Our 2009-2010 season has now concluded following a brilliant performative reading from Luke Wright and Hollie McNish. The website will be updated with information on the 2010-2011 season later in the year; in the mean while, thanks to everyone who has come to our events this season for your support.
June 8th - Luke Wright and Hollie McNish
Since 2006, Luke Wright has launched his own curve-ball bid to become Poet Laureate, programmed and hosted Latitude’s poetry arena and has become the newest poet-in-residence on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live. In 2009 he took contemporary poetry onto primetime TV, writing all the poetry for Channel 4’s The Seven Ages of Love.
He has four solo poetry stage shows: Poet Laureate, Poet & Man, A Poet’s Work Is Never Done, and his current one - The Petty Concerns of Luke Wright. His first book, Who Writes This Crap?, co-written with Joel Stickley, was published by Penguin in 2007. A live show based on the book enjoyed a sell-out run at Edinburgh 2008. His debut pamphlet ‘High Performance’ was published by Nasty Little Press in November 2009.
"The best young performance poet around." – The Observer
"Visceral, poignant and riotously funny." – The Scotsman
Hollie McNish is a Cambridge based writer and performer whose spoken word ranges from political, sexy, feel good & furious to pure comedy. She has recently performed debut work with street and break dancer Sarah Baker. In 2009, she won the UK Slam Farrago championships and came third representing the UK at a poetry slam event in Paris. She has appeared in 'Popshot' magazine, on BBC2, been commissioned by Radio 4 and has participated in poetry projects in Argentina, Belgium and beyond.
As well as straight spoken word, she has also taken part in a number of music nights with renowned drum-n-bass acts Beardyman and Jungle Drummer and Inja.
Her forthcoming album 'PUSH KICK' charts a journey through pregnancy. Catch her at Michaelhouse before she heads to Glastonbury and Latitude festivals this summer.
www.myspace.com/papanicol
[Tuesday 8th June 2010, Michaelhouse, Doors 7.30pm Readings 8pm £5/£3]
Loughborough
I once spent the day with a girl who was pro fox hunting;
who asked what was wrong with The Tories;
who said she wanted her parent’s life.
We lay down outside a church,
the grass poured around us like mint sauce,
and I thought maybe I’d just marry her
and be done with it.
Later, we climbed high to where the Victorian prison stood,
its windows like diamonds in the low sun,
the skyline beneath us like smashed meringue,
and I thought about the house we would own in Loughborough,
our lanky children,
our utility room,
our dogs, wax jackets, fridge calendar and committees.
We sat on our coats, finger-tips touching
an ice cream van started like a chesty cough
the breeze almost gone, the mud almost dry
it was all just like summer, if you squinted.
Luke Wright
Venues
We are delighted to be continuing at the Michaelhouse venue for our main guest poet readings, which remain on the second Tuesday of the month.
Meanwhile, our popular Open Mic evenings continue this year, and as last year these will be on the fourth Tuesday of each month, but now held at The Punter.
The Punter is a splendid pub at 3 Pound Hill (map), just round the corner from Kettle's Yard, with a fine selection of ales and wines and, if you're hungry, an impeccable line in rustic-chic gastronomy -- see here for details/review in Local Secrets' inimitable style. Events are held in the converted barn at the rear of the pub's courtyard.
CB1 Poetry
CB1 Poetry has held regular readings in Cambridge for over ten years, and in 2007 began a major new series of readings at the Michaelhouse in the city centre. The aim is to feature well known and award winning guest poets, along with support readings from talented up and coming writers from Cambridge and further afield. Acclaimed poet and novelist Tobias Hill is our patron: you can hear his interview with the BBC here.
CB1 Poetry has always been about providing opportunities for poets to develop their talent before a discerning audience, so as well as holding our regular Open Mic evenings, we also feature short poem floor spots at most of the Michaelhouse events. These afford less experienced poets the opportunity to give a 2-minute reading in front of a large audience.
Events also offer books for sale, as well as food and drink, before and after the readings, and during a 15 minute interval. The venue is open from 7:30pm, with readings commencing at 8pm sharp and finishing at 10pm. The Michaelhouse bar remains open after the readings.
Our standard entry prices are £5 (£3 concessions) for the main guest reader events, and £3 (£2 concessions) for open mike evenings at CB1 Cafe.
We hope to see you soon, both at The Michaelhouse and The Punter, to hear some amazing poetry.
