Tea and Cakes with Oscar Wilde

Victoria Clarke writes:

Speaking in front of a full house at the New Headingley Club, amateur local historian Geoff Dibb discussed the thirty years worth of research on the life and lectures of Victorian literary legend Oscar Wilde.

Hailing from a wealthy family in Ireland, Wilde was born in 1854 and was well educated, eventually moving to Oxford to study Classics at Magdalen College - where he also began his creative and journalistic writing practices. Following his first class graduation, he moved to London with a friend to work on his poetry. In 1882 he embarked upon a tour of America, giving lectures on art and literature, extending this lecture series to Great Britain and Ireland from 1883-4, during which time he met and married Constance Lloyd. Over the next decade his two sons were born, he commenced his doomed relationship with the Lord Alfred Douglas, and he built a strong reputation as a respected journalist and playwright, in addition to publishing his only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. The following year he unsuccessfully fought a lawsuit from Lord Alfred Douglas’ father and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for ‘gross indecency’. Following his release in 1887, Wilde exiled himself to France and died destitute in Paris in 1900.

It is Wilde’s 1880s lecture series that Dibb became interested in. Having read several biographies of Wilde, he noticed an emphasis on the peak of his writing career in the early 1890s, with little information on the background informing it. Having noticed in one of these biographies a letter from Wilde, informing the reader of his stay at the Great Northern Railway Hotel, Leeds, dated December 1884, accounting his lecture on rational dress for women at the Albert Hall, Wakefield, native Dibb was intrigued. He journeyed to the Leeds City Library to research some contemporary newspapers, finding advertisements and reviews of these lectures. It was through his library research that Dibb was also able to bridge the historical gaps in the names of these Wildean Leeds landmarks - the Great Northern Railway Hotel being situated on Wellington Street next to the old train station, and the Albert Hall having since been incorporated into the Leeds City Museum.

Dibb recalls that it was at this point that he began to suspect that his library research was generating new information. He began to travel around West Yorkshire in search of records of other lectures, and it was at this point that Dibb’s suspicions about his work were confirmed. He was delighted to reminisce to the audience his being contacted with an American academic working on an Encyclopaedia of Oscar Wilde, to which Dibb contributed an entry on the 1883 lectures. Dibb found that these lectures spanned a variety of topics, and were performed twice per day, seven days a week, but mostly followed the themes of art, socialism, and proto-feminism.

A lively Q&A session followed the lecture, with audience members’ interests varying from contemporary gossip, with, “what do you know about the Whistler/Wilde rivalry?” to the technological advancements of our own age, with “would he be on Twitter?” The informative and entertaining session would not have been complete without the occasional recitation of Wildean aphorisms, to which the audience responded with great enthusiasm.

Geoff Dibb’s book on the Wilde lectures, Oscar Wilde: Vagabond with a Mission is available for purchase now. A more detailed biography of Wilde’s life is freely available online.

Thanks to Victoria Clarke, who stepped in to blog our Oscar Wilde event at the last minute.  She writes her own blog, on the food in Tolkien - shame she wasn't at our Beowulf and the Hobbit event last Wednesday! There's a recipe for Lembas too.

http://dinnerwithdragons.blogspot.co.uk/

Audience comments:

Really interesting. Quite a fun speaker. I didn’t know anything about Oscar Wilde (thought I did). It must have been exciting to keep finding the papers as he did.

A good event, Literature, Laughter and Cake! Thank you, good value on every level. A most knowledgeable speaker, a clear presentation, friendly. Venue well organised by Volunteers.

A very satisfying event – very knowledgeable and passionate talk by Geoff – the questions from the floor were very well answered. Tea, cakes and venue all very good. Thank you!

Interesting, author knew his topic very well and spoke fluently without too any note.

A very enjoyable afternoon. The room and presentation were very well organised.

Excellent speaker – so good to hear an expert who isn’t an academic! Delicious cake too: thank you.

