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Poetry at the Edinburgh Fringe 2007?

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REVIEW: Performance Poetry at the Edinburgh Fringe 2007

There is a vibrant performance poetry scene at the Edinburgh Fringe.  The problem is finding it. 
 
The potential is vast and performance poets should not be deterred from bringing their work here.  However, an outline of the position, as I have found it, may help any who may consider doing so.
 
During the weeks I have been here, I have discussed the scene with many, including the poet-in-residence at the Pleasance (Leon Conrad), a representative from the Scottish Poetry Library (Angela Blacklockbrown) and poets performing in the Fringe and at the Book Festival (such as Luke Wright, Jude Simpson and Donny O' Rourke).  A common theme is the Festival's failure to recognise fully the popularity and potential audience for performance poetry here. 
 
For one thing, there is no separate section in the Fringe Brochure (the bible of any fringe-goer).  Poets have to place themselves uneasily in a category such as Comedy, Theatre or even Musical, which does not completely fit.  There is not even a reference in the index to 'poetry', so trying to find a show  comprising it becomes very hit-and-miss.  When asking at the venues themselves, I was often misdirected, usually - for some reason I have not yet fathomed - towards physical theatre.  (Do poets have a reputation for being acrobatic?) 

In desperation, I did attend one such show (having been assured there was poetry also performed within it) - "Doing My Bit", Roxy.  Whilst Zoe Lewis gave a brilliant performance of dramatic narrative, skilfully interweaved with dance from all corners of the globe, whilst remaining set in East London, there were no performed poems amongst it, as the venue promised.
 
However, poetry is not so completely a poor, misunderstood relation at Edinburgh, as this might imply.  Luke Wright organised a large scale 'poetry party' early on in the Fringe, which attracted the likes of Lemm Sissay and Polar Bear, along with a wide range of poets well-known on the performance circuits.  The Pleasance poet-in-residence is working hard to heighten the profile of poetry here, organising daily competitions at the Pleasance Dome and also children's poetry events.  He also hopes to collate a type of communal flyer/poster/programme amongst performance poets at the Fringe in future.  There are some open mic venues, such as at Club West each night and 'Zoo Idol'  at Zoo Southside each Wednesday.  However, as I found when I went along, you will be mainly amongst stand-up comedians (but as I still got 3 stars as the only poet, the audiences seem to want the variety).

There are some excellent performance poets here (see reviews posted) ranging from hardy annuals like John Hegley to Fringe virgins like Helen Burke. 

If you are thinking of bringing a show here, do not be deterred.  (Even I am thinking of doing it in 2008)  However, do not underestimate the amount of time, effort and organisation involved (not to mention expense - but that's another story).  It may also help if you're a bit of an acrobat!

Helen Shay is a lawyer-turned-writer. She writes and performs poetry, mainly at venues around Yorkshire, though recently as far afield as Glastonbury Festival Poet’s Tent. Helen’s poetry has appeared in several publications. She has a joint collection 'Binary Star' (with Irish-American poet, Bee Smith), which won an award in the Il Convivio International Academy competion.

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Comments

Russell Thompson

Thu 5th Jun 2008 14:29

Just picking up again on the old "no Spoken Word category" theme, here's an illustration of why it makes it so frustrating. As you say, Helen, it's often a straight choice between Comedy and Theatre for poets at the Fringe (leaving aside the Rodgers & Hammerstein option for a moment). So - the first few times I took a show there, I rather dubiously put it into the Comedy section, because there were one or two faintly amusing poems in it - although at least half the material was serious. And then what happens? You get absolutely slaughtered by the Comedy critics because they don't find it funny enough (their only criterion) and because they don't understand the conventions of a live poetry show.

(Or maybe just because it was crap. I don't know.)

Russell Thompson

Wed 21st May 2008 14:06

Couldn't agree with you more, Helen. This is the seventh consecutive year I'll have taken a performance poetry show to the Fringe, and the lack of a proper category has always bedevilled me, and made the shows difficult to market. Like you, though, I salute the work that Luke Wright has been doing to thrust the artform into the public eye up there. And fair play to Leon Conrad as well.

To the best of my knowledge, 2008 isn't a great year in terms of the number of performance poetry shows going to Edinburgh. I only know of usual suspects Paul Lyalls, Francesca Beard, Luke, Liz Bentley and Project Adorno. Some of the collectives that used to do Fringe shows - Express Excess, Shortfuse, Big Word - have stopped doing so in the last couple of years (though Poejazzi are returning this year after their storming five-star debut last August). But, as you say, I think there would be great demand if there was a way of linking up with our potential market. And I suspect artists involved in several other slightly maverick artforms feel the same way.

Julian - some friends of mine took their own fringe to Hay a couple of years back: they simply programmed a load of events in the town during the run of the 'real' festival - and went down very well, I understand. Maybe WOL should do the same. The good news is that Hay's near-neighbour, Ledbury Poetry Festival, is becoming increasingly performance-friendly, so they may be worth approaching for next year.

Onward, upward.

Russell Thompson, London Coordinator, Apples & Snakes

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Julian (Admin)

Mon 19th May 2008 19:44

Yeah, Write Out Loud considered taking its open-floor poetry up there a couple of years ago but met the same response and struggled to find a venue (this was just tentative enquiries but we were 'offput').
I am sure there is scope to create a fringe to the fringe with all those talented people and all.
I did approach the Hay festival director and got VERY short shrift from him: If there is to be anything like that we will do it ourselves, thank you! The 'that' was spat.
If ever a festival needed a fringe it is Hay. Perhaps next year we will set up our own tent...
Thanks for this report Helen. Come on you poets, rise to the challenge!

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