic featured poets, each sharing their special words and their unique own way of seeing the world. First we have poet Phil Ruthen, whose words are not to be taken light, and never to be ignored. Phil is followed by the indomitable Maggie Sullivan, who writes with a poignancy that makes her words hard to forget, reaching the parts other poets often cannot reach. And finally another multi-talented performer, Fiona Curran , a favourite on the performing scene, whose poetry is both a celebration and a stark commentary on life, both dark and glowing. One of my faves. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

And then there are two other gigs I'm involved in, which I hope you might like to support:

TIME FOR SONG – TERMYN RAG KAN –

Following two launch events down in Penzance and Truro at the end of March, this book of contemporary Cornish poetry featuring Bert Biscoe, Pol Hodge, Patric Cunnane, Sue Johns, Bob Devereux, and Agnes Meadows, is now launching in London on:

Friday 3^rd April – L'Osteria 57 Wine Bar, 57 Grays Inn Rd, WC1 – 7.30pm

(Chancery Lane tube)

Saturday 4^th April – upstairs at The Sun Pub, 21 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, WC2 – 7.30pm (Holborn or Covent Garden tube).

Both events are free, so I do hope you're able to make it. Come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows - Host and fellow poet

LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY AND OTHER GIGS

2009-01-29T17:11:00.000Z

Hi gang,

First I think I owe a lot of you a real apology – if anyone turned up for January’s Angel Poetry at Borders at the Angel to discover it had been cancelled, I can only apologise. Having called the events team there at 4.00 p.m. on the day of the gig to make sure all was well, and being told it was all under control, I was then called back by a grovellingly apologetic Manager to say there had been a flood that had got into their basement, elevator, PA System and goodness knows what else, so he was having to cancel event. AAAAAAAAAAAAArgh!!! Was my first reaction, but by then it was too late to late anyone know, so if you did turn up…I really am sorry for your wasted journey, and promise it will be better in February. Honest!!!

Listed first this month are a couple of gigs I’m involved in at the beginning of the month:

Tuesday 3^rd February

Private View of FREEZE FRAME an exhibition of painting and mixed media running until 8^th February at Candid Galleries, 3 Torrens St, EC1V 1NQ (directly behind Angel Tube – 6.30-9.00 p.m. Coordinated by talented new artist Lucy Nicholson. With a special poetry element at 7.30 p.m. linked to some of the pictures being exhibition with Agnes Meadows and Naomi Woddis – be there or be hare!!

Wednesday 4^th February

Agnes is reading both old favourites and new material at the first arts event of the Oriental Cultural Forum, a new organization promoting culture and the arts. Hosted by Yasmin Ahamad, with sensational oud player Ahmed Muktar. 8.00 p.m. at the Poetry Café. Probably £5 entry.

And then on Wednesday, 11^th February – we have LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. First we have the multi-talented writer and performer Saleena Godden, bringing you the most irreverent, cheeky, witty, and humorous poetry anywhere in the capital, sharp as a tack and twice as driving. And then we have Naomi Woddis, one of my favourite poets bringing her unique Poetry Mosaic concept to Loose Muse, as well as reading from her work. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Then as usual on the second Thursday of the month we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 12^th February starting as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. This month we have a triple bill of fantastic featured poets, each sharing their special words and their unique own way of seeing the world. First we have the wonderful Greta Sykes, bringing her gentle Gaia-centric poetry as well as her thoughts on the world and how’s it’s run these days. Then we, a newcomer to Angel Poetry, Louise (Lexi) McCudden, sharing her thought-provoking words to inspire us all, and finally the gifted James Byrne, editor of The Wolf, one of London’s best contemporary poetry magazines, reading from his own intense and forceful work.

There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

Hope to see you at one of these events – come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

OPEN NOW: FESTIVALS OF LIGHT

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world. The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE AND ANGEL POETRY - 2009 POETRY STARTS NOW

2008-12-31T18:23:00.000Z

Hi gang,

I swear to you I will never eat another chocolate, and will eat nothing but lightly steamed vegetables with an occasional boiled egg thrown in for good measure. Just as well the (serious) diet starts on January 5^th as I don’t think I could look roast goose, turkey, Christmas pudding, cake, or smoked salmon in the face for a very very very long time. Yes I did rather over indulge but also had a lovely Christmas in Edinburgh, which has got to be one of the best and most gorgeous places on the planet to spend time in, especially at Christmas. Shame I’m in London for New Year, and working, but hey…I’ve got another brilliant year of poetry lined up for 2009, and what better way to kick off the New Year than to tell you all about it and hope you’ll come to listen to some of the fantastic poets I’ve got lined up for the next few months, starting with January.

Because the second Thursday of the month falls first, January kicks off with ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 8^th January starting as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We start the New Year with a triple bill of fantastic featured poets, each sharing their special words and their unique own way of seeing the world. First we have the powerful

Rhian Edwards reading her potent poetry with a force that will leave your eyes smarting and the breath caught in your throat. Next we have the redoubtable

Dominic O’Rourke, master of the wicked spoken word, and sharing his rye observations of the world for the first time at Angel Poetry. And thirdly we have the formidable Maggie Butt, a poet of immense talent and cutting-edge words – absolutely not to be missed. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

And then we have the January return of one of my favourite events of the poetic calendar on Wednesday, 14^th January - LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Loose Muse kicks off 2009 with a double bill of fantastic talent – not only do we have the wonderful Sifundo, straight from her residency at London’s South Bank Centre, sharing her poignant and commanding poetry with us, but we also have the multi-talented Malika Booker bringing some of the work featured in her sell-out one-woman touring show and talking about life on the road as a jobbing poet. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Hope to see you at one of these events – come share the passion, share the joy.

And I hope that 2009 brings us all a measure of peace, the balance of joy, the pleasure of grace.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

OPEN NOW: FESTIVALS OF LIGHT

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world. The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY AND OTHER POETIC STUFF

2008-12-04T19:28:00.000Z

Hi gang,

I can hardly believe that this is the last of my poetry bulletins for 2008, and that Christmas is only 20 shopping days away, and me without a single card sent or present bought! As usual it’s all going to happen at the last moment…but I guess I must enjoy all the hassle, crowds and endless lists otherwise I’d get my act together and start the process in July. And if you’re stuck for what to buy your best beloved, your granny, or your great aunt Bertha, there’s always a copy of my latest book “This One Is For You”, which was launched very gently into the world last month, and which (I’ve been assured) is an excellent read. Buy a copy on Amazon, or directly from Flipped Eye my publishers, or even from Borders….a bargain at only £6.00.

And if that wasn’t enough, December has a plethora of pre-festive poetic goodies to entrance. First off on Wednesday, 10^th December there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in December will be actress, writer and performer Marlene Sideaway bringing us her acclaimed one-woman show “Cloak and Dagger” – a tale of three women all with murder in their hearts. And then we have the lovely Sandeep Parmar, a writer of extraordinary style and panache bringing a whole range of new work that focuses on jealousy and the intensity of love under the microscope. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 11^th December kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with a triple bill of featured poets winding up the year in December, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First we have the warm and wonderful Fathieh Saudi reading from her latest fine collection of poetry, a first time feature at Angel Poetry. Then we have the gothically inclined Michael Wyndham sharing his hypnotic view of the world with words of power, also featuring for the first time at Angel Poetry, although Michael has been a regular sharing his work in our popular open mic spots. And thirdly we have the velvet voiced Beyonder, sharing his unique poetic take on existence, the universe, and everything else. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

Then there are gigs and workshops I’m doing over the next couple of weeks – definitely worth checking out if you can.