Geoff didn’t have a very good voice. A little slow and too local. He needs to work on his delivery and countenance. This would have been better presented by somebody more eloquent and outré. Disappointing that he seemed to concentrate on his work (Wilde) whereas the man himself is far more interesting. Wilde was a v. flamboyant character. However things did improve and Geoff certainly knew his facts. A little too much concentration on Leeds – Wilde was larger than that. Overall did very well. His book is a worthy one.

Geoff Dibb gave a really interesting lecture on what could have been a very dry subject. I was very impressed.

Thoroughly enjoyable; wonderful audience participation and comment. Excellent.

Brilliant – what a crowd! Geoff v. good and tea and cake an excellent idea for this kind of event.

Most interesting – humorous and informative – Wilde would have enjoyed it!

Brilliant, a thoroughly enjoyable event, interesting, thought provoking.

Very enjoyable talk, interesting and well presented. Good format. Lovely cakes.

Great event in conjunction with the Leeds Salon. Geoff was a great speaker and the event was thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you!

Very enjoyable meeting. Excellent speaker. Well organised (once it got started!). Wish I’d known about the rest of the festival.

Witty, entertaining and extremely well delivered with great insight and humour. Good mix of delivery and audience participation (Q&A).

Informative amusing talk bringing local history alive.

Brilliant – well informed and easeful manner made the talk exceptionally entertaining. Thank you.

Entertaining, broad, Leeds focused which intrigued me and highly informative re Wilde’s personal views and background.

Excellent talk and discussion. Tremendous expertise, nice cake too!

Really like the salon format. V. engaging speaker.

Good cake – interesting talk.

Very interesting. Well done!

Very interesting and informative.

Highly informative and interesting.

Entertaining and well run.

Very entertaining

Brilliant

Great

'Outside In' at the Heart Centre

Peter Spafford
www.peterspafford.co.uk

Laura Cummins writes: Compère Peter Spafford last night treated the audience at Headingley’s Heart Centre to a vast array of talents and styles, resulting in a wonderful evening of poetic music and musical poetry. The young performers onstage each kept the packed room enthralled with their masterful emotional expression. From band Kumiko’s song addressed to Sylvia Plath, to the beauty of the everyday in Lizzi Hawkins’s poems, each act brought something individual and beguiling to the audience, be it a poem or an Irish reel. Here’s to next year’s edition

Kumiko

Ethan and Owen  'Not the North'

Fuzzy Jones and Jonny Flockton          
http://fuzzyjonesmusic.com

Mabh Savage
www.mabhsavage.webs.com

Jamal Gerard

Jaimes Lewis Moran
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8EcRksqISQ

Lizzi Hawkins
https://readersphere.wordpress.com/tag/leeds/

Audience comments

Poetry at Leeds City Academy

Lemn Sissay                                              Photos:  Richard Wilcocks

Sally Bavage writes:
Friday 20 March was a day for stargazing – first at the glimpses of the eclipse that the cloudy Leeds skies allowed and then at a series of poets, amateur and professional, that brought the stars out.

Head of English Mike Nelson started us off with his inner poet, a journey from stammer to grammar as his shy lack of confidence growing up, when he spoke too slowly to order fast food. 

The first two ‘halves’ of the evening were a delightful procession of two dozen young poets, including three guests from Ralph Thoresby school and Kirann, a former pupil at what was City of Leeds who came back to sing his original lyrics.  Michelle Scally Clarke, our poet/coach, also sang her own words. The poets were introduced by student hosts Antonio, Hajar and Sarra.

Christella

Michelle Scally Clarke

We had poems, monologues and songs that ranged widely over journeys to a strange land (England), growing up, difference, bullying, dreams, confessions and advice.  We had a potent mix of talent and tears, attitude and nerves, vulnerability and confidence, perception and insight, wit and pathos, delivered in words, lyrics, duets and duos.  What more could a poetry slam offer?

Well, we had a star performance by Lemn Sissay, internationally-renowned poet, fresh from his masterclass at Lawnswood School, to give us the third ‘half’.  He gave us an insight into the “voice at the back of his mind”, a view of the value of observation in poetry. He mused on why those from Yorkshire and Kashmir, for example, feel themselves different – they see the same landscapes, they drink gallons of the same tea!  Poetry is all around us; in songs, religious books, advertisements.  We should use it to form “a bridge between the physical and the spiritual.”  

