Write To Ignite Festival

Welcome to Write to Ignite, Hackney Word Festival

2009-09-21T00:58:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Write to Ignite, Hackney Word Festival 2009 – a biennial celebration of the word in all its glorious forms. Through September and beyond we shall be showcasing the diversity, talent and uniqueness that exists across the literary landscape of London.
This year’s Festival, themed loosely around ‘Human Writes’, is designed to provoke discussion, debate and most of all creativity. From a comprehensive range of workshops for writers at any level, to spoken word showcases; from author and play readings to stand-up comedy and poetry in translation, we are proud to have created a programme that has something for everyone.
We are delighted to welcome the return of John Hegley and Michael Rosen, now stalwarts of Write to Ignite and rising-star Shane Solanki who will be performing at a range of venues through the Festival. Other highlights include readings,performances and workshops from: Dreda Say Mitchell, Abe Gibson, Michael Horvitz, Jacob Ross, Diana Evans, Cath Drake, Malika Booker, Stacy Makishi, the I-Storians and many, many more. Look and see what’s on offer, Write to Ignite is a Festival for everyone and every age.

Andrea Enisuoh - Festival Director
& Christopher Preston – Producer

Write to Ignite is a group of Hackney Literature providers who range from statutory organisations, such as the Learning Trust and Hackney Libraries, 3rd sector arts organisations, small to medium businesses like publishers and bookshops to individual authors, poets and creative entrepreneurs. As a group, our main project is the Hackney Word Festival to which our members provide events, workshops and initiatives as well as support in kind and funding for particular Write to Ignite projects.
Welcome to Write to Ignite, Hackney Word Festival

Bobby's Girl - by Dean Stalham

2009-09-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

‘I started writing in prison. I used to practice lines with my cell mate, Freddy. He has written a monologue for tonight too.’ says writer Dean Stalham (pictured) as introduction to his play Bobby‘s Girl. The authenticity of Stalhams’ writing is rare and the setting of Shoreditch Library does nothing but accentuate its merit.

The gritty play is about a love triangle. Caroline, played adventurously by Tilly Brooke faces the choice of whether to stand by her criminal boyfriend - Bobby - and testify for him in court, or to be with her childhood sweetheart Davey. Bobby is played by Wesley Theobald as a domineering boyfriend. The actors grasp of the gender politics Stalham has injected into the piece is acute. Brooke and Theobald make for a dynamic duo. Jason Spencers’ comedy performance as Caroline’s lover Davey added a contrasting element to the otherwise heavy piece.

The narrative is extremely complex and demonstrates a lot of skill. Although Stalham has fused the piece with lots of detail, the twists and turns in the plot are sometimes unnecessary. The play would benefit perhaps from being simplified.

Stalham particularly conveys and emotional monologue from Alex, Bobbys supposed ‘other woman’ but actually his rape victim. Actor Kelly Higgins gave a heartbreaking performance and the combination of great writing and performance had a fantastic affect on the audience.

‘I can only write about what I know about.’ says Stalham, and what he knows about is outside of most peoples comfort zones. I think this is an attribute to the honesty captured within the piece. It was however, slightly unexpected from the crowd at Shoreditch Library. The actors had to battle with the audience at times but dealt with it well.

On people who try to influence his writing Stalham says; ‘Why don’t they step out of their world, and see what my life is like.’ The piece certainly does that, and at times the audience felt awkward - which was great. It was only the insanity of Brooke’s character Caroline which grew tiresome, with some editing the play will show amazing potential.

Stalham shows a surprising amount of style and technique for a writer who claims never to have been taught. He has a natural skill and knows what is engaging to an audience. Stalham is not only a talented upcoming playwright, he also directed the piece too.

Particularly successful were the scenes between Caroline and Bobby which although probably meticulously choreographed looked fluent and spontaneous. Stalham's understanding of the piece only made the direction better. Every aspect of the piece featured detail, from the actors physicality to the staging. This was interesting to look at, but at times detracted the attention from the writing which is the strength of the piece.

Bobby’s Girl shows integral and refreshing dialogue. It revitalises the kitchen sink drama. This play needs to be transferred - quick.

Review, Alex Critoph, Write To Ignite

Alex Critoph is a writer, performer and producer. She is also Artistic Director of a MetalMouth Theatre, www.metalmouththeatre.com

A Selection of poems by Gina Rackley..

2009-09-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

Rant number 3 - Supermarkets.
Out there, I’ll bet, there is he,
The business studies PhD,
Who, while still wet behind his ears
Came up with one of those ideas
That, now adopted, cause frustration
Gnashing teeth and irritation.
What title gave this twit his marks? It’s
Rearranging supermarkets.

