Wigan warriers welcome was wonderful. Wondering wry witty writer walked wigan wood.

That was a cracking night, even though i arrived at half time. Welcomed with a pint introduced to the folk who previously only seen on these pages. Superb, I would commend a night at the Tudor to anyone, new or a seasoned performer,

Really enjoyed it.

It was indeed a splendid evening.
I recommend it too. But I'm biased, it's me local.

If someone brings a mattress and duvet on stage and gets a Goth girl, replete with piercings, to climb in it - then it has to be Wigan and the Tudor House at Wigan to boot.

Hosted excellently by, new WOL compere, Alabaster de Plume, the night was a curious mix of wild highs and unexpected, even disappointing lows. The students were back and already we have names of potential performers for the future, new to the night and hadn’t anything prepared. So to those of you I say see you next month.

We had many of the WOL stalwarts such as Dave Morgan, Gordon Zola, John & Sandy Clays, Peter Crompton, Abi Idowu, Julian Jordon & me plus some of the Wigan regulars such as Julie and John Togher but tonight none of us seemed to catch fire and overall it felt, to me at least, a little flatter than usual.

The exceptions were a slightly (understandably) nervous, Wigan debuts by Keith Lucy & Phil Golding. A couple of interesting pieces by Baz, including the poem with the mattress, duvet and Goth which went down extremely well, though he then in-advisedly put in an extra poem at the end of his set which turned the crowd off slightly – “quit while your ahead with the cheers ringing in your ears” is the old show-biz axiom.

During the night there were, I felt, two outstanding performances, the first by Shaun Fallows and the other by Darren Thomas and I would be hard pushed to say who was the best of them. Shaun gave a funny, assured performance and, despite a failure to remember some words, rallied extremely well and got a tremendous reception for his work. Similarly, Darren, with only his third ever public performance, gave us a flurry of accents coupled with two excellent poems, the first about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the second at least ostensibly, about a condom in his wallet, funny and thought provoking.

Maybe I’m too jaded having been to too many poetry nights recently, maybe I’ve seen many of these excellent performers just one too many times in a short space of time, maybe last month’s Wigan spectacular was such a high that any subsequent month would have to be a low, or maybe I’m simply clapped out after a crap summer. Whatever, one thing’s for certain, this night is very good even when it isn’t at its best (see Phil’s & Baz’s comments below) and I’m sure it won’t be long before we see those all round stunning performances once again - so come next month for a real good time.

In the meantime thanks to everyone who performed, I’m sure I’m doing many of you a disservice by this low-key review. Thanks to Alabaster for great compering, Baz for a gutsy, experimental piece which deserved the accolade it got, Keith & Phil for having the balls to stand up and do it and to Shaun & Darren for being the stars of the evening.

I wasn't up to performing last night and probably wont be for a while - so I was there simply as a spectator.
The first reason i went is because you guys are my family and I needed to see you all, as I missed you all and needed to feel close to you all again and I did as soon as I stepped off the train and caught sight of Alabaster walking through the train station in full Plume Regalia and caught his smile as I demanded (as is my habit) a hug in the back streets of Wigan I knew I was home (figuratively speaking of course as I'm not a wiganer) Once inside the beautiful Abi nabbed me and had me in fits of laughter within minutes and even set fire to our table at one point much to King Paul's astonishment, sadly she went home early as she was unwell and I missed her very much,but she performed in her beautiful sweet voice and calmed my soul with the beautiful poem dedicated to her fathers memory.
Julian Jordan shone for me last night, I thought his rhubarb poem and accompanying comments hilarious and Gordon as ever never fails to cheer me up and I think his Singer/songwriter poem is a new masterpiece!
Darren's thoughtful poem about the Berlin wall was coming down was very poignant and I think John Togher was very brave to read his first poem which resonated aspects of Dante's Inferno for me and Julie's poem was excellently performed, great use of natural sound and rhythm!
Shaun Fallows is always a star and I really liked I don't like flying which I hope to hear the full version of soon.
I have to apologise to my very good friend Peter here as I( asked him to read Get Off My Land for me and he had a different poem planned and though he was brilliant, the phenominal phwoaar that we usually get wasn't there and I think that's because he was reading it for me - plus he had technical difficulties to deal with!
It was great to see Alabastor perform Night and Day and he did an excellent job of compering, it was a different kind of madness from last time much darker in content me thinks, but that did not stop it being a very entertaining evening!
And how did the night end - my wonderful loving family abandoned me! (except Darren and Phil chivalrous gents as they are) Don't worry I tracked them down scoffing chips at the train station.
I forgive you all though and I'm very proud to be part of this mad cap family and I'm truly in debt to uncle Dave, uncle Julian and aunty Paul for setting it up and all the wonderful work they do to keep us together! Much love to all WOL(ers)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

oh and I must apologise to Gus for embarrassing him on the way home.x

Thanks to everybody for another great night again
I'll definatley have the I don't like flying poem right for next time and some new one's I enjoyed everyone's stuff and the intro's were amazing I thought Abi's voice was really floaty rexaxing and intense at the same time if that's possible

Thanks to Peter and Gordon for their advice and Paul and Julian for giving me the oportunity to do my poety the buzz of communicating with friends, writers, people I respect makes it abundantly clear why I write

Until next time Love and Respect to you all Shaun (James Brown On Wheels)

OK some photos are up in galleries (I think Julian will be posting some more soon) - sorry about making you look like a manic, serial killer Darren & sorry to those I missed because my camera's battery ran out.