He read us some of his own poetry - some published, some new - with such panache and élan, that not only did his words echo afterwards in our minds (like the echo-location of a stranded whale on a Thames beach at Greenwich? – you’d have to have been there) but the uncompromising message behind the words.  Poetry is in all of us, it is for all of us, it is part of what makes us who we are. 

Thanks to Leeds City Academy for hosting the event, musicians Stella Litras and Carl Robinson who supported the young poets, Michelle Scally Clarke for her work with the young people and, of course, to Lemn Sissay himself for a fitting finale. Thanks of course to our young poets: Amber, Aamina, Aleema, Antonio, Areej,  Courtney, Donatella, Fayruze, Hajar, Jawara, Jeraldo, Kirann, Mama, Muzzy, Nida, Nikkayla, Sarra, Simon.

Audience comments:

Amazing innovative event! Inspiring youth! Congrats. ‘Cold room’. Would prefer a raised seating etc!!.go online for soundbytes should tweet the talent – ‘ yng p compaire’ – great youth inspiration.

I love it. The young people were very confident showed that really enjoyed what they were doing. Most importantly they were very supportive of each other. It was their time to ‘shine’. Lemn Sisssay was very interesting entertaining and engaging.

It was really good. I enjoyed all the poems.

A fantastic effort. City of Leeds students performed with conviction and passion. Lemn Sissay was amazing.

What an extraordinary evening – great to hear talented students and loved the wonderful exuberant Lemn Sissay

Great to hear young diverse voices of LS6 and absolutely fabulous performer and raconteur Lemn Sissay! X

Great to see so many young people inspired into creating and performing poems and songs.

Inspirational. A wealth of young talent, thoroughly thought provoking. Through the course of this evening I have felt the whole repertoire of emotions.

I really thought the youth poetry slam was amazing! Such potential and courage.

Brilliant young people. Amazing evening.

Great, really proud of the students!

Fab talent, very well put together. Enjoyed students’ poetry and singing.  Lemn Sissay was very giggleworthy

Very good!

First half – excellent, amazing kids. Shame Lemn Sissay didn’t hear all of them. Would have welcomed a cup of tea/coffee in the interval. Printed copies of the students’ work (£1 each for school funds?) would have been great. Loved Lemn’s poetry – could have had more structure to the presentation.

Pupils’ poems and performance were wonderful, it’s a shame the audience wasn’t bigger. Would have been nice to have some coffee in the break. Photocopied sheets of the poems for sale would have been an idea – I’d have bought one. 2nd half very good. However I think the event could have been more structured, sometimes it was difficult to hear the words – music overpowering.

Childrens’ readings: accompanying music was at too high a volume; hard to hear all the words over the music. Performances: very good, brilliant MC.  Lemn Sissay: excellent as usual and inspirational. Venue: no heating in the hall – it was cold, which doesn’t make it easy for the audience; told the organizers at 6pm but they didn’t put the heating on.  

Lemn Sissay at Lawnswood

                    Photos: Richard Wilcocks

Richard Wilcocks writes:
Pinned and Blu-tacked on walls everywhere in Lawnswood School were elaborate posters anticipating the arrival of Lemn Sissay. He might not be your actual Messiah - he would find a loud laugh in that - but the idea could have flitted through your mind if you had seen the faces or heard the excitement of the lucky fifty from all years who were able to fill the drama studio, which had been carefully prepared for the visit of the international poetry maestro. He did not disappoint. Understatements are a good way to curb excessive, repetitive praising or too much gush, but believe me it is difficult to use any whilst reviewing this performance, and I am backed up on this by the comments of the audience.

With Head of English Amanda Stevenson

 "I don't know how this gig got past my agent," he joked. "I don't do many schools." If that is true, it's a pity, because schools need people like him, desperately, afflicted as they are by the policies of those in power who regard the Arts as optional extras in the educational establishments used by the majority of our young people. Private schools appear to think otherwise. "The Arts" (a singular entity for him, with a capital A) "is central to who we are. It's not something crazy or just messing about."

