This month Spoken Word Antics explores different ways of bringing politics into poetry without losing the poetry. In addition to the usual lively and varied fare, there will be appearances from three guests: John Hall, Jim Caruth, and Tina McKevitt.
John Hall is a Manchester-based poet and playwright (among other things) and editor of Citizen 32, a magazine of political poetry—brash, glossy, and A4. His poetry has immediacy and momentum, taking in topics "from condoms to Iraq, from Jesus to Alzheimer's".
Jim Caruth is a powerful lyric voice on Sheffield's poetry scene, and recently appeared at FOB. Born in Belfast, Jim has had work published in various magazines and journals including The North, Dreamcatcher, Staple, and Poetry Nottingham as well as on the web in both the UK and the US. He will be reading from his 'Ireland' poems.
Tina McKevitt has been involved in a number of community theatre projects around Sheffield, including the Red Road Theatre and Maze Theatre. She will be presenting four pieces of work in different genres, from multi-voiced poetry to dramatic monologue and song, dealing with the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland.
Spoken Word Antics is primarily an open mic night, but without the mic. If you'd like to perform just turn up on the night and let us know when you get there. We welcome spoken word in all its forms. In the past Antics has hosted poetry, storytelling, urban fairytales, spoof newsreel, family memoirs, found literature, and folk opera.