1. Saturday, 6^th December @ The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Cumbria

I’m featured at this high quality centre in Cumbria, alongside superb New York poet George Wallace, and the breathtaking Geraldine Green in a night of high-octane words and poetic sharing. 7.00 p.m. start.

2. Tuesday, 9^th December ‘Thinking Out of the Box; Workshop

Another opportunity to take part in a workshop that I’m leading as part of the Shepherd’s Bush Writer’s Junction, run by Anjan Saha and Dzifa Benson start @ Shepherd’s Bush Library,

7 Uxbridge Road, London W12 (Shepherd’s Bush tube). £2.00 6.00 p.m. start.

The “Thinking Out of the Box” Workshop

Writing poetry isn’t always a question of stating the obvious or of providing the listener/ reader with comfortable creative options. In this workshop I will guide participants towards alternatives to the self-evident, exploring how toget the best out of your writing by literally ‘thinking out of the box’.

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

OPEN NOW: FESTIVALS OF LIGHT

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world. The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

AGNES'S BOOK LAUNCH

2008-11-17T20:06:00.001Z

Hi gang,

Well, I am back from China having had the most AWESOME time, and spent far too much money and virtually qualified for the British Olympic Shopping Team!! Expect quantities of China/Silk Road poetry over the next few weeks as my thoughts and memories solidify onto the page, and hopefully you’ll then be able to share with me some of the extraordinary things I saw and experienced. Until then I’m now revving up to some serious poetry events for the rest of the year, the first and most important of which is MY BOOK LAUNCH (fanfare of celebratory trumpets!!) this Friday, 21^st November.

Yes, my next collection ‘This One Is For You’, published by Flipped Eye/Waterways is ready to hit the stands, and I’m incredibly excited, as the book is looking very good indeed. I’m especially pleased as this book is dedicated to my lovely friend and fellow poet Brinsley Sheridan, who sadly passed away a few years back. Gone but absolutely not forgotten!! The night will start at 7.30 p.m. with a number of guests (to be announced in my next mailout) at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden).

As well as getting the chance to hear me strut my stuff, I have also invited the multi-talented Naomi Woddis, the deliciously irreverent Dzifa Benson, and the powerful wordsmith Patricia Foster to share the evening, so expect some great poetry from these formidable sisters. Plus there might be some other special guests, so do come along and check it out … it would be fab to make this a genuine night to remember.

And if you’re not able to make it to the launch, but still want to buy a copy of the book – they’d make fabulous Christmas presents after all – they are available on Amazon or directly from the flippedeye/waterways website.

Also on Tuesday November 25^th – I’m doing a guest spot at Aoife Mannix’s launch

The extraordinary poet Aoife Mannix is launching her first novel tonight at the Loom Bar, 5 Clipstone Street, London W1W 6BB. And she’s been gracious enough to offer me a guest spot at her launch, which I’m truly honoured to accept. Kick off at 7.30 p.m.

And then on Wednesday November 26^th – I’m featuring at Tall Lighthouse

Fellow poet and editor Les Robinson has another of his great Tall Lighthouse events at the Poetry Café and has offered me a feature. Another great night, another bunch of terrific talent and I’m included which is very cool. Again, kick off is at 7.30 p.m.

Come share the passion, share the joy…

Always,

Agnes

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

OPEN NOW: FESTIVALS OF LIGHT

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

HALF TERM FUN - Monday 27 October - Sunday 2 November

Special events everyday including author of The Queen's Knickers Nicholas Allan dropping by, a storytelling of The Ramayana, 1950's dressing up and a Halloween party.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

PoetryFilm at Tate Britain, Friday 7th Nov

2008-11-04T13:37:00.000Z

PoetryFilm at Tate Britain

Friday 7th November 2008, Tate Britain, Pimlico

FREE

Auditorium
19.00-19.30 Screening
20.00-20.45 Screening and Discussion - what happens behind the scenes of a film?
21.00-21.30 Screening

A selection of PoetryFilms including an animation based on 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Wallace Stevens; a film by Billy Childish celebrating the life of Dadaist and bicyclist Kurt Schwitters; a film about love and the present directed by the subconscious; and also we go behind the scenes of a spying man with OCD who lives the same routine over and over - soundtrack by Aphex Twin.

Plus, at 8pm, a discussion about the processes of making PoetryFilms with directors of some of the films screened, and editors and writers who have featured at Cannes - chaired by Malgorzata Kitowski, director of PoetryFilm.

Tickets are free but must be collected from the Rotunda information desk - they will be available from 6pm.

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/eventseducation/lateattatebritain/lateattatebritain2008november.htm

For more information about PoetryFilm, or if you would like to be removed from this occasional email list, please contact info@poetryfilm.org.

* * *

Further Information about Late at Tate:

Half price entry to Francis Bacon and Turner Prize 08

Behind the Scenes Tours of Tate

Tate Archive
18.15, 19.15 and 20.15

See Tate's hidden gems in a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the extensive Tate Library and Archive store and view a selection of unusual and unique material from the Tate Library and Archive collections.

The Prints and Drawings Rooms
18.30, 19.30 and 20.30

Did you know a staggering 80 percent of Tate's collection can be seen here? This tour provides a taster of Tate's vast collection of works on paper. It offers a chance to see Turner's earliest sketchbooks to his famous Venetian views, as well as his legendary Blue Rigi, acquired by Tate last year. In addition, you can see watercolours and drawings by William Blake, Stanley Spencer and Francis Bacon, among others, and some of the finest examples of modern and contemporary printmaking from David Hockney, to Richard Hamilton and Paula Rego.

Tate Stores
18.30 and 19.15

Only a fraction of the total artworks that Tate owns can be displayed at once. The rest, including paintings and sculpture by world-famous artists, are kept in the fabled Tate Store. Take this opportunity for insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of all the Tate galleries and find out how Tate cares for and manages its vast and important Collection.

Frames Conservation
18.45 and 19.45

Encounter a gilded world in the frames conservation studio with gold leaf, carved wood and moulded ornament in this behind the scenes experience. In this practical demonstration by conservator Stephen Huxley you'll discover traditional and modern techniques used to treat important frames to fulfil their essential role for paintings in our collection.

Look out for the Frame Stories captions throughout the gallery - pick up a map for room numbers.

Alternative Talks on the Collection
Power: Richard Thomas
18.30, Room 4: Hogarth

Join Tate's artist-educator Richard Thomas for a tour and candid discussion on the power behind the early art markets through works such as Hogarth's O the Roast Beef of Old England.

Sight: Gillian Cutbill
19.00, Room 17: Image and Paint

Gillian Cutbill, a Tate guide who presents picture descriptions for visually impaired visitors, will be describing Freud's Standing by the Rags for the Late at Tate Britain audience and discussing the principals of picture description.

Outsider: Leon Wainwright
19.30, Room 24: Swinging 60s

Art Historian Leon Wainwright will be talking around the idea of the 'authentic outsider' and how Kitaj and Hockney - in their different ways - communicated Britishness and notions of otherness in the age of Pop

Insider: Nivek Amichund
20.30, Room 8: Cecil Collins

Inspired by the recently opened Cecil Collins display in Room 8, Nivek Amichund, both a visitor services assistant and a member of Tate Forum, Tate's youth advisory panel, gives his view on the works from his unique insider's position

Frame Cleaning
18.30-19.15 and 20.00-20.45

Frame cleaning is a delicate activity which normally takes place before the gallery opens, but tonight members of the visitor services team will be frame cleaning in Rooms 14 and 15. Talk to them about the specialised equipment and the nature of the frames they're cleaning.