What cretin thought ‘Oh that’s a wheeze
We’ll make them hunt to find the cheese.
We’ll hide the pesto, move the soups,
Swap pasta with the cantaloupes’.
Unsuspecting, normal shoppers
Get their trolleys with their coppers,
Push them crab like through the door
And nothing’s where it was before.
So starts the prowling of the aisles,
The going back, the extra miles,
The searching for that one assistant
Who knows to where the baked beans went.

When time is short, (and when’s it not?),
You really do not need this rot.
What do they think that they will gain
By driving people part insane?
They’ll buy more? Try different things?
Oh yeah, when pigs grow little wings.

I’d like to build a great big maze
With hidden exits, cunning ways,
And waft across it smells of coffee,
Spit roast chicken, bread and toffee,
Get that wretched PhD twit,
Leave him stranded, stuck within it.

Phone call from the bank
Our banks have all told us be careful and wise,
Prevent ID fraud – you must shred all your mail,
Check all your statements that there’s no surprise,
Credit card safety - think through without fail.

My bank phoned me and politely she said
‘About your account, may I have a short word?’
‘OK’ I replied, mystified, ‘Go ahead’.
‘Can I just go over some details?’ she purred.
She asked me to say something only I knew
About how my money moved through my account,
Just to conform who she was speaking to,
Before she could say what she had phoned about.
I said ‘There’s one problem with talking to you
And saying all that when cold called on the phone.
How can I be sure who I’m talking to?’
Could she help me out? Now I can’t be alone
In not wanting to give out details like those,
In not like I knew her or even had met her,
And how to get round all this God only knows.
She ended up writing an old fashioned letter.

Feeding Birds in Summer
The sun has blazed, inferno hot,
The storms have drenched and drowned,
The fat balls and the mealworms rot,
There’s just no way around.
The fat goes off, the mealworms ming,
They drip and stink like hell,
But all this proves one simple thing,
Sparrows have no sense of smell.

by Gina Rackley

Standing Ground by Gillian Muir

2009-09-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

Standing Ground

Don't send me cards with angels and lilies
nor ones with pictures of hands in prayer
over perfect flames on yellow candles.
That was never our way.

Find the cards with men in fields
ducks in mill-ponds
wives floured and pinnied
in pictures with open doors.

I'll not treasure other cards
nor tie them in tear-stained bundles
to be hoarded away in heirloom tins
with other unshared memories.

I would have carried him under orange skies
and let him see once again the dykes of his youth
and the silage mounds piled as hillocks
next to seas of meadowsweet, soft like snow.

So afterwards don't bring me the cards you prefer
Choose what reflects his and my life
with a celebration of familiar images
and verses about him strong as he was.

Gillian Muir lives in Leyton

Leyton Dawn by Gillian Muir

2009-09-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

Leyton Dawn

At five o'clock the milkman turned the corner
noticing the yellow light in Ahmed's kitchen
and the steam issuing from the vents
as the old tabby slinked by the wall.
He clanged his float to a stop
and smelt garlic, hen and tumeric
melting under women's shrill voices
as the banging of chapattis
on kitchen tops sounded over dawn's bird song.
The day's breakfast would be truly that
with Ramadan steering the day
for men to get off to work and mosque.
He stooped and whispered a cheery love note
to Tabby Cat, noticed the spent date stems
replaced half washed empties with two semi-skims
and moved quickly as the front door opened.
The West Indian carers puffed with heavy bosoms
as succulent as plums
pulled out their mobile phones
waved to the milkie and creamed their hands.
Cat curled her tail around a home railing
and watched for her milkman who'd long gone
down the road and into the flats.
The sun gloriously golden
was climbing over the satellite dishes
and redundant chimney stacks
pushing away the last part of night.

By Gillian Muir, Leyton

Word is Born - Review by Alex Critoph

2009-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

‘Word is born’ is a live music event which fuses spoken word, beat boxing, jazz, funk and hip hop. A most intriguing first installment to the Hackney Word Festival. I get to ’The Others’ - a quirky recording studio block come club - just in time to hear the last of the sound checks, and its enough to realise the music’s innovation. The night combines three acts: Laprueba, Something Simple (pictured)and Soul Ruls.

