Frankenstein at the Dukes

Not really an English society trip, I admit, but well worth going to see! The story was retold by Ben Haggerty and Sianed Jone, it was not a performance as such more of a 'story telling' session but it brilliant. I was hanging on his every word and could imagine the scenes and event he was describing. In some ways, it may even be better than a performance of Frankenstein, as each person sees what they imagine and interpret, rather than having someone elses' imagination played out to you. How many times have you seen a film or play and gone 'That's not how I imagined it would be' 'it's not like that! That's wrong'- none of that with this version. Generally, an enjoyable evening, which will come in handy when studying the text next year, made even better by the fact that the tickets were free!

If you want to find out more, follow this link http://www.crickcrackclub.com/CRICRACK/TOURFR.HTM

The Blackpool Sixth Form English Society had their very first outing on Tuesday 19th October 2010

(and what a way to be christened!)

We were fortunate enough and truly delighted to see...

... the Simon Armitage (poet, playwright and novelist, and all-round funny guy)

Ready and raring in the minibus with our reliable driver, (thanks go to Mr. Steve) twelve lucky members of the newly formed 'Eng Soc' set off for Chester University to see a major literary influence. Simon Armitage proved to be a humorous, knowledgeable and sensitive character with just the right balance of vapid daring, to me his poetry came across as delightfully 'mundangerous'.

He not only engaged with the room with his quick wit and relaxed yet powerful readings but also showed a frighteningly acute eye and astute knowledge for modern life. With such poems as 'Nurse at a Bus Stop' and 'You're beautiful' in which the rhythm brings a colloquial voice and questions about a mind. 'You're beautiful because your classically trained' a benevolent comment of admiration and veneration followed by 'I'm ugly because I associate piano wire with strangulation'. Do we experience an insight into an unstable mind, see a glimpse of madness or a longing for unrequited love. Or perhaps Armitage uses this melancholy, this lullaby of loss to reinforce an unspoken message of living life because otherwise 'when [we]sigh it's like the slow collapse of a circus tent'.

Perhaps that's why Armitage was so easy to engage with.

Thirteen people went into the room knowing a little about his work and his life and his prizes and shared a unanimous appreciation for his poems and his forms and how he manipulates his devices.

Yet thirteen people left the Chester lecture theatre with smiles spread on their faces and the effects of a two and a half our minibus journey ironed out of their clothes and loosened in their joints.

We gained a different perspective on the interwoven tapestry that is life.

So Thank You Simon Armitage.

(Now when's the next trip!)

What should we be reading?

What books do you think are a must read? Which poets do you love! And which plays are a must see? Comment below to add your ideas!

Alexandra Heminsley and Sarra Manning at Blackpool Sixth

This event was in the FYI on 5th October 2010 and was organized by Woodpool (the Blackpool Literature Festival). It was thoroughly enjoyable, I didn't know much about the authors before I went, I haven't even read any of their books! (the shame, though I will try to read some now!) But what they were saying was very interesting. Basically write as much as you can on a blog, in a book, in articles etc. Because until you actually start writing, no one has anything to look at or help you improve on. They also said to send your work off to people! After all, until you start getting feedback you have no idea where to improve.

Both of them seemed like lovely people and originally neither of them had started out with the aim of becoming an author. Sarra Manning started out as a journalist, writing for fashion magazines and Alexandra Heminsley went into publishing. Once they started to meet authors and other writers, box began to realise that they could write too, there isn't some 'special gift' that all writers have. They just write and love to do it!

I thought it was an enjoyable and interesting talk! An evening well spent!

Has anyone read any of their books? Which would you recommend? Please comment below, thank you!

More information and interview at http://bon-vivant-clique.blogspot.com/2010/10/sarra-manning-interview.html#comment-form if you like the sound of the above!