Film: Losing Her, (James Killough, 29 minutes, 2007)
North Duveens
19.00 on a loop

Written and directed by James Killough and shot after hours in Tate Britain, this award-winning short film explores memory and past as they collide when Helen desperately searches for her grandmother in the galleries and encounters visitors and staff. What unfolds is a surprising tale of loss, memory and art which leads to a devastating conclusion.

Stills from behind the scenes of the shoot will be projected in the North Duveens and watch out for a live recreation of one of the scenes from the film

With the kind support of ARRI

PoetryFilm
Auditorium
19.00-19.30 Screening
20.00-20.45 Screening and Discussion - what happens behind the scenes of a film?
21.00-21.30 Screening

A selection of PoetryFilms including an animation based on 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Wallace Stevens; a film by Billy Childish celebrating the life of Dadaist and bicyclist Kurt Schwitters; a film about love and the present directed by the subconscious; and also go behind the scenes of a spying man with OCD who lives the same routine over and over - soundtrack by Aphex Twin. Plus, at 20.00, a discussion about the processes of making PoetryFilms with directors of some of the films screened, editors and writers who have featured at Cannes, chaired by Malgorzata Kitowski, director of PoetryFilm.

Tickets available from the Rotunda information desk from 18.00

Music
18.00-21.40
Room 9

Hear the double life of Tate employees with DJ sets in Room 9 with live visuals by Joe Catchpole and artist Dan Dvisualist Fenton

18.00-19.15 Dark Emotions playing Dubstep and Electronica
19.15-20.30 Knappenwill be playing an eccelctic mix of sounds from the kingdom of rad
20.30-21.40 DJ Ferg Money with an early 90s Hip Hop set to end the night

Behind the Screen
South Duveens
18.00-20.00

During this summer's Street or Studio exhibition at Tate Modern, Tate partnered Flickr and Blurb to create an alternative catalogue of urban portraits, Street or Studio: A Photobook. The 100 photographs that the judges selected will be projected onto the walls of the Duveen galleries for the evening

Art Now: Rosalind Nasashibi & Lucy Skaer

Alongside their individual art practices, Rosalind Nashashibi and Lucy Skaer have been making collaborative works since 2005. Their two films Ambassador 2005 and Flash in the Metropolitan 2006 focus on the act of looking and the transformative potential of film. Nashashibi and Skaer will be creating a new installation for the Art Now space.

LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY AND MORE GIGS

2008-10-31T18:00:00.000Z

Hi gang,

I’m typing this waiting for the taxi to take me to the airport, because (fanfare of anticipatory trumpets) I’m going to CHINA on holiday this afternoon. Am I excited? Is the Pope a Catholic, as they say. I anticipate seeing a plethora of truly wondrous things as I’m traveling from Beijing, all the way to Kashgar in the far west of the country. So if I never return it’s because I’ve fallen in love with a Jet Li look-alike who has whisked me off to his penthouse in Shanghai or somewhere equally exotic where I can write poetry to my hearts content, and maybe even get time to finish the day job! Until then, however, November brings us a some really great gigs, including the LAUNCH OF MY NEW BOOK. Hooray! Read on to see what’s on the menu………

On Wednesday 12^th November there is LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session for all comers, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in October will be Anne-Marie Fyffe, a veteran of the poetry scene, and well known for hosting high quality events at the legendary Troubadour. Here she shares some of her own poetry, and brings us the low-down on running a venue. And then we have the award-winning poet Katrina Naomi, returning to Loose Muse with readings from her first and much anticipated collection. The night starts at 8.00 p.m. - £5.00/£3.00 concs. A truly great night, and I shall be there to host it – jet-lagged but inspired.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 13^th November kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the NI Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with a trio of featured poets in November, each with their own unique way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First, all the way from Sheffield, we have the wonderfully quirky Matt Black, who has a way of making you laugh and then grabbing you by the throat with his word power. Then we have the extraordinarily talented Ventriloquist, poet, writer, musician, lyricist – is there no end to this man’s talents – sharing his work with Angel Poetry for the first time. And completing the trio is

John Row, a poet of very special word magic joining us from the south coast, and another first timer at Angel Poetry. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

And then there’s my book launch and a couple of other gigs I’m involved with just for good measure….

1. Friday November 21^st @ the Poetry Café – MY BOOK LAUNCH

Yes, my next collection ‘This One Is For You’, published by Flipped Eye/Waterways is ready to hit the stands, and I’m incredibly excited, as the book is looking very good indeed. I’m especially pleased as this book is dedicated to my lovely friend and fellow poet Brinsley Sheridan, who sadly passed away a few years back. Gone but absolutely not forgotten!! The night will start at 7.30 p.m. with a number of guests (to be announced in my next mailout) at the Poetry Café. Be there or totally be square.

2. Tuesday November 25^th – Guest spot at Aoife Mannix’s launch

3. Wednesday November 26^th – Feature at Tall Lighthouse event

So, do try and get to some of these gigs….it would be great to see you all ….come share the passion, share the joy.

Love

Agnes

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

OPEN NOW: FESTIVALS OF LIGHT

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

HALF TERM FUN - Monday 27 October - Sunday 2 November

Special events everyday including author of The Queen's Knickers Nicholas Allan dropping by, a storytelling of The Ramayana, 1950's dressing up and a Halloween party.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOTS MORE POETRY FROM AGNES

2008-10-10T18:57:00.000+01:00

Hi gang,

Just a real quickie to underline some of the other fantastic poetry events I’m involved with over the next couple of weeks, all of which are fabulous and exciting….

Do read each listing carefully, as during my recent mailout I made a real pig’s ear of dates, so despite three attempts I still got dates wrong in some cases. Any dates that are listed below are correct (honest), so do head on down to one or all of them… you’ll have a brilliant time, and that’s not a mistake.

1. Wednesday October 15^th – Poetry @ L’Osteria – BOOK LAUNCH

Exceptional poet Norbert Hirschhorn, launches his new collection “Mourning in the Presence of a Corpse”, published by leading Lebanese publisher Dar al-Jadeed. Norbert now lieves part-time in Beirut, Lebanon, and this extraordinary book is inspired by that seductive and dangerous country. This is work that will leave you breathless.

PLUS I shall also be sharing some of my new work from my latest book “This One Is For You”, so it’s effectively a double launch.

A free event @ the downstairs wine bar at L’Osteria 57, 57 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8PP (Closest tube Chancery Lane + several bus routes) 7.30 p.m. And you can order good Italian food at a reasonable price while you listen, so do come along and share with us.

2. Saturday 18^th October – Literature Lounge Masterclass working alongside the unique Anjan Saha, in another of his celebrated Masterclasses held at the Poetry Café, (22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, WC2. Sessions from 11.00-3.30 p.m. - £30/£20 concessions.

I will be delivering a writing/performance workshop - “Thinking Out of the Box” – guiding participants towards alternatives to the self-evident, and exploring how to get the best out of your writing by literally ‘thinking out of the box’.

3. Wednesday 22^nd October 2, 2008 – Agnes Hosts @ The Corset Club

A 3-times-a-year event produced by Red on Black Productions and Hothouse – a mix of poetry, music, comedy, drama – all by women artists. Alongside feature slots there will also be new faces getting a short slot on the night. At the Cavendish Arms (128 Hartington Rd, SW8 2HJ). Doors open at 7.00, starts at 8.00 p.m £3/£2 Women artists can e-mail their link/ work to corsetclub@redonblackproductions.com

Also on Thursday, 16 October – Apples & Snakes Open Mic Night

A free event at Whitechapel Gallery - 80-82 Whitechapel High St
Apples open mics are where the newcomers meet the seasoned performers on equal terms, and there’s the chance of being talent-spotted by some of London’s poetry impresarios. So arrive early to claim your all-important 5 minutes. Tonight’s host is Daniel Silverstein and there’ll be featured slots from Anwen Lewis and Kathryn O'Reilly.