Guitarist of Something Simple, Gregg Sands says the music is ‘self done, self funded, self promoted.’ and for such a chilled out group of guys they show a surprising and admirable amount of attitude about their music, ‘Its all about getting the sound out. This type of music is really underground, not many people know about it.’ It’s clear that the principle of the music is the lyrics. They are self written and brilliant. The poetry has a backdrop of skilful musicianship, with Tom Shrim playing keys, Lester Salmins on bass and Alaric Taylor on trumpet. The words work well, but sometimes the repetitiveness of the four-four drums from Oliver Lowe and percussionist Fabio De Oliveira for every song gets draining. And at times it feels like the words were written to be poems, and stretched out badly to make songs.
When it works, however, and you feel like the music is going somewhere; ‘Our next one is a lot better.’ laughs Sands as he hands me a copy of their last album. But what is already clear is the guy’s dedication to words, their album
Free yourself, and other short stories is exactly that. Short stories. In terms of the Word Festival it is nice to know the words came first, and the music after. But it also means that the strength is in the words, and sometimes it feels like things are shaken together to make a song.

One of the highlights of the evening was seeing Bellatrix Boxette perform new work. She won The Human Beatbox Convention after her original version of Fever. She is an impressive vocalist and suits both genres.
The evening is a great way to make contemporary poetry accessible to everyone. And if you write, or play no one will object to you getting up and having a jam. The linguistic skill of the singer/songwriters is outstanding, some of these poems are incredible. And if spoken word isn’t something you usually enjoy The Others is the place to venture out. If you don’t like it you can occupy yourself with the foosball table, have a drink or try your hand at writing.

Featuring skinny boys wearing ripped up jumpers and wit to be cagey of - I can’t think of a better way to be hit by the newest revolution in the lyrical. These guys have a way with words.

Word Is Born happens every first Sunday of the month at The Others. On the door at 7pm, music starts at 9ish usually. Admission three quid.

Review by Alex Critoph, Write To Ignite.

Alex Critoph is a Script Reader at Theatre 503 and a HYPE representative at The Royal Court Theatre. This year she has worked with: The Greenwich Playhouse, The Lyric Hammersmith as part of STORM, Tangram Theatre Company and as an Actor, Writer and Producer for Metal Mouth Theatre. www.metalmouththeatre.com

Guerrilla Poets - coming soon to a venue near you...

2009-08-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Guerrilla Poets:
Abe Gibson, Baden Prince, Cath Drake, Dzifa Benson, Jasmine Cooray, Naomi Woddis, Shane Solanki & others will be out and about throughout September.
When & Where:
Sat 5: Dalston (Ridley Road) Market. Sun 6: Columbia Road Flower Market (invading Tower Hamlets). Sat 12: Broadway Market. Sun 13: Abney Park Cemetery. Sat 19:Hackney Peace March/London Fields. Be in the right place at the right time...

John Hegley…The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet

2009-08-21T07:54:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12

Mister Hegley returns hot from the Edinburgh Festival with a new and slim volume of tales about a Frenchman with some unusual [but clean] habits. Other new stories include: An address to aliens on the subject of transport; A poem about a non-talking parrot; Some other animal 'impersonations' with the aid of a handkerchief. The audience is invited to sing along, but not to dance. 'Awesomely mundane'. The Observer. 'Just because he is one of the funniest men alive, do not underestimate his dedicated gentleness.' Adrian Mitchell – poet. The Luton News said his lyrics,'...often make little sense'

DJ for the night is Stamford Hill poet, Tim Wells, there will also be a special appearance by the brilliant Simon Munnery + a surprise musical guest.

Time: Doors open 7, Show at 7.30
Venue: The Mildmay Club, 34 Newington Green, Hackney, N16 9PR
Admission: £6 in advance or £8 on the door

Human Writing - The London novel and human rights - Wednesday 16 September

2009-08-21T07:53:00.001-07:00

Readings and discussion with Amanda Craig (pictured) and Louisiana Alba
Amanda’s 6th novel Hearts and Minds was published by Little Brown earlier this year. It focuses on the stories of 6 unrelated migrants in London whose lives link via the murder of a young stranger. Louisiana Alba is a young Hackney based writer whose book Uncorrected Proof is published by local publisher Elephant Ears Press. It is a humorous look at the quest for justice in the world of Anglo-American publishing.
Time: 6.30
Venue: Stoke Newington Library Gallery
Free event reserve place on booking line: 0792 347 4196

Creative Writing for Dummies with Maggie Hamand - Wednesday 16 September

2009-08-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

Local author and publisher Maggie Hamand will talk about her other role as a teacher of creative writing and the new title she has written for The Dummies series.
Time: 7pm
Venue: Broadway Bookshop
Admission: £3 including a glass of wine
Booking/Info: www.broadwaybookshophackney.com

