... bringing great performers into Quantock villages to give everyone the chance to hear the finest words and music on the Quantocks
ROGER McGOUGH That Awkward Age
Always on TV, BBC Radio 4 and ClassicFM. A member of the 1960s Liverpool group The Scaffold who had a Top Ten hit with Lily the Pink. Now one of Britain's favourite poets and performers, Roger is loved by all ages because of his witty and moving writing. Tickets £15/£18
Friday, 24th September 7.30pm
Cheddon Fitzpaine Village Hall
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JOHN MOLE Best-selling poet and writer of children's books as well as books for grown-ups presents an entertaining evening of his work. Tickets £12 6pm Casserole supper before the show
Sunday, 14 November 2010: Broomfield Village Hall
For more info & events join the mailing list to get the latest concert news: quantocks@live.co.uk ... 01823 451162
Monday, 2 August 2010
Support Sinead's Production
From Within
Written & Performed by Sinead Gillespie
One woman’s journey of coming to terms with her son’s autism;
one boy’s journey of coming to terms with his world.
“brave and highly personal… as educational as it is touching,
‘From Within’ left the whole audience stunned”
Three Weeks in Brighton
Friday 24 September 2010 8pm
Bridgwater Arts Centre, 11-13 Castle St, Bridgwater TA6 3DD
Tickets £8 / £7 members & concessions
Box Office: 01278 422700 Online: www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk
Written & Performed by Sinead Gillespie
One woman’s journey of coming to terms with her son’s autism;
one boy’s journey of coming to terms with his world.
“brave and highly personal… as educational as it is touching,
‘From Within’ left the whole audience stunned”
Three Weeks in Brighton
Friday 24 September 2010 8pm
Bridgwater Arts Centre, 11-13 Castle St, Bridgwater TA6 3DD
Tickets £8 / £7 members & concessions
Box Office: 01278 422700 Online: www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk
Fire River Poets in September
Continuing their series of poetry events at The Brewhouse, Fire River Poets are pleased to announce that the guest poet for their reading on 2 September at 8.00pm will be the Cornwall-based poet and National Poetry Prize winner, Caroline Carver. Chairman of Fire River Poets, John Stuart, said “Caroline is well known to poetry lovers particularly in the South West and we are more than delighted to have someone of her stature to read for us.”
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John is always at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this should contact me to book a place and for further details either on 01823 252486 or by email: wj.stuart@sky.com.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in the Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
Members of Fire River Poets will also be reading during the evening and, as John is always at pains to point out “We always provide a platform for poets of all ages and levels of experience, so there will as usual be an open mic session during the evening for any poet who would like to come along and read. Poets who would like to take advantage of this should contact me to book a place and for further details either on 01823 252486 or by email: wj.stuart@sky.com.”
The reading begins at 8.00 pm, takes place in the Studio and costs £5.00. Tickets may be purchased from the Brewhouse box office. Enquiries and bookings on 01823 283244 or info@thebrewhouse.net.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Poetry café at The Brewhouse
Poetry lovers and, in particular, poets, whether they belong to a writers’ group or not, whether they have published any poems or not, whether they write seriously or not, are invited to come along to The Brewhouse to join us in a poetry café run by Fire River Poets. Cafes are open meetings at which members of the audience are invited to read their own work and to enter into discussion and debate with the guest poet and the chairman for the evening.
These are not ‘showcase evenings’ in which audiences are expected to listen in rapt silence, but participatory evenings for poets and poetry lovers to exchange views with published poets with a view to developing more confidence in writing, a better understanding of the world of modern poetry, both in terms of approaches to writing and of the publication ‘merry-go-round’. It is also an opportunity to get to know other lovers of poetry.
The chairman of the evening, John Stuart, who is also chairman of Fire River Poets, said “The important thing about a poetry café is that it is informal, friendly and unfussy. Anybody who feels uncertain about reading their work in public will soon realise that their audience is on their side. It is a great opportunity to see what it’s like and to learn how to read your work aloud.”
The guest poet for this freewheeling evening will be the popular local poet Genista Lewes who will talk about her own experience of poetry and learning how to express her own intimate thoughts. She will answer questions and will be happy to debate issues that arise as well as sharing experiences of when and how to seek publication.
The café begins at 8.00 pm on 1st April 2010, takes place in the Studio and tickets cost £5.00 - obtainable from the Brewhouse box office (01823 283244).
These are not ‘showcase evenings’ in which audiences are expected to listen in rapt silence, but participatory evenings for poets and poetry lovers to exchange views with published poets with a view to developing more confidence in writing, a better understanding of the world of modern poetry, both in terms of approaches to writing and of the publication ‘merry-go-round’. It is also an opportunity to get to know other lovers of poetry.