Hope to see you there,

Love

Agnes

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

Saturday 4 October 11.30am & 2.30pm

MEET JULIA JARMAN - the author of CLASS TWO at the ZOO and listen to her read some magnificent stories.

COMING SOON...

FESTIVALS OF LIGHT from 9 October

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

FURTHER CORRECTION FROM AGNES RE ANGEL POETRY

2008-10-02T17:54:00.000+01:00

I am clearly overworked, stressed out, and severely underpaid. ANGEL POETRY is on THURSDAY 9^TH OCTOBER – which is National Poetry Day. All other information on the blurb now sent to you twice is correct. Obviously I need a holiday.

Love

Agnes

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

Saturday 4 October 11.30am & 2.30pm

MEET JULIA JARMAN - the author of CLASS TWO at the ZOO and listen to her read some magnificent stories.

COMING SOON...

FESTIVALS OF LIGHT from 9 October

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

CORRECTED DATES - LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY AND OTHER POETRY GIGS

2008-10-02T17:35:00.000+01:00

Damn and blast –

Have already sent this once, but am sending it again because my good friend Les Robinson alerted me to the fact that the date for Angel Poetry was WRONG. I’ve corrected it now, so it just seemed easier to send the whole thing again. So here goes!!

Love

Agnes

Hi gang,

And then suddenly it was autumn, and the nights really are getting colder, and I’ve been forced to start wearing jumpers again….how rubbish is that. However, I have just bought myself a pair of truly spectacularly cool Harley Biker Boots – no, not complete with bike, or biker…just the boots – so I daresay as winter draws on you’ll see me posing in them and trying for the oldest rock chick on the planet look. Anyway, October brings another glorious leaf-fall of poetry at Loose Muse and Angel Poetry, plus other gigs that I’m involved with throughout the month. Check it all out and see what a feast there is…………

On Wednesday, 8^th October there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in October will be the wonderful Susan Utting, a regular hit at the Edinburgh Festival, bringing her unique and finely crafted poetry to Loose Muse. Kath Tait contributes words and music that will both touch and amuse to make you look at the world with entirely different eyes. Absolutely not to be missed. And finally we have Special Guests - Cyndi Dawson winging in from New Jersey to share blistering words with London’s most alluring word-mistress Anna Savage with an excerpt of their joint show. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 11^th October kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with a quadruple bill of feature poets in September, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First we have Christopher Horton bringing finely tuned words from a master of the spoken word. Then we have the multi-talented Sarah Reilly sharing her highly dramatic and striking poetry with Angel Poetry. Thirdly we have Nicholas Field featuring at Angel Poetry for the first time with a selection of his well-crafted words. Plus special guest all the way from Reading, Kate Noakes, a poet of exceptional emotional dexterity reading from her extraordinary first collection. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

Then there are three gigs I am involved in, which hopefully you’ll be able to check out – all definitely worth your time and attention.

1. Wednesday October 15^th – Poetry @ L’Osteria – BOOK LAUNCH

PLUS I shall also be sharing some of my new work from my latest book “This One Is For You”, so it’s effectively a double launch.

3. Saturday 22^nd October 2, 2008 – Hosting @ The Corset Club

A 3-times-a-year event produced by Red on Black Productions and Hothouse - mix of poetry, music, comedy, drama – all by women artists. Alongside feature slots there will also be new faces getting a short slot on the night. At the Cavendish Arms (128 Hartington Rd, SW8 2HJ). Doors open at 7.00, starts at 8.00 p.m £3/£2 Women artists can e-mail their link/ work to corsetclub@redonblackproductions.com

Hope to see you at one of these events or all of them – come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : If you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

Saturday 4 October 11.30am & 2.30pm

MEET JULIA JARMAN - the author of CLASS TWO at the ZOO and listen to her read some magnificent stories.

COMING SOON...

FESTIVALS OF LIGHT from 9 October

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY AND OTHER GIGS

2008-10-02T16:16:00.000+01:00

Hi gang,

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 11^th September kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with a quadruple bill of feature poets in September, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First we have Christopher Horton bringing finely tuned words from a master of the spoken word. Then we have the multi-talented Sarah Reilly sharing her highly dramatic and striking poetry with Angel Poetry. Thirdly we have Nicholas Field featuring at Angel Poetry for the first time with a selection of his well-crafted words. Plus special guest all the way from Reading, Kate Noakes, a poet of exceptional emotional dexterity reading from her extraordinary first collection. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

Then there are three gigs I am involved in, which hopefully you’ll be able to check out – all definitely worth your time and attention.

1. Wednesday October 15^th – Poetry @ L’Osteria – BOOK LAUNCH

PLUS I shall also be sharing some of my new work from my latest book “This One Is For You”, so it’s effectively a double launch.

3. Saturday 22^nd October 2, 2008 – Hosting @ The Corset Club

Hope to see you at one of these events or all of them – come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : If you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

Saturday 4 October 11.30am & 2.30pm

MEET JULIA JARMAN - the author of CLASS TWO at the ZOO and listen to her read some magnificent stories.

COMING SOON...

FESTIVALS OF LIGHT from 9 October

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

THE HOTHOUSE POETRY GIG

2008-09-26T14:03:00.000+01:00

Hi Gang,

Just a quickie before next week's excellent big HOTHOUSE Bash. Hope you can make it as it will the event of the Autumn! Also details of the Troubadour's

fabulous annual poetry competition:

Tuesday, 30^th September – The Hothouse

A night of raunchy, radical, rich and rude performance poetry with 15 of the best women poets in London today including Dzifa Benson, Malika Booker,

Jasmine Cooray, Elaine Crinnion, Zena Edwards, Patricia Foster, Sara-Mae Tuson, Aoife Mannix, Karen McCarthy, Agnes Meadows, Esther Poyer, Janett Plummer,

Jaqueline Saphra, Heather Taylor, Annette Walker and Naomi Woddis.

Presented by Naomi Woddis, MC'd by Agnes Meadows.

Totally NOT TO BE MISSED.

7:30pm - 11:00pm @ The Cross Kings, 126 York Way, London N1 OAX

£5.00 – All profits going to Inspired Word, a voluntary organisation for women providing writing and personal development skills for particularly women who have

experienced domestic violence abuse or mental distress.

http://inspiredwordarts.com/

PLUS

ANNUAL TROUBADOUR POETRY PRIZE

Judged by: jo shapcott & stephen knight - Both judges will read all poems submitted.

1^st prize £1000, 2^nd £500, 3^rd £250, plus 20 commendations @ £20 each

And a coffee-house poetry reading for all prizewinning & commended poets

With Jo Shapcott & Stephen Knight on Monday 1st December 2008

Submission deadline: Friday 10th October 2008

rules

General: Entry implies acceptance of all rules; failure to comply with rules may result in disqualification; competition open to poets of any nationality over 18 years;

no competitor may win more than one prize; judges' decision is final; no individual correspondence may be entered into.

Poems: Poems must be in English, must each be no longer than 45 lines, must fit on one page of A4, must be the original work of the entrant and must not have been

previously broadcast or published (in print or online); winning & commended poems may be published (in print or online) by the Troubadour Poetry Prize and may not

be published elsewhere for one year after 10th October 2008 without written permission. No limit on number of poems submitted.