You can also find some photos of Moxy and Anwen Lewis on the Forewords Gallery.

KP

Stupid computer, not finished and wrong expression

to continue ........

Thanks to Darren and Maggie for their words of encouragement and installing more self-belief. Its a real buzz knowing that the culmination of my writing is finding its audience. My second visit to a stage was a bit nerve racking, but my confidence grows with every appearance.

As to the night itself, A Daftie, if that was a bit flatter compared to last month, all I can say is roll on next month. The Tudor has a great atmosphere and was a great education for me. A learning curve.

To echo what Maggie said, the 'Write Outloud' crowd are like a family. The best place for all of performers. There was alot of talent on display last night and one hell of alot that are part of this site. A community run for and on behalf of poets.

See you all soon

Bard from Urmston

I think you did brill Phil.
xxx

I think you are a little harsh Mr Daftie.
I wasn't able to attend last month, but believe it was very good, however I thought last night was excellent.
Everyone was good.
Sorry bout my final poem, but that was for Pete, who for some reason enjoys my pisstakes.
Good night all round in my opinion.

2nd Thursday every month Sophie

You could be right Baz - I did put a number of caveats in my review and I'm quite prepared to accept that my view was not that of others there on the night.

I'm not blaming the performers at all but the audience last night did move in and out of the room all of the time, at times it was packed and at others half empty, so that any moment the make up of the audience was quite different from any other and so no uniform atmosphere could build up over the night.

I didn't say it wasn't a great night, just not the "knock my socks off" of the previous month and yes that's subjective too but that's what reviews are all about surely?

I agree with you there Paul, I did enjoy the performances and I think Alabaster did a fantastic job of compering, which is much more difficult than it looks but you're right the atmosphere was lacking and I guess maybe that was down to the shiftin audience - the best thing is that even with something like that Wigan still manages to be one of the best poetry nights I've ever been too.
xxx

I arrived late due to other commitments but those that i saw were wonderful. Mr Gordon Zola, a parade of Terracotta soldiers salute you. Mr DePlume, may the Hat God Fedora shine on you and your soul. Julian, In! In! In! Never mind 'Out!Out! Out! Mr Togher, your tube of 'Deep Think' was returned to its rightful place behind the bar, after a liberal application of its contents into the cognitive fore of my head. Mr Golding, your kettle of confidence is now warming through. With time, the bubbles of bleather will come. They simmer on the heat of experience and practice.
And to all the other blurred individuals who i didn't manage to see due to various lavatorial invasions - Well done.
The Coordinates are now set for the underwater sea life centre known as The How? Croft. Bring your teeth and dazzle the world of poetic gums.

Very well put Darren! Be careful, you'll be press-ganged into Review Man Number One, never to return...

Many thanks everyone, you are too kind.

And well done to all the poets who performed, you were mint. Occupied as I was with learning the ropes, I missed alot of the best bits, otherwise I'd go into more depth.

I do agree with Paul, it wasn't as boomin' as last month, and I must say that the mood is set by the performance (particularly the compere), not the other way 'round... All the same it was top, thanks everyone, for a great night!

-DePlume

Plume!
Yes you are completely responsible for the dark mood of the place!
Babe, from what I've seen of you, you are a very good poet and you did a very professional job of compering on your first attempt!
From my very limited experience of Wigan, as wonderful a night as it is, it's a hard venue to perform at - Ergo it must be much more difficult to compere there and both yourself and Peter did a tremendous job of compering!
You brought the night alive and made it exciting and dynamic, just as Peter did the time before.
Think also about the content of the poetry - the time before had much lighter poetry read, this time we had much darker poetry i.e. the bowels of hell, street gangs of three year olds, Faschism, and of course that will effect an already sombre mood.
I know I am reasonably new to Write Out Loud but believe me I have been to many many poetry nights up and down the country and nothing sparks my fire like Wigan does and I think alot of that is the very rock and roll feel that you and Peter bring to the night when you are compering!
I know I am known as the softie of the group but believe me Gus, I wouldn't say these things if they weren't true, sexy beard or no.
I really wish you guys would stop being so hard on yourself! as I've said I came because I needed to be near you guys and I needed to be distracted and your gorgeous smile and wonderful charisma helped me to forget my woes for a while and if I could I would come to Wigan and be entertained every time.
I agree with Paul about the lack of or rather the denseness of the atmosphere, but I also agree with Baz that Paul maybe being a bit hard - it was always going to be difficult to follow last month and you did a very good job I think.
Oh and yes a nice review Darren and I'm sure I've said it already but I'll say it again it was lovely to meet the man whose mind has me in fits of hysteria so often.
xxxxxxx

I think it's unfortunate that 'atmosphere' seems to invite itself, or not!
For instance how often have you bobbed to the pub for a swifty, yet for reasons no one understands the atmosphere is fantastic and you go home pissed.
Atmosphere is a group thing I think, and individuals shouldn't be blamed.
Meanwhile, well done Alabaster, and I enjoyed the evening, and seeing as only me matters, all is well.
See you all next month dears.