The Dragon Who Hates Poetry

Dominic Berry with poetry lovers  Photo: Carol Downing

Carol Downing writes:
‘Tremble at my name says the fiend of fire and flame.’

The story of the dragon who hates poetry by Dominic Berry was a lively and energetic performance in the Meanwood Institute, full of energy, jokes and action, with plenty of audience participation, including the audience helping to write a poem about the dragon to make him look good.

Rhyming Rick, the hero, sets out to convince the poetry-hating dragon, who is terrifying the land, that poetry is really cool.  The dragon, however, flies up above Rick’s head and burns all the clothes on Rick’s washing line.  He then threatens to eat him alive!  Rick is so scared he asks the dragon to be kind and not to eat him.  Suzy Sue, a Farmer, suggests writing a poem about all the fantastic things a dragon can do to make him look good.  Rick is not sure but everyone in the village persuades Rick to do this. So with help from the audience -

‘Dragons are fantastic

Dragons are great

I’d love a Dragon

As my mate’.

In the end Rick manages to win the dragon over, and he and the dragon become best friends, writing poems together, and even winning poetry competitions!

'Threshold' at Café Lento

Laura Cummins writes:

Peter Spafford and Richard Ormrod               Photo: Richard Wilcocks

The cosy and atmospheric Café Lento played host to the eclectic ‘Threshold’ last night, put on by the multi-talented Peter Spafford and Richard Ormrod. There was a perfectly-blended mixture of spoken word, beautiful music, and surrealism on offer, all fitted around the theme of hospitality and our shared experiences of the kindness of particular strangers. Highlights included modern re-imaginings of everything from Schubert’s Winterreise to sixteenth-century Chinese poetry, and an exploration of the possible outcries of Chagall’s mother. A fantastically funny evening - so much so the woman next to me spat out her wine at one point - with some beautiful musical moments.

Richard Wilcocks adds:
One of the many things which sticks in my mind from last night is Peter Spafford's very personal, almost confessorial storytelling, backed by notes and chords from the extraordinary Richard Ormrod, for example the one about when he was offered a bed for the night by strangers when he was stuck with his car in impassable snow.

Audience feedback:

Excellent. Really good mix of music and words - old and new. Warm, friendly atmosphere. (James Fernie)

Excellent and intriguing mix of beautifully delivered entertainment. Thought provoking and delightful at the same time. (Marion Purchon)

Brilliant evening! Wunderschönes Abend mit sehr interessantem Publikum und außergewöhnlichen Interpreten, die mit ihrer Liebe zur Musik und Literatur die Menschen in ihre Welt holen...  (Lisa)

Eclectic - harmonied genres/range of instruments. I love the material. Brilliant, as ever. (Murray)

Two talented, creative and imaginative artists... enjoyable and challenging. (Gail McIntyre)

Nice comfortable relaxing evening, good company, atmosphere. Lovely to listen to very creative talented musicians who are very humble and hospitable! (Maria)

Enjoyable and wonderful to hear original work. (Ruth Wynne)

A marvellous evening's entertainment. Excellent music and a great atmosphere. (Bill Fitzsimmons)

Brilliant atmosphere and mix of people. Great format for the event. More please. (Dick Downing)

Lovely atmosphere - intimate setting made it a very friendly audience. Storytelling was wonderful. (Laura)

Interesting mixture of sources and ideas, and an impressive array of instruments played. Made me both want to go travelling and to come home - and to offer hospitality to strangers. (Nicolette Jones)

Enjoyed the music as well as the stories. (Gaby Jones)

Unusual, tuneful, thought-provoking, funny... great storytelling through both media, words and music. (Jane Oakshott)

Lettice Cooper's Leeds novels

Kate Baldwin writes

Janet Douglas   Photo: Kate Baldwin

Janet Douglas thoroughly engaged the audience last night at Headingley Library with her talk on Lettice Cooper, a rather forgotten name of the twentieth century. Tales of her upbringing, her activities throughout her life and even her friendship with Orwell’s wife really painted a wonderful picture of a dynamic woman with a keen interest in society (as well as a particularly keen interest in men, infer from that what you will!), an interest very much apparent in her novels. 