Fees: All entries must be accompanied by fee of EITHER £5/€7/$10 per poem if less than 4 poems OR £4/€5/$8 per poem if 4 or more poems submitted; payment by

cheque or money order (Sterling/Euro/US-Dollars only) payable to "Coffee-House Poetry" with entry name (and/or e-mail Entry Ref) written on back.

By Post: No entry form required; each poem must be typed on one side of A4 white paper showing title & poem only; do not show author's name or any other

identifying marks on submitted poems; include a separate page showing Name, Address, Phone, E-Mail (opt), Titles and Number of Poems EITHER @ £5/€7/$10 OR

@ £4/€5/$8; no staples; entries are not returned.

By E-mail: No entry form required; poems must be submitted in body of e-mail (no attachments) to CoffPoetry@aol.com; entries should be preceded by Name,

Address, Phone, Titles and Number of Poems EITHER @ £5/€7/$8 OR @ £4/€5/$8; acknowledgement will be sent to entrant's e-mail address showing Entry

Acknowledgment Reference; send payment by post quoting Entry Acknowledgement Reference; e-mail entries will be included only when payment received.

Acknowledgement/Results: will be sent to all e-mail entrants, and to all postal entrants who provide an e-mail address; other postal entrants should include

stamped, addressed postcard marked "Acknowledgement" and/or stamped, addressed A5 envelope marked "Results" if required.

Deadline: All postal entries, and postal payments for e-mail entries, to arrive at Troubadour Poetry Prize, Coffee-House Poetry, PO Box 16210, LONDON, W4 1ZP postmarked on or before Friday 10^th October 2008. Prizewinners will be notified by Friday 21st November 2008. Prizegiving will be on Monday 1st December 2008

at Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour

Anne-Marie Fyfe (Organiser)
coffee-house poetry at the troubadour

Love - Agnes

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SHORTLISTED FOR VISIT LONDON AWARDS 2008 - Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity

LIGHT UP THE WORLD PARTY Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September

Launch of the Cultural Olympiad Weekend

Over this weekend help us to create a really big world covered with huge fantasy countries designed by you.

COMING SOON...

FESTIVALS OF LIGHT from 9 October

Prepared to be dazzled by this brilliant exhibition inspired by festivals of light from around the world.

The exhibition Festivals of Light is in colloboration with Emergency Exit Arts.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY AND LOTS OF GIGS

2008-09-02T19:43:00.000+01:00

Hi gang,

After the glorious clamminess of August, there is such a harvest festival of poetry in September that it really should arouse you all with rich words and fabulous inspiration …. So much to get the poetic heart throbbing….so many choices. Both Loose Muse and Angel Poetry begin their fourth years of running – yes, count them folks….not 1, 2, 3, but FOURTH Birthday, which is a cause for celebration in itself. But there are also a number of other gigs that I’m featuring in together with a abundance of other exceptional poetic talent, so please read right through to the end – you’ll be really sorry if you don’t.

To start with on Wednesday, 10^th September there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in September will be the fabulous Aoife Mannix , international writer with words that touch the parts other writers can’t reach, reading extracts from her first novel and exploring the move from poet to novelist. Also featuring will be the newcomer to Loose Muse Kate Noakes, bringing an avalanche of beautiful words from her first collection…a real treat. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 11^th September kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with a quadruple bill of feature poets in September, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First up is the Isaac Hayes of the poetry scene Baden Prince Junior, reading some of his most recent poetic takes on life in his world. And keeping it in the family, this month a special treat with John Prince, a national treasure in his native Antigua, bringing his Caribbean days to vivid life in a poetry from his first collection. Reading from a selection of poetry from her Survivors collection, is the indomitable Anne Cooper, always a pleasure to listen to with work of tremendous perception. And finally, a Special Guest Poet Norbert Hirschhorn, sharing poetry from his latest collection published in Beirut, words of such razor-sharp perception they will leave you breathless. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

And as well as hosting the above two events, get your diaries out for the following gigs.

1. Thursday 4^th September – another chance to see “What Not to do About the War…”, which I shall be performing with celebrated writers Ruth O’Callaghan and Rosemary Norman at Ealing Library, 103 Ealing Broadway Centre, London W5 5JY. Kick off at 6.30 p.m

2. Saturday 13^th September – Literature Lounge Masterclass working alongside the unique Anjan Saha, in another of his celebrated Masterclasses held at the Poetry Café, (22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, WC2. Sessions from 11.00-3.30 p.m. - £30/£20 concessions.

3. Wednesday 17^th September – London Magazine launch at Express Excess, Haverstock Hill, opposite Chalk Farm tube. Reading with a host of other poets whose work will be featured in the September edition. Host – Paul Lyalls. 8.00 p.m. £5.00

4. Thursday 25^th September – ‘Or Some Art’s Autumn Exhibition - Reading at the Private View of this innovative emerging arts collective’s eagerly awaited new exhibition, led by textile artist Lucy Nicholson. The Ada Street Gallery, Bethnal Green tube. 6.00-9.00 p.m. The Exhibition runs from 23^rd - 28^th September, 12.00-7.00 pm. More information can be found at: http://orsomeart.googlepages.com/

5. Tuesday, 30^th September – The Hothouse – A night of raunchy, radical, rich and rude performance poetry by 15 of the best women poets in London today. Presented by Naomi Woddis, MC’d by Agnes Meadows. 7.00 p.m. £3.00 at the Cross Kings, 126 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 OAX. Totally NOT TO BE MISSED. All profits going to a women’s cancer charity.

Hope to see you at one of these events or all of them – come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : If you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

Get ready for the summer holidays. Perform It, Tell It and Make It in our fabulous season of workshops.

Recommended by The Guardian and Critics Choice Time Out:

CITY OF STORIES until 31 AUGUST

How do you make nail soup? Why did George kill the dragon? What makes the mango wondrous?

Find out by visiting City of Stories, a new exhibition featuring fantastic legends, folk stories and traditional tales.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

POETRY IN AUGUST

2008-07-30T14:21:00.001+01:00

Hi gang,

August is generally a pretty flimsy month for poetry events. Thoughts of heat heavy days, star-laden nights, the symphony of the surf, salt, sweat and sun’s relentless avalanche take precedence over spoken word, and August is when things come to a glorious head.

But there’s still some very good stuff happening this month. First off Loose Muse is holding a grand Open Mic session plus workshop/surgery on August 13^th at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). Whether you just want the chance to read from the floor, of even if you have a poem or piece you want a bit of professional advice on, why not come along on the 13^th and share it with your host and fellow poet, Agnes Meadows,. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs.

There’s no Angel Poetry this month – back in September as usual with the usual mixture of brilliance and intensity.

And then on 31 July, 1 & 2 August, there is an absolute and total ‘must see’ -

The 14th Tale – Inua Ellams’ one person narrative.

“I'm from a long line of trouble makers, of ash skinned Africans, born with clenched fists and a natural thirst for battle, only quenched by breast milk..."

Inua Ellams, performer and Nigerian author of best selling poetry collection, 'Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales, presents 'The 14th Tale' - a scratch performance of a long narrative. In his typical, free flowing, lyrical style, it tells the hilarious exploits of a natural- born mischief, growing from the clay streets of Nigeria to rooftops in Dublin, and finally to London. Commissioned by the BAC, Inua will be giving three scratch performances of this work in progress.

8.00 p.m. - £5/£3 - Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, Battersea, London, SW11 5TN Box Office : 02072232223 - http://www.bac.org.uk.

