Have I Got a Question of Words & Lyrics For You?
 This was a seriously silly game-show in the style of an extremely surreal Have I Got News For You, crossed with a Question of Sport and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Our illustrious panel of dubious expertise were: The Reverend Doctor Clive Thomas Jackson (aka The Doctor from '80's pop sensation band and international superstars of one-hit-wonderfulness Dr & The Medics) and John Barclay (local poet hero and previous festival poet in residence and winner of our first poetry slam in Poole in 2002 and about to launch his first book The Blood of Others and hosting his own show at Ottakar's Bookshop in Poole on National Poetry Day!) ... and on the other team, Pete Steed (literary genius with 25 years in the literary field under his belt) and Keith Smith (Drummer from Original Mushrooms, which released The Monster Mash in the '80s and more recent local hero with the kids of Bournemouth for running a music project for them). Quizmaster was Dave Brown and the "attention-grabbers" were not boring buzzers - we had a baby drum kit for Keith, a giggling Halloween pumpkin for Pete, a squeaky yellow doggy toy duck for John and a voice changer for Clive, which made him sound mysteriously like his inflatable Darlek that he brought along for moral support. The rounds were designed to offer questions to bring out the deepest, darkest hidden memories of lyrics, titles and image-recognition talents and to finish with a tie-breaker, the panel each had to offer a poem. Clive came up with a miserable excuse for a poem that turned out to be some song lyrics....but he was still beating Keith and Pete, who could not come up with a single line! Until....John Barclay stood up and came out with an epic poem of monstrous proportions to wipe the floor with the losing team. So the Dr and John walked away with the honour of winning and everyone was allowed to take their attention-seekers home. Surprisingly, Pete left his on the table so I threw it our to a boy in the audience, much to the horrified look on his Mum's face! I am sure they haven't slept a wink since! (sorry about that...:-) Much merriment went on in the bar afterwards until we decamped to Chilli's bar when the one at the Lighthouse closed. Then I had the daft idea to see which band was on at the Nelson on the Quay, forgetting that I had 4 inch heels on...so I had to prove I loved music THAT MUCH by walking barefoot all the way there and back :-) Dave wrecked his diet by scoffing a massive kebab, Keith wondered if it was all a very surreal dream and I am still laughing at the story of how Boy George taught Clive to walk in high heels...maybe he can teach me too? Quiz Show page online Quick Links...
| | Hi Everyone! As I have this new diary newsletter feature, I thought it might be a good place to add some reviews and images from our events at Poole Word & Book Festival 2005, 1st to 9th October 2005 in Poole, Dorset, UK.
| | Poetry Elections | | The Study Gallery kindly hosted our Poetry Elections to elect a poet in residence for the festival.Anne Clegg and Janice Holden competed against each other, while John Barclay, Mo Turner, Dave and myself all did a little piece each to entertain. Janice's election-winning manifesto comprised a sketch to explain what a manifesto is, complete with diagrams and hand gestures, mime and bob-dylan-esque signs! Congratulations, Janice! |
| Poetry & Motion | | Esther Yarnold and Ben Trill from Interim and imagelab at Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts once again were our fantastic video artists for our festival DVD. This year's theme was Poetry & Motion. The DVD was displayed throughout the festival at the Study Gallery. Everyone who participated was given a copy of the DVD. The DVD worked much better this year because each poet had the opportunity to say what they would like to have filmed to portray their poem. Mine was about kites (or not) and a remote camera was tied to a kite to film mine. Some of the other film clips were from Scaplen's Court, a walk along the beach, at the Quay, the Swanage Railway, some children in the playground making shapes for their poem, a view looking out of a puddle and some mesmerising Tai Chi! Participating schools and groups included MIND, Fourways, Sea View Day Centre, Stoborough School and several individual poets from Poole and Bournemouth. |
| John Barclay | | John Barclay performed his one man show to a full house at Ottakar's Bookshop in Falkland's Square in Poole on National Poetry Day at 6pm. Since winning the first Poetry Slam in 2002 and then becoming last year's festival poet in residence and coming up with the thought-provoking "Talking to a Terrorist" poem at the end of the festival, John has gone from strength to strength and after participating in the Poetry & Motion DVD project, he went on to complete his own collection of poetry entitled The Blood of Others to be released in November 05 and there are plans for a spoken word CD as well as the one-man show! John's set began with some serious poems about politics and the state of the World and then he followed through with a ceremonial poem and finished with some seriously silly work such as "Will My Willy" and even Dave the gardener made an appearance in the ever-popular tale of sex, revenge and gardening. The crowd's request for an encore was granted with John's party-piece "Zena Has Seen a Hyena". |
| Survivors' Poetry | | The Survivors' Poetry meeting in Poole for October fell within the festival at 4-5.30pm, just before John Barclay performed at Ottakars' Bookshop. |
| Poole Poetry Slam | | Poole Poetry Slam was help on Saturday 8th October at 7.30pm in Function Rooms 1&2 at Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts. Our serious brand of silliness was in full flow as usual, as was our theme poem on Motion this year - which we offered as a "wild card" poem for 5 extra votes. This was to encourage new poetry to be written for the event on this year's theme. and a slam poem from Paula We Like Lush i Bombs at Bathtime a body under attack
from the Black Pearl
(of wisdom)
a Two Timing Tart
and a Floating Island
gently dispersing
between my knees. ii melt into bathwater
into my fingers
into your back
into my skin
into my bed iii A Lush Life Soaked and moisturised,
walking in a Lush cloud,
sensual and aromatic;
people passing by press closer,
inhaling subtle flavours
massaged gently into my neck
and arms and chest. Cocooned,
I wear my Lush smile,
breathe my Lush air,
stroke my Lush skin,
live my Lush life
(empty my less than lush wallet). John Shepherd won the slam, who was in Poole on holiday and saw the advertising for the slam. Well done, John! |
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