Not Shut Up – writing from London’s prisons - Thursday 17 September

2009-08-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

Thursday 17 September
Not Shut Up – writing from London’s prisons
Not Shut Up is a magazine that publishes creative writing by and for London’s prison
population. Now celebrating its 7th year it features guest writing from prisons further
afield. A rare occasion for the ‘free’ public to hear the poems and stories and to get a
copy of the magazine.
Time: 6.30pm Venue: Stamford Hill Library Free Event: Reserve on booking line

Modern Poetry in Translation

2009-08-21T07:39:00.001-07:00

Monday 21 September

A reading from poets featured in this trailblazing contemporary world poetry magazine, featuring the magazine’s editors David and Helen Constantine.
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: CLR James Library
Free Event: Reserve on the Festival booking line:0792 347 4196

Readings from Hearing Eye - Wednesday 23 September

2009-08-21T07:35:00.001-07:00

Hearing Eye is a North London poetry publisher whose list includes many popular London poets. John Rety, the Editor, also publishes a regular poetry column for the Morning
Star newspaper.

Reading tonight will be: David Floyd, John Rety and Sara Boyes.
Time: 6.30pm Venue: Stoke Newington Library Gallery
£3/£2 with Hackney Library card

Kurdish Book Fair - 25 - 26 September

2009-08-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

Venue: Stoke Newington Library Gallery
Times: Friday, 10am – 5pm; Sat: 10am – 5pm.

The Third Runway @ Stoke Newington International Airport

2009-08-21T07:27:00.001-07:00

Presented by Last Mango In Paris...
Sunday 27 September

Music, spoken word, poetry and theatre, with Last Mango in Paris, featuring Shane Solanki, the sublime vocals of Sabira Jade, jazz keys by Arthur Lea and Bellatrix (2009 World Beatbox Champion) doing their full length show The Girl Who Learnt to Beatbox out of her Arse, Poet extraordinaire Ventriloquist. Ventriloquist will drop a couple of his cosmic, intimate rhymes regardless. The legendary wordsmith Michael Horovitz is a gentleman, raconteur, and the last living link to the beat poets. He was described by Allen Ginsberg as a “popular, experienced, experimental, new Jerusalem, jazz generation, sensitive bard”. Stacy Makishi is a little Hawaiian minx and probably the best live artist on the planet…at least, she's our favourite! She'll be performing her short piece called Sex with Cabbage. Voice are a female acapella group who sing songs from around the world, as well as a bit of unison chanting and songs by the composer Hildegard of Bingen. Jasmine Cooray is a rising talent on the spoken word scene. We love her. Shama Rahman is a ridiculously gifted sitar player. It’s local. It’s lyrical. It’s love. Get your ass down there!! P.S. there won’t be a bar. Bring your own pina coladas.
Time: 5pm – 10pm
Venue: Stoke Newington International Airport, 1 - 15 Leswin Place, London N16
Admission: £5 in advance, £7 on the door
Booking/Info: www.stkinternational.co.uk href="http://www.wegottickets.com/event/56454">href="http:

SPEECHMOTION

2009-08-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

- Tuesday 29 September

+ every last Tuesday of the month until June 2010

A combination of performance and film for both open mic/screen participation as
well as guest and featured artists. SpeechMotion is a new platform that aims to promote original work in performance poetry, storytelling, comedy, theatre or film,on any subject, fiction or documentary. A small fee for expenses is offered to each featured performer/filmmaker, together with a longer performance/screen slot of
20-30 minutes.
Venue: The Horse and Groom,
28 Curtain Road, EC2A 3LT.
Admission: £4/3 on the door
To get involved please email: speechmotion@makingtheatrework.com
SpeechMotion is produced by msft - www.makingtheatrework.com

The Last Word @ Cafe Oto - Friday 2 October

2009-08-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Wrap up the Hackney Word Fest at the trendiest venue in town, hosted by Nathan Penlington, Hackneys magical wordsmith of Short Fuse fame and director of the ’07 Fest. Hear the thoughtfully provocative Cath Drake and the naughty poet Shane Solanki. The fabulous Poem In Between People return by popular demand. See the whole
evening translated into BSL by sign interpreters Russ Alderson & Jo McCaul. Come and celebrate the end of a word packed month and bring a book to swap.
Time: Doors 7.30 Show 8pm
Venue: Café Oto
Admission: £6 in advance £8 on the door (reservations 07923 474 196)
...Also - Book Swap (again) Remember that book you
swapped 4 weeks ago? Now that you’ve read it,
swap it again.
Time:
From 6pm, then stay for The Last Word.
Venue: Café Oto

Narrative Drive with Jacob Ross (10 week course)

2009-08-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 1 September weekly till 3 Nov

This highly sought after creative writing course returns for a new season. Jacob Ross explains and clarifies many of the problems that beset writers. He shows you how to develop the strengths of your particular writer's voice. Jacob Ross has written two collections of short stories, Song for Simone and A Way to Catch the Dust. He has taught on creative writing courses at Goldsmiths College, the Arvon Foundation and for the British Council. His novel Pynter Bender was recently published to widespread critical acclaim.
Time: 7-9pm NB This is a 10 week course
Venue: Centerprise
Fee: £115 (full), £100(low paid)
£85 (conc)
Booking: e: andrea@meansofexpression.org.uk Info: www.jacobrossonline.com

My Word (Eastside Educational Trust) - Saturday 12 September

2009-08-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday 12 September

My Word (Eastside Educational Trust)

Do you have an interest in Graphic Novels and comics? How do you illustrate songs? How can you make people laugh and cry by reading your own personal stories? Learn the rules then break them in this exciting new workshop led by experienced artists and writers. Create comics, graphic reportage and manga. Come and explore personal stories and have a go at graphic autobiography in this 3 day workshop 26 & 27 Sept & 3 Oct for young people 16 – 19.

Venue: Eastside Trust,

Booking/Info To find out more or to
book a place please contact Truly Johnston – Tel: 020 7033 2380 /e: truly@eastside.org.uk

Sharing Family Stories with the I-Storians – Ngoma Bishop & Oma-Ra

2009-08-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19th

Sharing Family stories with the I-Storians – Ngoma Bishop & Oma-Ra
We all come from a rich oral tradition with stories handed down from one generation to another. From stories at bed-time to the jokes you heard at the dinner table. We all have anecdotes relating to our own cultural experiences. This family oriented, participatory workshop will help us find ways to recover and pass on stories. These stories will enrich your children and draw you closer as a family. Come to listen
- come to tell. The I-storians are poets, writers, story-tellers and entertainers.
Time: 2-4.30pm
Venue: Homerton Library,Homerton High St, E9 6AS
Fee: £6/£5 per family with Hackney library card

Playwriting – A Creative Introduction with Christopher Preston- Sunday 20 September

2009-08-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Do you want to write a play or a script? Everyone has a story to tell. This workshop aims to inspire and encourage you to tell that story. A taster workshop introducing the elements of playwriting with creative writing exercises and a sharing of work in a safe supportive environment. Christopher is a produced playwright and experienced dramaturg with leading UK theatre companies.
Time: 1.30 – 4.30pm
Venue: Stoke Newington Library
Fee: £6/£5 with library card

Blogs and Blogging for Writers - Thursday 24 September

2009-08-21T06:29:00.001-07:00

Blogs and Blogging for Writers with Andrea Enisuoh
A session to encourage you to write on-line and build an audience for your work. From
how to create your own blog to how to attract readers; how to maintain your on-line
presence to overcoming writer’s block, this workshop will provide a comprehensive
how-to guide for beginners and writers who work on-line but want to explore the
medium further. Andrea is a journalist, editor and literature development worker. She
manages blogs for various organizations as well as her own writer’s blog:
www.meansofexpression.org.uk
Time:6.30 – 8pm
Venue: Shoreditch Library
Fee: £5/4 Concs with a Hackney Library Ticket - Pay on the door

Translation Workshop with Steven Watts

2009-08-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday 26 September

Stephen Watts presents a workshop on poetry translation. Participants will work with a with a Kurdish poem and translate it into English. You don’t need any knowledge of Kurdish to do this workshop as a literal translation will be provided. Stephen Watts has written three books of poetry—The Lava’s Curl (Grimaldi Press, 1990), Gramsci & Caruso (Periplum, 2003), The Blue Bag (Aark Arts, 2004) and edited several anthologies. He has translated some contemporary Kurdish, Slovenian and Persian poets, including Ziba Karbassi, and the Yiddish poet Avrom Stencl (book forthcoming),
and has compiled a bibliography of 20th Century poetry in English translation due to be published online. Some of his poetry has been translated into Czech, Persian, Italian,Spanish, and Finnish.

Saturday 26 September
Time: 2-5pm.
Venue: Stoke Newington Library Gallery.
Fee: £6/ £5 with Hackney Library Card - Pay on the door

Library Card Concessions

2009-08-21T03:30:00.000-07:00

Events & Workshop Listings

2009-08-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

Use this calendar to view what's Write to Ignite events and workshops are upcoming.

To book tickets and for more information
click here for Events and
here for Workshops.