Thursday 14^th August, Apples & Snakes is hosting an Open Mic at the Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX. This is a free event that kicks off at 7.00 p.m. so bring along your most sensational poem and give it a whirl.

Also if you could do with some extra £££cash£££, Discover, the charity I work for, urgently needs bouncy, happy and reliable people to talk about Discover and give out leaflets at various times during the next five weeks. The pay is £6.50 an hour for shifts of 6 hours. They will be required to work in Stratford, Hackney, Illford, Romford, Tower Hamlets and Barking and Dagenham. Please contact Racheal Brasier, Marketing Manager, on 020-8536-5563, or e her on racheal.brasier@discover.org.uk

Have a brilliant summer and come back in the autumn tanned and beautiful with a poem to love, and words to share.

Always,

Agnes

E: agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

Get ready for the summer holidays. Perform It, Tell It and Make It in our fabulous season of workshops.

Recommended by The Guardian and Critics Choice Time Out:

CITY OF STORIES until 31 AUGUST

How do you make nail soup? Why did George kill the dragon? What makes the mango wondrous?

Find out by visiting City of Stories, a new exhibition featuring fantastic legends, folk stories and traditional tales.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE AND ANGEL POETRY

2008-07-03T18:07:00.000+01:00

Hi gang,

If I sound a little manic this month it’s because I’ve been suffering from the Toothache from Hell, and haven’t yet found a kind and dentist who won’t cost me an arm and a leg to treat me. Have been shoveling handfuls of painkillers down my gullet and fortunately things have eased up a little so I’m not as ready to commit murder as I was last week. So if any of you have dentist poems, please keep them to yourself… I get nervous even thinking about it!

Happily, however, there is a lot of very good stuff to be thinking about for July, and hopefully we’ll see some of you there. To start with on Wednesday, 9^th July there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus at least two featured writers each month. First up we have the indomitable Bernadette Cremins, a writer whose quick wit and astute use of words combine to bring us razor sharp poetry that takes no prisoners. And then we have Susan Richardson, a writer of tremendous sensitivity who is coming all the way from Wales to Loose Muse for the first time, to share some her ethereal work with us and take us to another place, another time. Finally, as a special Guest Poet all the way from Atlanta, the queen of Georgian eloquence, the wonderful Karen Head. Truly a night not to be missed. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 10^th July kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with our triple bill of feature poets in July, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work.

First we have Anjan Saha, the popular London poet who mixes his profound love of words with Asian rhythms for his first appearance at Angel Poetry. Then we have Susan Grindley, whose broad sweep of life, love and every-day emotions form the bedrock of her perceptive poetry. And finally, in case you missed her, coming all the way from Brighton, Bernadette Cremins is making a second appearance at Angel Poetry. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read. Please note there’ll be no Angel Poetry in August but the this popular event will be back in September with some truly sensational features.

And as well as hosting these events, I’m also featuring in the following two so get your diaries out.

This Sunday 6^th July I’m performing as part of the London Magazine 4-day Poetry Tent as part of the O2 Wireless Fest at Speakers Corner. Along with a some of London’s finest spoken word artists, I’ll be there on Sunday some time between 4.00 – 6.00 p.m. Apparently we’re right next to the beer tent, so it should be fairly easy to find us.

Friday 18^th July I’m featuring alongside my partners in poetic crime Ruth O’Callaghan and Rosemary Norman, at the Literature Lounge, a monthly event at the Poetry Café. Get there any time after about 7.30 p.m. for a rare evening of words and wonder.

Hope to see you at one of these events or all of them – come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : For a little while longer, if you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

Get ready for the summer holidays. Perform It, Tell It and Make It in our fabulous season of workshops.

Recommended by The Guardian and Critics Choice Time Out:

CITY OF STORIES until 31 AUGUST

How do you make nail soup? Why did George kill the dragon? What makes the mango wondrous?

Find out by visiting City of Stories, a new exhibition featuring fantastic legends, folk stories and traditional tales.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY, AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF

2008-05-27T19:51:00.000+01:00

Hi gang,

My God, there’s so much going on this month, you’re going to find it hard to fit it all in…must be something to do with the day’s getting longer, and the night’s becoming more inspirational! As well as Loose Muse and Angel Poetry, there are three other events (count them…3) I’m featuring in + a few other things I’ve added in the ‘ads’ section. So please read right through to the end – you’ll be really sorry if you don’t.

To start with on Wednesday, 11^th June there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in June will be the ultra insightful poet and artist, the ever popular Valeria Melchioretto, coming to share some of the heart-warming work from her new book. Also featuring will be the fabulous Niki Aguirre, with readings from her gripping series of short stories, and hot-off-the-press advice on how to make headway in this genre. Special Guest for June, joining us all the way from Brisbane, Australia, will be Punk Poetess extraordinaire, Stefanie Petrik, to razor everything you thought you knew about poetry and the spoken word. Not to be missed. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 12^th June kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with our triple bill of feature poets in May, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First up is the award winning poet Rosemary Norman, who recently won a leading daily newspaper’s national poetry competition, with her own brand of perceptive work. This is followed by an Aussie double –bill. Cath Drake gives us her highly evocative & sharp poetry to take you far beyond Middle England into a different Antipodean world. Cath shares the bill with Stefanie Petrik, another chance to see Brisbane’s Queen of Punk Poetry in action. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

And as well as hosting the above two events, I’m also featuring in the following three, so get your diaries out.

1. Wednesday 4^th July, a free event celebrating 7 Years of Flipped Eye Publishing (my publisher), at the Poetry Café in Covent Garden. To mark Flipped Eye’s 7^th anniversary, Nii Parkes is putting on a marathon 11 hours of free readings, discussions and book signings in the basement of the Poetry Café. Alongside a whole host of the capital’s best loved and most popular poets and writers – Niall O’Sullivan, Aoife Mannix, Jacon Sam-La Rose, and Malika Booker to name only a few – I will be sharing the stage with Inua Ellams, at 8.30 that night, in a session called ‘Generations’. Inua and I will be reading together from a selection of new works as well as a few old favourites. For a full programme contact Nii @ Flipped Eye.

2. Thursday 19^th June, I’ll be a feature at “Voices of Experience”, reading alongside Dan Maitland and Aoife Mannix. Hosted by the inimitable Heartsong, the gig will be upstairs at the Railway Tavern, next to Tulse Hill Rail Station, SE27 9BW – kick off at 8.00 - £3.00 entry.

3. Wednesday 25^th June, I’m chairing a fantastic event at the Discover centre, in Stratford, E15. This is The Great British Story Debate, featuring a panel of four eminent writers, story tellers and performers to discuss whether there really are any British stories, or have they all been borrowed from other cultures, other places. If you’re interested in stories this is an absolute must. See the flyer below for full details.

And now for a couple of ads:

i) Graham Buchan has a fabulous photo Exhibition called “Simple Gifts” throughout June, at The Hub restaurant/bar attached to The Space, 269 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs E14 3RS. Definitely worth a look as Graham is both a fantastic poet and an exceptional photographer.

ii) Tresspass magazine is about to apply for an Arts Council grant, and desperately nee more subscriptions to make their application more viable. A fabulous new magazine always on the lookout for new cutting edge stories, poems, art work, reviews, and excerpts of plays, so well worth investing in. Download a subscription form from www.trespassmagazine.co.uk or talk to Sara-Mae Tuson on 0308-400-5882.

iii) Poetry competition by Chapter One Promotions – top prizes £1,000, £500, £250 – max length 30 lines, must be unpublished, with a deadline of midnight Sunday 1^st June 2008. £5 per poem. Address – www.chapteronepromotions.com

Hope to see you at one of these events or all of them – come share the passion, share the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : For a little while longer, if you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SPRING BREAK EVENTS Monday 7 - 18 April

11.30 & 2.30pm

Make wings, bugs, bees and butterfiles. Learn carnival grooves and rhythms. Build a rocket and imagine your flying to the moon this spring break.