The chairman of the evening, John Stuart, who is also chairman of Fire River Poets, said “The important thing about a poetry café is that it is informal, friendly and unfussy. Anybody who feels uncertain about reading their work in public will soon realise that their audience is on their side. It is a great opportunity to see what it’s like and to learn how to read your work aloud.”
The guest poet for this freewheeling evening will be the popular local poet Genista Lewes who will talk about her own experience of poetry and learning how to express her own intimate thoughts. She will answer questions and will be happy to debate issues that arise as well as sharing experiences of when and how to seek publication.
The café begins at 8.00 pm on 1st April 2010, takes place in the Studio and tickets cost £5.00 - obtainable from the Brewhouse box office (01823 283244).
Monday, 9 November 2009
Heroes
HERO
Thinking about who my hero would be I realise that it is not any one man or woman. There came a time in my life when I became aware that all was not right with the world. I think that time was watching the News showing coffins of the American soldiers being laid out on the tarmac, during the Vietnam War.
I learned from Jean Jacques Rousseau that “Man is born free yet everywhere he is in chains”
I learned from Maya Angelou that it is possible to be gracious and forgiving and tolerant in the face of adversity and great hardship.
And I learned from an old friend Dennis Birch who died a few years ago a great piece of advice when he told me-
“I keep holding out the hand of friendship and it’s up to the person if they want to take it”
Who would have thought that in my lifetime I would have seen the Berlin Wall come down, the Twin Towers raised to the ground and the self sacrificing act of the rescue workers AND a black President in the White house, in one of the more prejudiced countries in the world.
So my Heroes are the ordinary men and women who become EXTRA ordinary bringing about changes and working tirelessly for the future to change the things that are wrong.
Thinking about who my hero would be I realise that it is not any one man or woman. There came a time in my life when I became aware that all was not right with the world. I think that time was watching the News showing coffins of the American soldiers being laid out on the tarmac, during the Vietnam War.
I learned from Jean Jacques Rousseau that “Man is born free yet everywhere he is in chains”
I learned from Maya Angelou that it is possible to be gracious and forgiving and tolerant in the face of adversity and great hardship.
And I learned from an old friend Dennis Birch who died a few years ago a great piece of advice when he told me-
“I keep holding out the hand of friendship and it’s up to the person if they want to take it”
Who would have thought that in my lifetime I would have seen the Berlin Wall come down, the Twin Towers raised to the ground and the self sacrificing act of the rescue workers AND a black President in the White house, in one of the more prejudiced countries in the world.
So my Heroes are the ordinary men and women who become EXTRA ordinary bringing about changes and working tirelessly for the future to change the things that are wrong.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Invitation
I’ll let the tide come to me
wrinkling its skin and curling up
the beach with its whispering voice
giving me a tongue lashing with it’s
thirst quenching, gut wrenching bulk
pushing up pebbles and flotsam and sand
looting the lugworms burrows with salty liquor
shouting move back - move back - make way
covering the dips and hummocks of the shore
making it flat once more, kicking down castles
and moats, providing a mooring for boats and
fishermen’s floats, I’ll let the tide come to me
licking and creeping to my toes and I’ll let
its nose sniff me out like a dog wanting its tea
I’ll let the tide come to me while I sit ashore
watching and wanting the water to wash
like a brimful of hope from an ancient sea
cleansing and healing the devil in me
I’ll let the tide come to me
wrinkling its skin and curling up
the beach with its whispering voice
giving me a tongue lashing with it’s
thirst quenching, gut wrenching bulk
pushing up pebbles and flotsam and sand
looting the lugworms burrows with salty liquor
shouting move back - move back - make way
covering the dips and hummocks of the shore
making it flat once more, kicking down castles
and moats, providing a mooring for boats and
fishermen’s floats, I’ll let the tide come to me
licking and creeping to my toes and I’ll let
its nose sniff me out like a dog wanting its tea
I’ll let the tide come to me while I sit ashore
watching and wanting the water to wash
like a brimful of hope from an ancient sea
cleansing and healing the devil in me
I’ll let the tide come to me
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
After your day of fishing
as we danced you told me
about your day, the breakfast
the people and the sausages
we waltzed on the carpet
hands held then you twirled me
about you, the tv on but we talked
and I could smell the scent of lake
and catch on your cheek
as we danced in the living room
you kissed me on my cheek
told me you loved me more
our end to the day was complete
with you dancing the minutes
knitting it back together
with hands and feet and lips
about your day, the breakfast
the people and the sausages
we waltzed on the carpet
hands held then you twirled me
about you, the tv on but we talked
and I could smell the scent of lake
and catch on your cheek
as we danced in the living room
you kissed me on my cheek
told me you loved me more
our end to the day was complete
with you dancing the minutes
knitting it back together
with hands and feet and lips
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