 "We artists think non-linearly... consider all the great scriptures of the world, the Bible, the Quran, Buddhist texts, the stories, the pictures, the sculptures... the use of the Arts as communication." He called attention to a fact that should be obvious but isn't to some - that the Arts can form the basis of a career, stimulate the economy, in other words it is essential to society.

Then his proselytising beam was turned on to poetry, "the voice at the back of the mind... that's where the real conversation of me is... it's where I really am... I've always written poetry, even when I was inside my mother's womb." He elaborated on this last claim at length, to the audience's delight. Humour gets it across most times, as every good teacher knows. He used it frequently: "I'm an MBE...  Mancunian Black Ethnic... poetry is all around us, like on gravestones, but some of it could be edited... I once took a chisel into a graveyard and improved on some of what I found... when I was a child I was thought to be the Devil's spawn... I didn't know another black person until I was eighteen." He briefly snarled and foamed like a possessed character in a horror film. He apologised for possibly hitting some of the front row with spittle. He jumped about like a strange creature from a cartoon. He came back to his childhood, his formative years.

From Lancashire, but also from Ethiopia and Eritrea, he was adopted by strict (white) Baptists, after his mother, who thought she was putting him up for temporary fostering, was misled by a social worker. He was named Norman. A tiny tremor of disgust passed through him as he told us this. "They had to give me the documents when I was eighteen. I found my true name. Lemn means 'Why' in Ethiopian. It's unusual. I was twenty-one when I found my mum...  and I soon found all my other relatives and of course they're all over the place and some of them don't speak to each other. In other words I've now got a family just like everyone else's. Disfunctional!" We were reminded of all the fictional characters who were fostered, like Harry Potter.

He moved to racism and stereotyping, about the people he meets who think he's an expert on rhinos because he's African, or who want to touch his hair, or who ask him if he's got any Rizlas. He mentioned that the earliest human bones were dug up in Ethiopia not that long ago. "She is known as Lucy. This means that we are all immigrants!"

"You've got to be present inside your poem," he said, and gave us two of his own, every syllable treated as valuable - Suitcases in Muddy Parks and Invisible Kisses. "I have performed Invisible Kisses around the world at weddings. It's a poem to tattoo on the head of your loved one, on the forehead, when they're asleep. Backwards, so it can be read in the mirror when they wake up."

Lemn is currently writing a new comedy for BBC TV.

Listen to Adventure Flight, his poem commissioned by the Football Association.

Audience comments:

I really enjoyed this and he made me think about all the things we often aren't allowed or given time to think about. Thankyou.

Really interesting. The poetry readings were maybe the best or just the comedic side.

His energy and stage presence!

I thoroughly enjoyed the full event and the reading of Invisible Kisses was beautiful. I'm very glad to have had this opportunity.

His energy on stage was great. His life story was enjoyable and his inspirational wisdom.

Hearing his views on how art is such an important part of our lives was the best thing - and that whatever you do as a career you can still be a poet or an artist.

I enjoyed it. I most enjoyed the poetry reading.

He was entertaining. Very funny.

He was very funny and had great presence on stage.

The best part was about his life and how he read, and how he accepted any questions.

Was amazing (emoticon) - truly inspiring. Thankyou so much!

I enjoyed the event. Very educational.

His poems were exhilarating and inspiring!

I enjoyed the 'open' feel of it. It wasn't scripted or scheduled.

I love how he was so himself whilst he was performing and everything he said captivated me.

I really enjoyed it, it was better than I expected. He was funny and captivating and I have definitely learnt a lot.

It was inspirational the way he loves what he does. I just wish there was more time. It was amazing.

Entertaining, engaging, inspiring. Each and every student will take away some of these wise words and remember them forever. (Teacher)

I enjoyed the way it seemed he was directly speaking his thoughts as they came. The side-tracking made it feel unrehearsed and showed his passion for what he was saying.

Art/The Arts is the most powerful thing within us.

Lemn was a very original speaker, inspiring us all to write poems from our hearts.

I enjoyed hearing about his past life and about the experiences he has gone through. Made him seem like a real person. (emoticon)

Inspirational and honest work.