Recommended by The Guardian and Time Out:

CITY OF STORIES 29 MARCH - 31 AUGUST

How do you make nail soup? Why did George kill the dragon? What makes the mango wondrous?

Find out by visiting City of Stories, a new exhibition featuring fantastic legends, folk stories and traditional tales.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE & ANGEL POETRY

2008-05-08T19:49:00.000+01:00

Hi gang,

I think there’s definitely something happening out in the ether that is making everyone have to work a hundred times harder than normal, and causing horrible delays in every aspect of life, broken relationships, disturbance and mayhem. Or is that just a side-effect of getting older!!? All of this is a convoluted way of getting to the point, which is that when I arrived back in the country from my recent US tour, I hit the ground running, and have been trying to send this mail-out for the past 3 nights without absolutely no success. So here it is at last, late, but perfectly formed and a glorious banner of poetry and poets to come.

Atlanta, Austin and San Antonio were fab, and I would urge you all if you can to register for next year’s Austin International Poetry Festival, as it’s a brilliant event with hundreds of poets from all over the US, leavened by a good sprinkling of internationals to liven things up.

But before that, we have the usual bevy of poetic beauties to add May-time shine to our calendar, so why not check out the following gigs if you want to be inspired, stimulated and stirred. First, on Wednesday, May 14^th there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in May will be Adrienne Dines, international novelist coming all the way from Walton to share the pros and cons of actually getting that novel onto the page and published. Also featuring on that night will be the multi-talented Sara-Mae Tuson, who as well as being a very gifted poet is also Acting Editor of The London Magazine and Trespass, so will have a wealth of information on getting published to share. Special Guest Poet joining us all the way from Spain is Ellen Zaks, with her own brand of poetic verve and passion. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are plenty of chances for you to come read your own work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 15^th May kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. We continue with our triple bill of feature poets in May, each with their unique own way of seeing the world and sharing their work. First up is young Persian actress, performer, and now poet Maryem Hashemi, reading her own work for the first time at Angel Poetry, followed by fabulous West Country mistress of the spoken word in both English and Cornish Sue Johns, and last but not least another chance to see Ellen Zaks bring her poetry all the way from Andalucia to the Angel. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let me know you want to read.

And both Loose Muse and Angel Poetry are growing in popularity, so come along and share the passion and the joy.

And now for some adverts:

1. Inspiring Wells - 5 day poetry workshop by renowned poet Mimi Khalvati,

September 15 - 20, 2008, In the spectacular location of Nafplion, Greece.

Contact Margaret Eddershaw, sturgess@naf.forthnet.gr

2. THE LONDON MAGAZINE and TRESPASS MAGAZINE – two excellent opportunities to get your work published. First, one of the capital’s oldest poetry/literature and arts magazines, submit articles, fiction, poetry or reviews to The London Magazine for the next edition coming out later this summer with a definite Arabic flavour – deadline 1^st June Also submit to London’s newest and most colourful poetry magazine, TRESPASS – a journal with real bite and sex appeal. Contact Sara-Mae Tuson on 020-8400-5882 or e her tresspassmagazine@yahoo.co.uk for more information about both magazines.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : For a little while longer, if you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SPRING BREAK EVENTS Monday 7 - 18 April

11.30 & 2.30pm

Make wings, bugs, bees and butterfiles. Learn carnival grooves and rhythms. Build a rocket and imagine your flying to the moon this spring break.

Recommended by The Guardian and Time Out:

CITY OF STORIES 29 MARCH - 31 AUGUST

How do you make nail soup? Why did George kill the dragon? What makes the mango wondrous?

Find out by visiting City of Stories, a new exhibition featuring fantastic legends, folk stories and traditional tales.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE & ANGEL POETRY

2008-03-28T22:24:00.000Z

Hi gang,

You’re getting this mailout a little earlier than usual, because I’m going to the US at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning to be a poet for the next couple of weeks, and so I wanted to get information out before I go. This also means, of course, that I won’t be around for either April’s Loose Muse, or Angel Poetry. But both gigs are definitely happening, and will be guest hosted by two of my favourite poets. And of course, if you happen to be in either Texas or Georgia, you might like to rock up and catch me in Austin, San Antonio or Atlanta.

With spring just a hairs-breadth away (honest…despite the snow, the air smells different), why not check out the following gigs to put some warmth back in your veins. First, on Wednesday, April 9^th there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in April will be the multi-talented poet, actress and performer Aliese Kellner-Joyce bringing us a segment of her kaleidoscopic work – high octane energy and forceful words to mesmerize. Also featuring on that night the award-winning Annie Brechin who will be reading from some of her high quality poetry and sharing her views on how to get published in poetry magazines. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there’s also chances for you to come and share and explore work in the open mike readings from the floor. Guest Host for April will be the warm and wonderful Naomi Woddis, to keep you happy on the night.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 10^th April kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. March continues with the poetic treat, as we again feature three poets each having a very different style and approach to their work. Guest Host for the night is poet, entrepreneur and founder of Tall Lighthouse publishing, the inimitable Les Robinson, who will be introducing a bevy of three poets as features for the night – first up Janice Fixter followed by Drea King, and last but not least the wonder Tom Chivers,- truly a trio of multi-varied talent that has had poetry lovers awestruck all over the capital and beyond. There are also floor spots available on the night, so just turn up and let Les know you want to read.

And both Loose Muse and Angel Poetry are growing in popularity, so come along and share the passion and the joy.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : For a little while longer, if you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SPRING BREAK EVENTS Monday 7 - 18 April

11.30 & 2.30pm

Make wings, bugs, bees and butterfiles. Learn carnival grooves and rhythms. Build a rocket and imagine your flying to the moon this spring break.

Recommended by The Guardian and Time Out:

CITY OF STORIES 29 MARCH - 31 AUGUST

How do you make nail soup? Why did George kill the dragon? What makes the mango wondrous?

Find out by visiting City of Stories, a new exhibition featuring fantastic legends, folk stories and traditional tales.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE & ANGEL POETRY

2008-03-06T19:11:00.001Z

MARCH 2008

Hi gang,

At last and oh joy and rapture, I have moved back into my flat and it feels totally wonderful to be back ‘home’ again. From my window, sitting at my writing desk, I have the most brilliant view of St Paul’s Cathedral, and about a million miles of sky, which on a sunny day is just inspirational and never ceases to make me smile. I’m slowly getting out of the Cardboard City that has been my home for what seems like forever, and it’s fab to have space again instead of the cupboard that I was living in in 2007. Still have to get hooked up on broadband, so still not 100% sorted out, so it hang in there with my work e mail for a while longer.

