Mark Graham - fantastic raconteur

Mark Graham with beard and book  Photo: Laura Cummins

Laura Cummins writes:
Mark Graham, described in the LitFest programme as ‘Conker Champion of Ireland, All-Ireland Bucket-Singing Champion and the sixth-best bog snorkeler in Ireland’, last night also proved his credentials as a fantastic raconteur. 

His successful attempt to go to three festivals a week in Ireland for a year has furnished him with some of funniest stories you will ever hear, as well as an ability to share his deeper insights into the madness of Ireland’s incredibly varied small festivals. Particularly touching were his thoughts on the stalwart continuation of local festivals despite hard financial times (sound familiar..?), and the positivity and closer ties to his own country that his journey has given him. 

These kinds of moments, tied in seamlessly with stories of the parish priest having a fag while riding his tractor and festivals that are "wonderful and terrible at the same time" made for an absolutely unforgettable evening.

Audience comments:

An entertaining evening with lots of laughing. Insight into the many types of festivals and Irish characters that make them special. The book looks well worth reading. M

Brilliant! Interesting, entertaining and inspiring. I’ve bought the book and will look out for the next. Phil

Very enjoyable. Real life reading at its finest. Ike

Brilliant! The perfect amount of time for someone to speak about a book. Funny and inspiring. Carli

Very interesting look at festivals in Ireland with comedian Mark Graham who was enjoyable and very funny. Some very funny slides as well. Jonathon

Excellent entertainment, will book a holiday in Ireland tomorrow. Anon

A brilliantly entertaining evening. Mark Graham is a consummate raconteur! Bill

Thoroughly enjoyable and different. A very listenable speaker. Ruth

An enjoyable presentation. Much laughter. Anon

Very enjoyable event. Áine

Nice and informal. T

Great! Thanks!!!  Adam

Krapp's Last Tape - Back to Back Beckett

David Robertson                      Photos: Richard Wilcocks

Maddie Mason writes:

As David Robertson began his second scene, taken from Krapp’s Last Tape, the audience was captivated by the introduction of surreal silence. With a lack of speech, the concentration was entirely focused on David’s performance skills.  He captured the character of Krapp as if it were his natural self: watching the beginning of the scene felt like invading someone’s ordinary routine as he appeared to mutter to himself. The effective use of dimmed lighting and the sense of intrusion provoked an intimate atmosphere between David and the audience. Though he used more props to set the scene than he did for From an Abandoned Work, the set remained minimalist which allowed the focus to be maintained upon Krapp and, of course, on the recording coming from the tape player. 

I was vaguely shocked as he started the tape recording and flung the remaining boxes off the table in surprising fury. His interesting use of vintage technology was successful and authentic. In such a small venue it was a remarkable productive feature to project the tapes. Having never seen the play performed before, it was fascinating to watch Krapp listen to tapes of his former self in order to remember and recount his life. 

Mora Grey

In the discussion afterwards, Mora Grey commented that she did not find Beckett’s work entirely depressive: David emulated this argument and told us how he had exaggerated the comedic aspects within the play, especially at the opening of the scene when he demonstrated a cyclical tableau of unlocking his drawer, eating a banana, swigging from a bottle off-stage and repeating. 

David portrayed Krapp as frustrated and slightly exasperated; it was a really interesting, captivating and effective performance and it was a real pleasure to watch.

Mark Taylor-Batty

Charlotte Gray writes:

​As someone who has studied Beckett, I can definitely sympathise with anyone who finds his plays intriguing but frustratingly dense. Back to Back Beckett offered a brilliantly acted and accessible way in to Krapp's Last Tape, which was only enhanced by the informal discussion that followed the performance. 

The panel of speakers included Mora Grey, who recently published a novel based on the experience of staging Beckett's plays, and Mark Taylor-Batty, a Theatre Studies lecturer at the University of Leeds. The varied backgrounds of the panelists allowed for rich and enlightening discussion about Beckett's life and about their personal experiences of his plays.

What I took away the most from the Q&A was a greater appreciation for the detail that goes into staging a Beckett play and the detail that Beckett himself put into his staging. The ability to see Krapp's Last Tape performed and then discuss it afterwards really helped to illuminate both the play and the gripping yet emotional effect it has on its audience. 

Kate Baldwin writes:

Dave Robertson’s performance of Beckett’s From an Abandoned Work was wonderfully dynamic. With no props or set, he managed to convey the turmoil the narrator was going through with brilliant phrasing and animation. The audience seemed to hang on his every word, kept on tenterhooks by the constantly  changing pace, a perfect reflection of the constantly changing mood of the narrator. 

From a hurried rant about birds and butterflies “getting in [his] way”, to a leisurely appreciation of the flora, my attention was continually in David’s grasp: a testament to both Beckett’s talented writing and David's enthralling performance. Even more impressive since I had not yet had my interval cup of tea to perk me up! Not having studied Beckett in depth myself, I found this interpretation a good initiation into the playwright’s work, one that has inspired me to delve further. 

Audience comments:

David at his best. Krapp’s Last Tape mesmerizing. Enjoyed part 1 – amazed that it had been abandoned.