His life story was inspirational.

The whole experience was incredible. Lemn really encouraged me to follow my dream of a career in the arts.

I found the emotional things about his childhood the best. I felt the emotion from my past and childhood. It was touching.

I really enjoyed it and I think he was really good.

I found that this was quite intriguing.

I really liked this event because Lemn's speech was very moving and inspirational. It made me feel like I could take my career interests seriously. He was also very funny and entertaining. I liked his poetry because it was very meaningful and provided wonderful imagery.

'My Time Has Come' - Alison Taft's new novel

 Alison Taft with James Nash                            Photos: Richard Wilcocks

Sustenance for the audience

Audience comments:

Brilliant – but then I am her mother!

I enjoyed this evening very much. It’s inspiring and uplifting to listen to Alison talk about her own writing process and feelings about her work. I enjoyed James’s questions and their rapport and feel refreshed for the experience. Thank you.

Really good event. Very relaxed. Alison very open and honest about her writing, the process of writing and being published. Very interesting to find out more of the background to her books as well.

Well organised and relaxed event. Well attended. Pleased that book sales were not pushed to the forefront. Enjoyable, honest conversation between Alison Taft and James Nash - answering intelligent, searching questions.

Great to hear a reading of a novel-in-progress. Relaxed conversation making very interesting insight to the writing process.

Good to hear a writer talking about the process of writing – engaging and inspirational.

Interesting interview. Alison came over very naturally. Enjoyed her reading. Look forward to the finished book!

A fluent presentation and interesting information on her process of writing. Will read one of her books now. It would have helped if the interviewer had also been standing as he was difficult to hear and see.

An interesting conversation between friends. The venue was rather crowded and it was difficult to hear everything. The tone was intimate and warm – a smaller venue might have been better – or the chairs arranged in a semi-circle? Glad I came.

Really enjoyed Alison talking about her own writing in relation to both her novels and on a wider scale. She teaches me creative writing at the Heart centre, so it’s nice to hear her discuss her own work great nibbles and wine! - added bonus!!

Good balance between interview, reading and QandA. The reading really whet our appetite. Lovely to see a full room too.

Brilliant! The questions and answers weren’t too cliché and offered insight. Relaxed atmosphere. Cheers!

Very interesting ‘Q and A’, especially being able to ask Alison our own questions. Also a good reading.

Very interesting event well presented by both Alison and James. Venue excellent, a really enjoyable evening.

Very pleasant and well-arranged event – most interesting to hear an author read her own work. Thank you.

Very interesting talk and I learnt a lot about the writing process.

Really interesting, lovely to hear part of Alison’s new book.

Enjoyable evening; could hear every word. Authoress well inteviewed by Nashie. Poor visibility back in the 1/9s.

Found it very interesting as to what impels Alison to write.

Enyoyed hearing about the creative process and a book reading. (Not to mention the wine!)

Committed to her work. Enthusiastic.

Very good and funny author. Very good interview by James Nash as well.

Fascinating evening. I need to read the book now.

Enlightening, interesting and entertaining.

A great evening. Thought provoking and entertaining.

Really enjoyed the evening, very interesting to listen to.

Interesting and informative event. Well organised.

Very inspiring and enjoyed.

Great, Ali was great, really good talk.

Very interesting and entertaining. Thank you.

A very enjoyable event.

Brudenell Poetry Assembly

The battered trumpet                                       Photo: Kevin Hickson

Sheila Chapman writes:

Don’t ever throw away battered and broken things. They might clutter up your house but they can also fire imaginations and inspire marvellous poetry. That’s what happened at Brudenell primary school today when Year 5 children set to work writing about an old trumpet (pictured).

They loved that trumpet, they thought about it, they used their senses and then they stood up in front of us - an audience of over sixty people - and read us poems about it. Brilliant!

Here are some snippets:

Left old in an antique, murky fire,

An iron letting out emotions like steam,

Volcano erupting,

Steamy slushing in a lions heart,

It looks like a plunger,

A rain cloud growing brighter,

Tastes like moondust,

Fallen from high in the lightening sky,

Metal birds singing,

Whisked from the air.