March is a seriously cool month poetry wise, so why not get the spring in your step poetized with some of the events I’ve got lined up for Easter month.. First, on Wednesday, March 12^th there’s LOOSE MUSE at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in March is the incredibly perspicacious London writer Maggie Sullivan giving us the flavour of life as she sees it with her own powerful brand of poetry to leave you captivated and mesmirised. Also featuring, and joining us all the way from Windermere will be the multi-talented Cumbrian poet, performer, novelist and small press publisher Gill Hands. Gill will be reading from her own fabulous collections of work, as well as exploring the pro’s and con’s of co-running Wild Women Press up there in the Cumbrian wilds, and I know she has a wealth of good stuff to share with us all. The night starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there’s also chances for you to come and share and explore work in the open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 13^th March, kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. March continues with the poetic treat, as we again feature three poets each having a very different style and approach to their work. First we have poet, entrepreneur and founder of Tall Lighthouse publishing, the inimitable Les Robinson sharing some of his quietly distinctive poetry with the Angel audience again. Then, featuring for the first time at Angel Poetry, Vicky Wilson giving us a full-flavour taste of her finely-tuned and lip-smackingly well-crafted poetry to make us want second helpings of everything. And finally, sharing some of work from her first chapbook, the potent Katrice Williams, with poetry that spreads its wings from the badlands of the USA all the way to China, via Africa and back. It’s a free event that also includes an open mike …all poets welcome.

In both cases you can just sign up on the night or e me at agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk before if you want a floor spot.

And both Loose Muse and Angel Poetry are growing in popularity, so come along and share the passion and the joy.

And just to add spice to the soup, I also have a series of gigs in March, both in London and overseas, so wherever you are, why not come along and see me in action elsewhere. In date order, here’s what I’m doing:

Monday 10^TH March – 7.00 p.m. - I’m at the Troubadour, 265 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, SW5 9JA for the launch of the next edition of the capital’s oldest literary mag, the London Magazine, which has been running since 1735. I’ve got a couple of poems in this next edition so will be joining the other readers for a feast of words.

18^th March – is my birthday – no gigs, but lots of celebratory thoughts.

Thursday 20^th March – 7.00 p.m. – I’m at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, as one of the 6 poets chosen to launch the Apples & Snakes/Poetry Book Society Soundblast project, which is all about promoting poets with CD’s. The Whitechapel is at 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX. And it’s a free event, so come along and hear me strut my stuff. Red Shoes guaranteed!!!

Wednesday 26^th March– 6.30-8.00 I have a reading with fellow poets Ruth O’Callaghan and Rosemary Norman of “What Not to do About the War…” at Chelsea Library, 16 John Islip Street, SW1P 4JU. Another chance to hear the three of us perform our special collaboration, this time with music.

And then I’m in America starting off with:

Sunday 30^th March – Feature at the Java Monkey Speaks, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Monday 31^st March – Feature at the HideOut in Sixth Street, Austin, Texas, USA.

Plus a whole host of other features, readings and workshops in Austin and San Antonio Texas.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : For a little while longer, if you want to please do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

EAST MEETS EAST: 8 & 9 MARCH

As part of the Mayor's East Festival, Discover invites you to a feast of fantastic workshops, folklore, live music, dance and story telling, all with a special connection to the east end of Europe.

EASTER WEEKEND 21-24 MARCH

Make cheeky chicks, go on a hunt for Hootah's eggs and create a special hat for an Easter parade.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

LOOSE MUSE & ANGEL POETRY

2008-01-23T18:15:00.000Z

Hi gang,

I thought I’d do my mail-out a little earlier this month, as there are a few extra’s I’d like to plug for later this month, as well as what Loose Muse and Angel Poetry have to offer in February. There’s quite a lot to share, so here goes:

First, on Wednesday, February 13^th there’s LOOSE MUSE with a real humdinger of an event, at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (closest tube = Covent Garden). This is London’s only regular event for women writers of all genres, with a warm and wonderful open mike sharing session, plus two featured writers each month. Featured in February there will be Rosemary Norman, a poet of piercing observation, whose work has been widely anthologized and set for GCSE, and also filmed and toured internationally. Also featuring will be one of London’s favourites, the powerful Ruth O’Callaghan, who has been published in an avalanche of anthologies and magazines both at home and abroad, and has been translated into both Italian and Romanian – how cool is that! And, just by way of a change yours truly, Agnes Meadows, will also be reading some of her work, and sharing some of the things she has both seen and felt since becoming a poet. Ruth, Rosemary and I will also be performing a piece we’ve collaborated on entitled “What Not to do about the War…” which explores the horror, chaos and despair of conflict wherever it takes place, as well as the unexpected moments of comfort and life’s celebration against all odds.

Loose Muse starts at 8.00 p.m - £5.00/£3.00 concs. And there are also chances for you to come and share and explore work in open mike readings from the floor.

Next we have ANGEL POETRY on Thursday 14^th February, kicking off as usual at 7.00 p.m. This monthly poetry reading is at Borders Bookshop at the Angel in the N1 Centre Parkfield Street, London N1 – the shopping mall opposite Angel tube station. February features three poets with very different styles and approaches to poetry - first we have Alan Bainbridge, whose extraordinary work explores broad landscapes of emotion and literary muscle. Then we have the perceptive Josh Ekroy, with words that will both stir and inspire you with their power. And finally, featuring at Angel Poetry for the first time Lyn White, bringing us her finely honed poetry of insight and grace. It’s a free event that also includes an open mike …all poets welcome.

In both cases you can just sign up on the night or e me at agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk before if you want a floor spot.

And both Loose Muse and Angel Poetry are growing in popularity, so come along and share the passion and the joy.

And now we have the adverts!

1. SHORTHAND - A Fantastic Opportunity for your work to reach a new audience.

Apples & Snakes in conjunction with the Poetry Book Society present SHORTHAND. If you have high quality recordings of your work on CD they can now be sold on the PBS website. Please email Naomi at shorthandproject@yahoo.co.uk for more details.

2. MANNIX STREET PREACHERS – Come and see Aoife Mannix strut her stuff at The Albany in Deptford, on 25^th January. A one-off show hosted by Aoife with a line up that includes Dzifa Benson, Polar Bear, Joe Duggan, and Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee. Show starts at 8.00 p.m., tickets £7/£5. Book your tickets now via the Albany box office – 020-8692-4446.

3. THE LONDON MAGAZINE and TRESPASS MAGAZINE – two excellent opportunities to get your work published. First, one of the capital’s oldest poetry/literature and arts magazines, submit articles, fiction, poetry or reviews to The London Magazine for the February/March edition coming out on 1^st March. Deadline 16^th February. Also submit to London’s newest and most colourful poetry magazine, TRESPASS – a journal with real bite and sex appeal. Contact Sara-Mae Tuson on 020-8400-5882 or e her tresspassmagazine@yahoo.co.uk for more information about both magazines.

4. A POEM in the MOUTH: PERFORMANCE & POETRY for DIVAS – A 6-week programme run by the inimitable, the luscious, the multi-talented Queen of the Ripe Mango, Ebele herself. Ebele is looking for suitable places to run this fabulous sounding programme, suitable for schools, women’s groups, or arts spaces. Contact Ebele on Ebele@ebele.co.uk.

That’s always for this month. Hope to see you somewhere poetical very soon.

Love, always

Agnes Meadows

Host and fellow poet

PS : Again, until I’ve moved back into my old flat, and sorted out AOL once and for all, do contact me at my work e, agnes.meadows@discover.org.uk

Agnes Meadows

Development Manager

T: 020 8536 5549

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL and STORY GARDEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm during the school summer holidays.

DISCOVER's STORY TRAIL, STORY GARDEN and STORY DEN is open everyday 10am - 5pm (except for Mondays during Newham term time)

SNOW and SNUGGLES 24 November - 27 January

Visit Discover's magical winter wonderland. Find the house in the wood and snuggle up and listen to a traditional winter tale. This exhibition is for 3-6 year olds. Open at the weekend and everyday during the holidays.

Events and workshops every weekend check our website for details.

For more information about us and the facilities we provide please go to www.discover.org.uk or call us on: 020 8536 5555.

P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to