Haaaaaaaaa... Hope all is well fellas, It's been productive since my last mail, stayed for a week in Scotland, secluded and isolated, kicking out a script, poems and lots of other fun whatnots... perfect to clear my brain as the next six months of madness comes. Madness, what madness you ask? Hold, I shall reveal all...
The Formula: 4 News Items / Smthn frm YouTube:
FRESH OFF THE PAGE // THE MIDNIGHT RUN
THE 14TH TALE TOUR // OPEN NOTEBOOKS
YOUTUBE: MICHAEL JACKSON
FRESH OFF THE PAGE//
Urgent! Last minute.comness, I know but click here and read on: http://moourl.com/ge02c // Cool photo right? (thnx Kim) Last year, I curated a live Word & Graphic installation under the banner 'Fresh of the Page' for the Southbank's Lit Fest. This year, I return to host and perform at an event - Mashing the Classics - FREE Entry - where writers/performers remix classic stories. Also on the bill: Nikesh Shukla, Rachel Rose Reid, Maxwell Golden, Kayo Chingonyi, Dzifa Benson & Naomi Woddis, and musicians Dylan Howe & Will Butterworth.
Time: 4.30 - 6.00 // Entry: FREE
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Hall // SouthBank Centre //
Web: http://moourl.com/ge02c //
THE MIDNIGHT RUN //
Flashback summer to '05, bored of waiting for a bus, a friend and I decided to walk the bus route. We deviated a bit. After 6 hours of wondering through the night, through the deserted city streets, we had covered huge chunks of London by foot, and were not tired. I titled the excursion 'The Midnight Run' and since 06' there's been a run every year; I invite a bunch of folks, mostly strangers to themselves, and from 6pm - 6am, in summer, when it's hot enough to rock t-shirst, we walk, eat, talk, dance and make merry from sunset to sunrise. The runs are truly magical, I have stories for days... but the movement is growing. This September, there'll be a Manchester MNR, talks are underway for a Glasgow Run, and whispers of Oxford. And exciting news, The MNR is now sponsored by Blacks the Outdoor specialists.
Read more? Download a write up of MNR '07 here - http://moourl.com/hp5u6 //and the Most recent, the Mini May Run '09 here - http://moourl.com/lsshh // The Next Run is on the 8th of August, want to know more? just mail me -
themidnightrun@gmail.com
THE 14th TALE: EDINBURGH FRINGE //
The play is back! After the 3 sell out dates at the Arcola Theatre in London early this year, my first theatrical outing, The 14th Tale will be touring right through the autumn. A total of 32 dazzling dates, including the Contact Theatre in Manchester, ARC Theatre in Stockton, Ustinov in Bath, Norden Farm in Maiden Head, 2 weeks at the Battersea Arts Centre, The Albany Theatre in Deptford and the Croydon Clocktower.
However, the first place it'll play is The Edinburgh Fringe Fest. For ten days it will be part of the British Council Showcase, at the prestigious Pleasance Courtyard, Venue 33. Please spread the word and come. I'll be publishing the complete dates on my website soon, but leave with this:
OPEN NOTEBOOKS//
Over at http://opennotebooks.co.uk something special is going on. Created and curated by Karen McCarthy, it asks the question: 'Can we use blogs and web platforms as interactive, multi-media notebooks, and if so does it change the end result?' Four poets have been commissioned to create one poem online, and blog about the process. I am one of the fellas and until the 22nd of July, I will be uncloaking my creative process, showing bits of my sketch book, and from my notebook. Please stop by and follow the journey. When you arrive on the site, look to the right and click 'Inua Ellams' and my posts will come up.
YOUTUBE: MICHAEL JACKSON
There is nothing I can say that hasn't been already, no sentiment I can express that hasn't be played out on television. Perhaps the most curious complex character to have ever lived on screen has left. He battled his parents, his childhood, his sexuality, his gender and his race. As much as he was worshipped and recognised, he was ridiculed and taunted. So celebrating Mike J in his prime, sit and watch this legendary performance: Billie Jean / Motown 25.
