First day of rehearsals for War Zones, the Nevertheless pub theatre's production for this year's festival: six scripts written by Frome Scriptwriters and directed by Rosie Finnegan and me. Olivia Dennis and Danann McAleer arrived on the first train and spent the day with us at the Cornerhouse getting the first feel of the three characters they will each be playing, all quite diverse requiring a range of emotions. We rummaged through costumes, mused about props, consulted with the writers, drank coffee, and overall had an exciting time.
Then on to MC Festival Poetry Cafe featuring Hilda Sheehan, an absolutely delightful guest who creates a seductively surreal world' where seals live next door and you can lick a man out of ice. One of the best Poetry Cafes we've had ~ I've never seen the Garden Cafe so crammed, and a cramful programme too, highlights including eco-poet Helen Moore who introduced the winners of the wildlife poetry competition organised by Simon Carpenter ~ special appreciation to 11year old Daniel Birch for his lovely reverie in the bluebell wood ~ and all our open-mic readers, who were so good that Jill Miller who had the task of deciding the '2014 Festival Poet Laureate' also gave commendations to Jinny Fisher, Peter Woodcock, Yvonne Brunton and Jim Henderson before awarding the title to Rebecca Brewin for a terrific poem entitled Night Walk.
Here's Hilda reading some new work, and Jill giving Rebecca Brewin her certificate and prize.
Off then with my new bezzy to join the bevy of poets (we weren't sure of the correct collective noun, but on this occasion bevy feels appropriate) at the Archangel!