Beautifully performed – thought provoking, life changing! Really enjoyed this event.

Compelling and sensitive performance of unusual and thought provoking material. Thank you David – hope you don’t get indigestion from that banana!

Thrilling introduction to Beckett with wonderful insights.  

Wonderful performance by David, not least his mastery of the tape recorder. Interesting panel discussion and insight into Beckett. Not the most popular of playlets but full of imagery and emotion.

Intense format/performance. Enjoyed the small/intimate/informal setting.

Moving and stimulating excellent performance – most enjoyable.  

Very interesting to see an ‘unknown’ Beckett. Good performance. Krapp’s Last Tape – good to see this extraordinary play. Very good event.

Excellent reading in first half – delightful to hear such a vivid piece, completely unknown. Krapp’s Last Tape beautifully performed.

Very successful production. Very authentic, Dave. With plenty of cause for thought and awareness of time passing moving to present – and then beyond – the human condition – I could see it again.

A wonderful enigmatic performance and wouldn’t really have made as much sense without the discussion and being enlightened about the life of Beckett by Mora Grey.

David Robertson gave good value in the reading from Beckett’s prose piece (rarely performed) and acting Krapp’s last Tape affectingly before a good audience.  

Lovely performances! Thank you for putting this on – first time attending, will be back. Cheers.

First time seeing any performance of works by Beckett. Excellent performance! Of both sections! More likely to go to other LitFest activities because of coming. Thanks!

Very clearly performed – completely absorbing – I felt, as ever with such plays and readings, that it is vital to life – venue good too – cakes Delicious

Not knowing Beckett’s work, I found the discussion thought-provoking ensuring that I reflected back to the performance. In some ways I would have liked to see the play again for I’m sure I would have seen it through new eyes.

Bravo David! The first piece a revelation.

Very engaging, great performances.

Was this actually an abandoned work? That’ll take the shine off their bliss.

Really good acting and a great choice of play. Thank you very much. Great cake also.

Excellent performance – highly enjoyable!

Despite an excellent and heartfelt performance I felt this rendition of SB’s work cured me of ever wanting to hear anything from SB. I felt that a very good performer was struggling with tedious and pretentious verbiage. I’m afraid that this work was unfinished because if it was finished it would ???? The tea and cake was some consolation but afterwards I escaped to the Oxfam bookshop  … to recover.

Red Ladder's musical evening - with Boff Whalley

Red Ladder Theatre Company              Photo: Richard Wilcocks

Laurah Furner writes:
The New Headingley Club played host to a fantastic evening of music performance by Red Ladder Theatre Company last night.  Victoria Brazier, Claire Marie Seddon and Stacey Sampson, with musical direction by Becky Owen, created a vibrant and comfortable atmosphere for the audience, in an intimate and emotionally charged performance of their production, ‘We’re Not Going Back’. The night was packed with flawless harmonies, combined at frequent intervals with brilliant anecdotes on the creative process by the writer of the show, Boff Whalley. 

No costumes were required for this group to create a stunning performance that celebrates the journeys to self-empowerment produced through the 1984/5 miner’s strike with which the play was concerned. Whalley discussed in depth the authenticity which the production aims to exude, and it was certainly this aspect which seemed to touch the hearts of audience members. Highlights included the song ‘This Was War’, and the funeral scene, which achieved an emotional intimacy that had the woman sitting next to me in tears. Whalley observed that ‘It’s not the play, it’s the conversation afterwards that matter’, and it’s this hope to truthfully depict the social upheaval caused by the miner’s strike whilst engaging with the strength of community that left me feeling both humbled and uplifted as I left.

Headingley LitFest is very grateful for the support from Leeds University student volunteers Laura Cummins, Laurah Furner and Serene Leong.

Audience Feedback:

Good to see the spirit of radical theatre is still alive.  Thanks. Great show, lovely actors.     (Tom Burden)

Wonderfully creative and authentic way of bringing real people’s experiences and emotions alive.  Lovely harmony and a nice punchy folk song at the end.     Anon

Marvellous emotive music without being depressing.     Anon

It was very informative and enjoyable.     Anon

Very enjoyable.  Fantastic harmonies and an obvioius passion for the subject.  (Adam Savage)

Wonderfully nuanced way to hear a  story we think we know already.   (Laura Cummins)

Really enjoyed the songs and explanation of the play, having sadly not seen it.  I was born during the Miners’ Strike and have a scar on my neck where a piece of coal spat out of the fire and attached itself to me as I sat in my baby bouncer in our house in Huddersfield (Shepley).  Very moving and enthusiastic cast, hope your funding continues.  (Erica Mitchell)

I’ve waited thirty one years for some humour on the Miners’ Strike.  It’s about time  (DS)

Very good, nice songs and harmonies.  (Angela M)

Yet again Red Ladder produce an authentic beautifully produced interpretation well researched.  Lovely harmonies.   (Richard Howson)

I enjoyed the ‘introduction’ to the play and its songs, interesting to hear how it came together.  Would now love to see the whole thing - which I hope will be round soon!   (Paul Connor)