After regaling us with such tales as her writing reviews for the Yorkshire Post for thirty years, Janet then went on to discuss Lettice’s (we decided we felt familiar enough to call her Lettice) novels, in particular National Provincial and The New House: the only one still in print.

Through Janet’s brilliant summaries of the plots, tactfully avoiding spoilers, we discovered the charm of Lettice Cooper’s writing, especially for those living in Leeds. Although not born in the glorious city, she was brought up there and it had a special place in her heart featuring in many of her novels, not so inconspicuously with the pseudonym ‘Aire’. For a Leeds native, part of the joy of reading National Provincial would be to recognise the familiar streets and areas, all ‘disguised’ with aliases, and to imagine very clearly the backdrop for the story. Another interesting point Janet focused on was the historical accuracy of Lettice’s writing, with her stories reflecting real events such as a strike at Burton’s factory in the sixties.

The link with Leeds was enjoyed by everyone in the audience and sparked conversation in the question and answer section, with people chipping in with their own stories and comments, creating a lovely atmosphere full of communal love for a city inspired by the words of Lettice Cooper (via the brilliant Janet Douglas) and possibly the free wine! All in all, a wonderful evening.           

Some audience feedback:

Janet Douglas – lovely, entertaining speaker. Loves her subject. Really interesting. Thank you. L

 Really very interesting to hear the life and times of Leeds. I must read the books. Lovely presentation, Janet. M

Very accomplished introduction to Lettice Cooper and has inspired me to read more of her works – particularly National Provincial. Her contribution to Leeds needs to be more recognised – perhaps R

It’s interesting to learn about a writer from your own locality. I will possibly try reading her novels. T

Interesting, relevant, lively. J

Very interesting. I enjoyed it very much. K

Irish Day on Sunday

Laugh! Sunday is Irish Day at New Headingley Club - mentioned here - http://leeds-list.com/out-and-about/whats-on-this-weekend-in-leeds … …

There's a kind of comedy about Samuel Beckett too. It might surprise you. Don't miss the brilliant Dave Robertson in Krapp's Last Tape.

'The Battle of Atwa' by Lemn Sissay

Hear this poem performed by ‪#‎LemnSissay‬ on the anniversary of the crucial Battle of ‪#‎Atwa‬  Have you booked tickets for him yet on Friday 20 March?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL9pN3DCrbU

Their imaginations are Something Else

Sheila Chapman writes:

Poet James Nash with teachers Adrienne Amos and Gemma Midwood

The Year 6 children at Ireland Wood Primary School wrote poems full of passion and imagination about their families, feelings, laughter and love.

They wrote with real skill and read their poems clearly and confidently. As one parent said they found the experience uplifting and emotional and another thought the poetry was emotionally deep and creative.

Here are a few snippets -

Memories meander back to me

From poems about mothers

...like beautiful sunshine

...like a diamond in my heart

...feels like a teddy bear you wish you could keep forever

... like a soft cuddly cushion

From poems about the world and life

... life is my pulse ticking like a clock

.. the earth smells like fresh vanilla ice cream

... the smell of factories and maybe the taste of smoke

From poems about families

... my family is an art gallery

... like birds chirping love

... blasting out with laughter in front of the tele

... like a jigsaw puzzle

... endless trust

... my pumping heart, a robin singing the whole time

From poems about love, feelings and laughter

... like warm powerful music

... like an orchestra playing different tunes

... like the sounds of the xylophone

... like the bursting sweet sensation of fruit

Gemma Midwood the English Leader in the school said

Great to hear and see the children share their writing with confidence and pride. They have obviously been inspired by James, consequently writing emotively and with enthusiasm.

Adrienne Amos the form teacher said

Again, an amazing experience for our children. I have seen their poems develop from good poems to fantastic poems. Such a treat!