Biography
Steve Regan is a poet, playwright and journalist who lives in Liverpool. His poems have appeared in: Envoi; the Best of Manchester Poets anthology; Reach Poetry, the US journals Killing the Angel, DoveTales and The Provo Canyon Review; and the Canadian journal, Scarlet Leaf Review. His ‘Unpleasant Valley Sunday’ won Runner-up Prize in the Sefton Arts Writing Competition (2011). His poem ‘Red-bricked’ is part of a permanent art exhibition at Wigan Wallgate rail station in Lancashire. Steve is founder of the LIVER BARDS poets, who meet on the THIRD MONDAY of each month in the Rum and Rumour bar, at the historic Ma Boyle's pub (Tower Gardens, central Liverpool, L3 1LG, next to St Nicholas’ church). His play ‘Tim’ – about the bombing of Warrington in 1993 – was performed as part of the Wirral Festival of Firsts in July 2014. Fiction: Steve’s ‘Partners’ daily fiction serial appeared in the UK national newspaper Today (1990-91). His flash fiction has been published by Flash Fiction Magazine among others. http://flashfictionmagazine.com/?s=Stephen+REgan Journalism: Steve created and wrote as the cult national TV critic ‘Sam Brady: the man they can’t gag’ for ORACLE and later the ITV Teletext services. http://sambradyoracle.blogspot.co.uk/ He has written columns for various regional newspapers, including the Hull Daily Mail, the Whitstable Times, the Norwich Evening News and the Moorlands Trader (Staffordshire). He currently writes abo0ut culture and business in the north for the Northern Soul website http://www.northernsoul.me.uk/beta-life/ COMEDY Steve's an experienced MC (of comedy and poetry nights) and a stand-up comedian in his own right. His comedy routines include the troubled love life of a Dalek and the sexual shenanigans of Extraterrestrials. NOVELS Steve has two novels in progress ... 1 'Bad News for Butterflies' about workplace alientation, love and magic. 2 'The Wearons' - a comedy sci-fi about aliens living in Liverpool.
Samples
FOLLOW THE BEIGE BRICK ROAD Not many have followed the beige brick road from Wigan to Wallasey. It starts with treads of trepidation on the road less travelled – the only way out of town. People with a firm sense of direction or purpose swerve instinctively away from such an egress. ‘Circuitous’ is too dry a word for the path of life I’ve taken to arrive here, through all sorts of moisture. Here is now, is Wallasey, on the seventh day of April in the year of our rejected Lord, Two Thousand and Ten. It’s my 51st birthday and yes – tonight I shall party like it's 1959, in Wallasey, 25 miles from Wigan, where the adventure began. Joining me, a few poets – but not too many as I want the mood to be light, with no-one showcasing, apart from me, maybe. Fifty-one years, fifty-one thousand broken dreams – at least! – and as many broken promises, and violence and laughter and snot and satirical sneers and love. I wish I’d been kinder to my friends, nobler to my enemies, more generous with my lovers. I wish I’d kept a grip on the banner of truth instead of nailing my colours to unsteady masts, trimming my sails to passing breezes, letting ships steer me. Wishaway, wishaway, wishaway to Wallasey. I followed the beige brick road to the end of the peninsula where the waters are choppy but it’s not (yet) the end of my road.
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Steve Regan
Burning bridges and launching books (06/06/2013)
Then the muse of good mood arrived ... (14/05/2013)
Truth often comes in drag - as a paradox (29/01/2013)
Such misery - in Goole, Hull and Wigan (10/01/2013)
To the end of the territory! (08/10/2012)
Poetically, pulchritudinously, my equal! (07/09/2012)
Sheer poetry from rough-as-rats Lancs (05/09/2012)
Roll out the red carpets! (10/05/2012)
Do you want to be featured here? Submit your profile.
Comments
Hello Steve,
Is there a New Brighton Bards on this Monday? I plan to come over from York if there is, so can I book a slot?
haha -;o)
Thanks for the comment Steve, yep, pain and pleasure, very Catholic! :) x
Cheers for the comment on my last one Steve.
I've great memories of Southport baths...including the lido.
So sad that the council saw the place in only economic terms of the day :(
Chris
Thx for the generous and detailed feedback on the OK Society poem Steve.
I did perform it at The Bards and it went down in the tone/manner that felt apt.
It'll be good to be back at the Bards in the New Year!
Chris
<Deleted User> (7789)
Tue 14th Dec 2010 12:05
Hi Steve - thanks for your comments. I'll hopefully get a chance to read some of yours and others' poems later today (at work!)
Hi Steve,
Glad you liked the moderate man rant.
Hope to se ya soon...that meal remember.
Chris
Oh we must have a drink or several. getting quite excited now but I still wish I could write two new poems before Saturday. See you soon x
Are you gonna put the lennony-thingy on your profile Mr.Regan, sir? I'm con-tem-plating it!
Ha - the money is mine - I'm saving up for a facelift... for the kitchen!
Can't make Liver this month. I'm looking for somewhere quiet and out of the way to practise my pieces - somewhere with no scousers in sight!
I can't speak for Dave - the only thing we share is a car - when I venture into Mordor...