SweetXx
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Foyle's Young Poets Compeitition
2009-06-27
The Poetry Society has just created its first ever viral video! The video is being used to promote the Foyle Young Poets of the Year competition which closes for entries on 31st July 2009. The Poetry Society is celebrating its centenary this year and hopes that in 2009 as many young people as possible will get involved with the UK’s leading poetry competition.
Watch the video here:
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News June 09
2009-06-02
The Formula: 4 News Items / Smthn frm YouTube:
POEJAZZI UDDERBELLY // DDREAM/ROYAL ALBERT HALL
22 JUNE // CITY STATE // YOUTUBE: THE WHITE HOUSE
POEJAZZI UDDERBELLY 15 JUNE//
There's a purple cow on London's Southbank. It's E4's Udderbelly, an inflatable venue usually pumped for Edinburgh's fringe fest but this summer it hosts eight weeks of comedy, theatre, music, circus... headlined by Joan Rivers. I was asked to write a poem for the launch event last Thursday and in the shadows of the cow, rammed with the who's who of purple-cow-importance, I apologised to the audience (my poem contained one expletive) then launched into its conceptual narrative where I describe stars as 'indifferent twinkle tips and stoic mother**ckers*. Poem went down a treat. No... two treats. I introduced Jude Kelly - artistic director of the Southbank - who gave a short rousing speech, then Joan Rivers, who mooted my apologetic sentiments by swearing profusely between breaths before cutting the Ribbon. But this ain't the real news.
THIS IS: On the 15th of June, I shall be dropping words inside the Udderbelly. We, the legendary Poejazzi team have conspired with E4 and the Udderbelly to present a star-studded event hosted by Scroobius Pip. Feat Afrobear, Sound of Rum & Benin City. Between their music sets Catherine Martindale and I will read poems. Come, I bet you my Self, nude, on a silver platter, you won't regret it.
DDREAM/ROYAL ALBERT HALL//
Daydream Mag of which I am lit editor for is also a hub for visual artists. We've taken over spaces like the Tate Modern, Design Museum & M&C Saatchi, releasing street artists onto white washed walls, spray painting, drawing as they go. This month, we are taking over a big one, The Royal Albert Hall. Okay, not all of, just the loading bay, but still. The exhibition is called 'LOAD'. See below for more info. I've been commissioned to write a lil something for it and will be reading it at the Private View at the RAH. But there's an itch. The private view is on the 15th of June, same as the Udderbelly so I will be hurtling cross London to make both events. LOve it. On Monday 22 June, the exhibition located 3 floors underground, will be open free to the public so swing by. More info? I got you:
22 JUNE//
If you could time travel to this day in 2003, go to the Aroma Cafe - a stone's throw for the National Portrait Gallery. You'll find me in an event called 'AromaPoetry', nervous at the back, wondering if I got guts enough to join the open mic. This was the first time I ever read anything aloud in public. Thought it went horribly, was set to flee the café and abhor all things literary but a lady called Makeda pulled me aside, whispered 'that was really good'. That made me stay, write and return (thanks Maki). This day is my poetry birthdate. I want a present. I am accepting thumbs ups - so before the 20th of June, take a photograph of your right hand in that gesture, mail it to me and I'll make myself a computer desktop bkg with all of them. Thanks!
CITY STATE//
I have been published in a spanking new anthology. Penned in the Margins have released a rather beautifully designed, crisp, clean collection of London poems. The cover is of London's underground tube map seeped through a thumb print, on a white matt finish. Featuring the lick of London's lit elite: Jay Bernard, Laura Forman, Jacob Sam La Rose, Ahren Warner, Heather Phillipson, Wayne Holloway-Smith and oh so many more... buy a copy:
YOUTUBE: SPOKEN WORD AT THE WHITE HOUSE//
Yes... you read right! We are still scrabbling with the media for attention, trying to be recognised for our art form, but it is ubiquitous in the states. So much so that Obama - in his ever revolutionary way - has done it again, turned the white house black, hosted a Music, Poetry & Spoken Word night. Prime Minister, in the minutely miniscule chance you are reading this, I am calling you out, do something similar at Number 10, I'll programme, design, flyer and even host it - free of charge! All together, there are 9 Youtube clips, these are 1&2:
