Did the earth move for you?
27 February 2008 | Published in Words Aloud news | 4 Comments
Edit: photos are now online, click to peruse.
We’ve always believed that if you get the right people together, in the right environment, with shared passions, great things will happen.
And this was exactly what happened last night at Words Aloud, in the rammed back room of the Lescar pub. So much so, we caused an earthquake.
From seasoned professionals like Matt Black performing his ode ‘to the animal within’ and South Yorkshire’s number one rapper, Paddy Orange cutting some serious vocal rug, to people who had never read in public before.
All last nights’ performances resounded honesty, passion and bravery that makes your remember what human beings are all about.
And brave is the word. Neil Bradbury took advantage of the friendly vibe to try out some stand-up comedy for the first time, while Kaimani retold experiences of war-torn Africa. He made it to the end as the crowd willed him on, wanting and not wanting to hear in equal measure. You owe it to yourselves to listen to this piece when the audio/video is up…
As ever at Words Aloud, the darker side of human nature was juxtaposed with the bright. A lad called Stan, a self-confessed shy boy (apparently!), went on to deliver his poems with unstoppable momentum and humour.
A French exchange student plucked up the courage to read a couple of French numbers. Tres bien. ‘Fraid that’s all the French we know. But it sounded lovely.
The legendary Mothercare-busker-by-day, Manc-surrealist-by-night, Mud, crawled to the stage, umbrella first, pulling a few numbers out of his pocket and leaping from one train of thought to another.
Although his justification for going well over the three minutes (’I know I’m out of time. But I’m in space’) didn’t wash with some folk, and we know that ‘Fruit metaphors are out of fashion’… we ladeeez thought he were grape. (We’ll be here all night).
Blackboard custodian Joanne Mateer’s Spanish cleaner was out of this world and Cheryl’s agony over which milk to buy and similar tough decisions killed us. As did Wax n Randy’s ‘Don’t you weigh me baby. You know I can’t believe it when I hear that you won’t feed me.’
Other Words Aloud regulars shone last night too, including Rich Crowther, Deborah Egan’s one-woman epic, EJ, Paul Leader’s Lancastrian wit, Mat McAteer’s rock god delivery, and Pete B’s DIY nightmare.
Sorry if we’ve not mentioned you. Everyone deserves a shout-out, but in the absence of making notes, you’ll have to make do with the snatches that found their way into our frazzled brains this morning… until the performances are published.
Speaking of which, Sheffield Hallam turned up to video it, which was exciting and they’re kindly going to send us the raw footage (thanks Seb), so it’s likely there’ll be video rather than audio this month. Or audio of the video. Who cares.
Sign up to our mailing list if you haven’t already and we’ll give you a nod when it’s up.
Finally, a big shout out to our all our WA volunteers old and new - you know who you are - and Gavin Cockrem for his wonderful photography. And all these people do it fo’ nowt.
It’s enough to move your world. Innit.
Did you read last night and want your text to be published on the site? Email it to us: info@wordsaloud.org
Anything to say about the night? Leave a comment below.
The next WA is the last Tuesday in March (25th). Come down early to get in and bag yourself a place to read. Sorry to those who didn’t get on the board last night. Hope you enjoyed the night anyway.
‘Av a word!
JRG and the WA team.
February 28th, 2008at 13:55(#)
Typical, even when I try to be cool and reticent in an attempt to hide the fact that I’m a geek who is constantly plugged into the internet, I fail, and end up being the first to pop the message board cherry.
Excellent night, fabulous new venue, great turnout, great readers/speakers/writers/rappers/comics and poets too. And great write-up. Long live Words Aloud.
March 1st, 2008at 17:19(#)
Okay, so obviously when I begin to write my auto-biography. I’m might have to sex-up my description in regards to this little event. A small minor earthquake after most people had gone home just isn’t going to cut the mustard. So I think it sounds better like this…….
___________
The young dashing “earthquake person scientist” Peter Beeston had just received some disturbing “ground type data” which meant there was going to be a “big earth rumble” during the latest “words aloud” performance.
He rushed to scene and pleaded with the mayor of “words aloud” to close down the performance. But the mayor just shouted at him and said he didn’t understand how much money would be lost if he had to close down the evening.
Peter tried telling everybody they should leave and go stand under a doorway, but nobody was listening because they were too busy drinking, and standing on stage and rhyming words with orange.
Then the earthquake hit and lots of people began screaming and lots of things fell of the walls and a lot of minor characters died. Then everybody looked towards Peter as he helped a rag-tag bunch of survivors to safety. In the group was the “The Tough One”, “The Attractive One”, “The Cowardly One” “The One Who the Audience Cheers at When he Dies” and “Shelly Winters”
___________
Granted I might work on the grammer a bit more before it goes in the book……
March 1st, 2008at 22:11(#)
I think you should dramatise it too. As long as I can be Shelly Winters.
March 3rd, 2008at 00:45(#)
I was brushing my teeth when it ‘hit’. As a result, I barely realised anything had happened, what with the inevitable body-shake I’d already mustered with the ol’ brushing.
Unbelievable.