Am looking forward to Saturday - I've a feeling your poems may be even less flattering than mine!
Will definitely try to make Liver next month - I love the atosphere at all the venues you run. x
Dress run/ read through. 6.30 til 8pm tonight Museum of Wigan Life, Library St. used to be the History Shop/ opposite where they've knocked the baths down. See you later! Louise :) ps. off to open mic night after. Will definately come across to your end v v soon
thanks for the invite to bards...will do best to make it for tomorrow x
Steve, thanks for the honour of being even considered as competitive material for the LiverPoetry event. I have been abroad and not 'WOL connected' for some time. I'll be participating again soon, though it will take me days to catch up on activities. Respects always.
Hi, Steve! Thank you very much for your kind invitation to the Grand Liverpool Poetry Competition. It could be great if I could take part in it. But... Do you know I am from Odessa in Ukraine? lol
Hi Steve - thanks for the nod - yes, I had planned to come along anyway! Will there be 2 rounds like in other slams? Need to decide on what to practise...my Alfie poem is way over 4 minutes!
Rachel Bond
Thu 20th May 2010 14:05
hi steve...just got your message about mc ing at liverpoetry. yes id be happy to do that if the offer is still there...x
Hi Steve - thanks for paying me a call. Don't think I can make it tonight. Don't like travelling on my own into Liverpool LOL - have also had a bit of a stressful week for one reason and another. Will definitely try next month - it's been too long! xx
ps You should send your audio poem to Paul. I remember hearing it at Leigh and they were all good. It would be good hear it again on Jukebox
Arsony, arsony, it has to be arsony. Infamy, infamy, someone's got it in for you.
Can it possibly be true that you are cancelling the Bards? Couldn't it possibly take place on the ashes? Was amazed to read about it on the home page - let's hope the character isn't spoilt when they rennovate it.
Hope to see you soon anyway. Isobel x
Happy Birthday Steve : )
Wishing you a fabulous day!
<Deleted User> (7164)
Tue 9th Mar 2010 18:09
Thanks for commenting on 'Cash Converters.' Much appreciated.
Janet.x
ps. See you at the Tudor Thursday if you're there.
Steve, just called in to say I totally agree with the feeling of Imagine Revisited. I'm a great Lennon fan but have always hated that song, and regarded it as a trite dirge. I suspect Yoko wrote the words. Greg
<Deleted User> (7073)
Mon 22nd Feb 2010 21:40
Thanks man for your comment, especially as it's not normally your thing, I had to edit down somewhat from the origional as it was really alluding to something called ' A course in Miracles' very different audience.Cheers ;-)TC
Hi Steve - was wondering if you had a copy of Wirral Winter Words I could buy tonight. I would like you to write in the front of it also. I like having a collection of poetry from poets I know. x
<Deleted User> (7164)
Tue 19th Jan 2010 10:01
Hi Steve,
just want to say thanks for your comment on my poem, numb dumb belle. It's much appreciated.
Janet.x
Pete Crompton
Sun 17th Jan 2010 12:55
I'm missing you a lot Steve, so glad you are still out there, thanks for all your events, I hope to be feeling better soon and get out there and see you and the crew. Miss it so much, your warmth, passion and enthusuasim leads to the most nurtered of poetry nights, long live the bards and the Regan scene
I will check the library on Monday for the novel you recommend.
One winter while visiting my sister in Canada I got completely snowed in for three days. She had a 'heritage' Bible from the late 1800's, a tome so big I had to spread it on a table to read. But I amused myself by reading completely through Paul's contributions to the canon. It was one of the happiest three days of my life; I was mesmerised once more, and privileged to stay with my reading for hours, immersion in 'his' words and philosophy. I never use the word 'doctrine' anymore. The fine aspects of Paul far outweigh the nonsense, although he has much to answer for in strait-jacketing Christian concepts about men and women. Well, hardly more than St. Augustine who really did a number with 'original sin'.
Thank you Steve for reading my poem 'Bound together'
and for your lovely words...
Francine x
Steve, my sincere apologies. I can't get through to you via the other channel. Don't know why. I have chosen to share through this medium. I hope I haven't overstepped.
Perspective
They
Think
I am on the outside
Looking in,
Beguiled by questions …
Scholarship … intellectualism …
Erecting barriers against the sleeping spirit.
But I say:
What a strange thought.
I live to learn,
And learn to live
With understanding,
In the constancy of Spirit:
‘Is … was … and shall be …’
There is no sleeping!
And I wonder why they peer at me
With murky eyes
As ‘through a glass darkly’.
But who is boastful?
Humility
Is essential
To Truth
And Love.
It is hard to eschew
A sense of superiority …
Easily the greatest Lie
Of all Lies.
Cynthia Buell Thomas
Steve, I am a crow's wing circle from Wigan, just around the corner in Sale, Cheshire.
And I too think that Biblical phrase is glorious. It was probably very influential. I have a poem based on it that I might share. Your work is very inspiring you know - or do you?
If you wish to post a comment you must login.
john short
Fri 9th Nov 2018 00:04
Nice one Steve. Excellent portrayal of a tempestuous life. And an evolution from coca cola to red wine by the looks of things.