After much promising to visit various venues in and around Manchester last year, last night (Tuesday)i finally took the plunge and took along our good friend Isobel.
Together we drove through travelling rain then at the great risk of ruining our straightened locks, walked the short distance from a 'free' car park to experience the venerable delights of Sale. Not a clothing sale or even a furniture sale you understand but Sale in Cheshire - the Waterside Arts Centre to be precise.

On arrival we dutifully paid our £3 entrance fee only to discover that had we turned up a half hour later, the kiosk would be shut and we could have got in free of charge and not missed a single performance. Well done to those in the know for walking in on the last minute!
To be fair, i didn't actually mind the fee to enter the building, it was the extortionate price of a j2o for a measly measure made all the more embarrassing by the almost pint sized plastic glass it came with.
Yet still i was quite excited at the prospect of listening to poets i have heard before and lots who i hadn't.

18 open-mic performers and 3 guest poets in amongst around 35 - 40 people in the room.
I wasn't disappointed!
In fact i was thrilled with the mix of poetry and poets too.
I was delighted by our host and compere, Steve 'O Connor who somehow managed to post up posters in the foyer directing the poets to the actual room being used, then went on to take down the names of those wanting to perform before starting the show. What impressed me the most was his thoughtfulness and consideration and his magic trick.
Magic trick?
Bet you didn't know Steve could perform magic did you? How?
He's the only man i know who can divide a night into 3 x half time breaks! (think about it) ;-)
Without them it could proved to be a very long night because of the amount of readers/performers.
As it happened, we all had chance to replenish drinks, smoke and empty our orangey bladders.
It was well organized and he is to be cheered!
Hip hip? Hooray!

The three guest poets too were, in my opinion a good choice to perform at the same event. Three very individual styles with Belinda Johnson fresh from Japan giving us her stories with beautiful imagery and a gentle yet fun style.
She performed her poem 'Lost' with grace and panache then went on to tell us she is fascinated by Zombies.
Her poem based around a 4 year old child named Kai was super even though she says it was written for children. I think we all have a child somewhere inside us.

Then John Darwin with his dark, deep, emotional poetry introduced himself as a 'Post Apocalyptic Romantic', just where have your hands been John!
He performed a selection of poems which are due to be published in an anthology, out in the next few weeks so if you enjoy his stuff, then ask him for the book.

The evening finished with Marvin Cheeseman making everyone laugh which for me was the perfect ending to a great night. He gave us Limericks, he gave us funny observations from a birds, or should i say poets eye view from a flat overlooking a car park.
He gave us Coldplay! He gave us 'raisins' to believe that rhyme still lives and reigns supreme...
and then....
and then....
guess what he did next?
He told our fortunes! He told us something i didn't know! He told us all, there in that very room for everyone to hear. What did he tell us?
It went something like this:-
There was a man from Prestatyn
who loved his wife wearing Satin
I can't remember it all
and i didn't write it down
but his undies were always clean
unless he wore the ones that he shat in!

Great night - Great people.
Thankyou.

Dear Janet,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words about my performance and for your review of the night at Sale Waterside. I agree it was fantastic :) I loved the poetry and the excellant turn out by all.

Love Belinda x

It was a fantastic night, and I would just echo you in saying all three main acts were class acts. Steve's organisation was incredible.

A great review Janet - and you made a lovely travelling companion!

I so enjoyed last night. The 3 acts did indeed complement each other - such different styles and all such quality.

John Darwin's was as dark and deep as ever - a super page and performance poet.

Marvin Cheeseman's I found very entertaining. I am always glad to see that poetry can be as light weight as comedy routines since I favour the performance style. I am sure that Marvin must do deep - I shall have to read more of his work - he has a wicked sense of humour.

Belinda Johnston has graced that grey smudge on the peripheral edge of Greater Manchester (Wigan) once before. She is indeed a very uplifting poet with a nice rounded style. Tell me Belinda - was it a huge culture shock, after Japan???? We do do very nice pies here - be sure to try them out with a bit of saki next time you're in town.

I should just mention the fellow who did a poem about the creation of the world, including Wales and Anglesy. Don't know his name but it was a major tour de force to remember such a long poem and entertain so brilliantly.

Au revoir.

Isobel x

I think the awesome welsh man was simply introduced as "Pen".

Cheers for the kind words, folks! I thought that the standard of poetry for the night was very high, and that the guests were superb.

It was lovely seeing all of you there.

The Welsh gentleman was Pennant Roberts. Penn to his friends. He was enthusiastic about the night, so here's hoping that we'll see him again. I think I've seen him before at Manky Poets in Chorlton.

Andy Nicholson, Mike Wilson and the excellent Tony Walsh for the 27th April. Blimey.

Incidentally - Isobel, your shoes were a marvel to behold!

Why thank you Steve! Actually it was a marvel that I managed to stand up in them, let alone walk. Maybe I should give Naomi Campbell a few tips....

I would agree that the quality of poetry from all was incredibly high.

Thanks again for organising the evening

xx

Isobel
Tell me more about the shoes!
(I'm giving Piggies an airing tonight at the York Literature Festival's Night of Erotic Poetry. I hope there's a lectern!).

Purple patent leather size 6 with sozzing heals and criss cross design on the front, bought in the Next sale for £15. I'm not sure they'd have your size though...

Love your piggies poem John - hope you don't have to read it sitting down...

x

Hi Isobel, Yes I should come over to Wigan sometime again soon. I'm enjoying being back in Manchester, it's almost 5 months now since I returned from Japan. It was a wonderful experience living and working there. Thank you for your kind words about my performance. I like to think that my poetry and performance is improving all of the time. I agree that the night was fab and that there was a really high standard of poets. See you again I hope x Belinda