Lifeless trumpet,

Crushed and mushed,

The soul back for revenge,

Bringing armies and death,

It seems like judgement day.

Tasting copper,

If only it could do magic,

It could play whenever it wanted to.

Dragon shouting,

Tornado storm,

The broken trumpet.

A wrinkly old man,

Wheezing,

Treasured music

Crushed by a big foot.

Feels like emotions of a broken heart.

Shaped like an ice cream cone,

Sound of blowing noses,

Old and dusty like an old oil factory,

A broken car engine,

Demolished and dent,

Flowing lava flood,

The hidden secrets,

A cracked core,

A grumpy man,

A volcano erupting,

Burns people with his loud voice,

It smells like frozen oil,

Tastes like a metal nail cutter,

The dragon screaming,

Oily sniper rifle,

It feels like judgement day.

The trumpet looks like a telescope,

It smells like money,

She turned into a man,

With coin bones all over his body.

Metal, steel, shocking,

Patterns of roses of life.

It’s old and rare,

Like a tarnished rifle bullet,

Sounds of a trumpeting elephant.

Hard like a Lamborghini,

Tastes like metal chocolate,

Smells of garbage.

If it was a person,

It would be my granddad,

He doesn’t care how he looks,

He looks battered and old,

A rocket launcher,

About to launch in my eyes.

1. Comments from staff

Wonderful sessions. Children engaged throughout. Really enjoyed it :)) Yr. 5 form teacher

Really fired the imagination of many Yr5 pupils and helped produce some wonderful poetry. Yr. 5 classroom assistant

A wonderful programme of poetry studies that really opened up a creative site to many students Yr. 5 classroom assistant

Great to see the hard work the children had put in. James is clearly an inspiration! Thanks and see you next year. Teacher at Brudenell primary school

2. Selected comments from the children - in response to four questions: What has been the best thing about this project? What have you learnt? Why is it good to share your work with other children in school? What will you remember about this project?

What has been the best thing about this project?

The best thing about this project, for me, was when we wrote our first draft.

Writing the poems and giving ideas to people

Writing the poems.

Talking about the trumpet.

When you was showing us the things on your first day like the boxing gloves and that dance book.

Looking at the trumpet.

Getting some good ideas

The trumpet has been the best bit and the poems.

It is when we read our poems to the audience.

We got to write our poems using 5 senses.

When we were writing the poem

What have you learnt?

I have learnt to write a proper poem.

 I have learnt that you put the poem in ideas, and then you write the poem in bits.

I learned to make a poem.

That poems don’t have to rhyme

I have learnt how to describe in poems and know how to write and make poems.

How many lines are in one verse in a poem.

I have learned how to make an amazing poem.

To do the poems and do the story about the trumpet.

I have learnt new words and I think my imagination has grown.

 I have learnt to describe something.

I’ve learnt using 5 senses you can write something nice.

Lots of things about trumpet and reading

My best thing was when we wrote our poems you guys helped us.

Why is it good to share your work with other children in school?

Our confidence grows when stand in front of an audience.

Because it could give them ideas if they’re stuck.

It makes me proud.

To get ideas to people.

Because we can learn from each other and make it better.

It is good to share your work with other people in the school because everyone can see your fantastic ideas and your confidence will grow.

People might enjoy my poems.

It is good to share your work so that people can learn more.

Because they can take some information and write them in their books.

To have good feedback

To show how fun it is

It is good to share with other children so that they get to know what we are learning about.

So then you will not be scared and you will overcome your fear.

What will you remember about this project?

It is fun.

Five senses. The trumpet.

I will remember the trumpet. Whenever I see a trumpet I will remember your trumpet.

Looking at the trumpet

We got a little mystery with James Nash.

That you have taught me a lot of things about poems and trumpet

I will remember all the audience clapping and Rachel and Mr James Nash saying lovely comments about me.

I will remember everything I did with Nash.

I will remember I was the first one to touch the trumpet.

I would remember the poem that we wrote and the trumpet.

I will remember about the boxing gloves and I will remember about the people clapping.