Wonderfully structured, highly accessible performance, emotionally charged atmosphere of positivity and realism, committed to a truthful depiction of the 1984/5 miners’ strike.   (Laurah Furner)

A very moving and insightful performance.  Touching, funny and informative.  Made me want to see the whole play!  It brought out the human cast and the sometimes unexpected transformations of individuals.  Red Ladder know how to put across an historical political and human condition very effectively.  The company should be supported.  (Marion Purchon)

Warm, witty and thought-provoking.  An education for this southerner.   (Helen Ashman)

A real eye opener and very interesting to learn some local history as a student not from the area.  Thank you!   (Stella Spriggs)

Very good introduction and show by the Red Ladder Theatre company, particularly the songs.  I visited the National Mining Museum near Wakefield a few weeks ago which was very interesting. Nice form by the group afterwards as well.   (Jonathan Fetson)

It was a privilege to see Red Ladder describe the process of their drama and to see them perform and explain the play and the politics.  Brilliant!  (Maggie Burden)

Enjoyed the songs but could do without the rambling commentary.   (Martin)

Extremely engaging.  Moving too.  (Duncan)

Children's Books Question Time

Richard Wilcocks writes:

Zoe, Nicolette Jones, Lucy               Photo: Richard Wilcocks

It was a real pleasure to listen to the breathtakingly fluent and encyclopedic Nicolette Jones this afternoon. A national authority, she knows what she is talking about more than most. It was her second time as a guest of ours: seven years ago she spoke to a LitFest audience about her extensively researched book The Plimsoll Sensation, and made us aware of the nineteenth century campaign led by the MP Samuel Plimsoll against overloaded 'coffin' ships. This time she made us aware of the great wealth of new books written for children, and advised us on making best use of it.

She became a reviewer of books for children on the Sunday Times almost by default: it was decided by the arts editor that a new angle was needed, and she was drafted in, moving on from her position as a respected reviewer of new books for adults. She reminded us towards the beginning of her session of what W H Auden said:

There are good books which are only for adults.
There are no good books which are only for children.

 She is still proving that what he said was absolutely right, which she made clear by making so many enthusiastic recommendations that audience pens and pencils were seldom at rest.
There were all sorts of questions, from the general ("Do you find that today's children are less interested in books than we were?") to the specific ("What books do you suggest for a boy with Nigerian parents who is mad keen on sports and is more interested in computer games than books?") and all of them were answered in great detail, to the full satisfaction of the questioners. Prominent amongst her favoured authors were Shirley Hughes, Eva Ibbotson and Philip Pullman. To chime with the theme of the LitFest, she finished with a reading from Something Else by Kathryn Cave, to our delight.

Mary Francis adds:
Nicolette talked about Northern Lights, the first volume in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Apparently, it is now twenty years old: there is a piece in the Guardian (see link) and an opportunity to win a twentieth anniversary edition of the trilogy … as long as you are aged between seven and eighteen. Or if you enter on behalf of a child ….
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/mar/09/philip-pullman-10-magical-quotes-his-dark-materials-anniversary

Audience Feedback:
 I liked it when Nicolette Jones read a book out loud called Something Else and she helped us with books for recommendation. I enjoyed it thoroughly. (Girl aged 9)

First-class presentation and responses from Nicolette Jones. A good range of queries answered with a wealth of intimate knowledge. A very fluent and eloquent performance, obviously popular with a good audience.

Excellent! - and great cake! 

I’m not a mum or involved with many children but found the presentation v. interesting.  I could relate to my own experiences as a child.       

Absolutely excellent!  Nicky gave lots of valuable tips and information.  A fantastic and articulate speaker.  Thankyou!   

Very well informed and encouraging – infectious enthusiasm.  Fun!      

A most interesting and informative session – I learned a great deal.  What a world of information Nicolette Jones brought before us!  Good presentation too.    

Very informative. Wonderful to have such an authority on Children’s Books in the room.  For a first time self publisher her insights were very valuable.    

Very informative and clear presentation.  I could have spent more time listening to Nicolette and look forward to her return.  Many thanks.     

 

Great event!  Lots of info! V. interesting.  Loved the book reading – more of that would keep children interested?  Shame more children didn’t attend.     

Lovely chat, good ideas, nice to have café seating and refreshments.  More please.  

 

A delightful informative discussion on contemporary children’s lit.  Full of charm and relevant information and useful tips.     

Brilliant!  Thank you.  Useful, entertaining, educative... tea and cake appreciated.

Event was very informative.  Ms Jones was charming, engaging and very helpful. 

Very enjoyable – thank you!  Glad I took notes of most of the titles to check out later. Not enough time for questions.      

Charming speaker, very informative, lots of good suggestions.    

An excellent event, very informative, with some interesting questions and answers fromn Nicolette (although couldn’t hear clearly everything she was saying).  Good venue, lovely cake.   

Made me realise how old my children are – good to hear about contemporary writers. 

Absolutely terrific!  Nicolette Jones was so knowledgeable and informative.  Clear concise and so so useful.  I liked the Q&A format.  V. entertaining, and well worth repeating.   

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)