Location: Kingston University (Penrhyn Road campus)
Date: Friday 28 October
Organisers: Alison Hill (founder of Rhythm & Muse)
Laura Bottomley
Tucked away at the fringe of the bustling courtyard at Kingston University’s Penrhyn Road campus stood the sheepish ‘Pop-up Festival Poetry Tent’. As a general rule, the poets were more timid and unassuming than the miniature polyester structure under which they mumbled their poetic verse. Had the passing world paused a few moments though, it may have noticed the snippets of wit and wonder produced by members of the ‘Creative Juices’ team and other more accomplished poets.
The interchangeable populace of the concrete quad resumed their usual laughter and smoking before edging off to lectures in the John Galsworthy building. A small proportion of unsuspecting students that happened to pass through the doors nearest the tent produced nervous smiles, before circling the small throng of arty folks, and striding away at pace.
Towards the opening of ‘Poetry Breakout’, the meagre audience consisted only of writers waiting to read and a handful of English literature students. The first participants from the ‘Creative Juices’ group – led by Sam Coles-Rogers – lined up to take a turn on the microphone. However, with the overbearing clamour of uninterested passers-by and little volume on the PA, further mixed with lack of conviction, meant that the words were instantly lost from the readers’ mouth.
As lectures commenced, the atmosphere became sedate and gave chance for a particular extravagant personality to take the stand. Martin Daw’s opened with a brief introduction of his life growing up in a London suburb and broke in to a rhythmic rap about boyhood and his journeys to school. The descriptive array of smells, sights, and sounds along with Daws’ fast paced rhetoric combined to epitomise the life of a pre-pubescent child – the boy’s everyday trip detailed as an epic expedition. One particularly evocative notion repeated throughout the poem concerned the child’s absolute focus of not stepping on “the cracks of the pavement”. On a later and even more lyrical number, Daw’s incorporated an African Kalimba (thumb piano) which accompanied his jazzy Hip-Hop poetic style to a piece on the “wonder drug” that is music. The ability this poet displayed of isolating an emotion and applying it as a universal experience had the small audience captivated. Ears were opened and minds defrosted by the cockney-lyricist on this bitter October morning.
Following such an enigmatic performance proved difficult. Although, the return of more ‘Creative Juices’ acts came with increased vigour and variety. Julian Way proved a witty and amusing character. His depressing demeanour contrasted with the comedic content of his work, made even more humorous as he read straight from his mobile phone. Is the future of poetry? Dominic Bury impressed with verses that referenced current affairs and critiqued modern society. Further in the proceedings came a passionate piece from Maria-Faith Mendoza concerning a love affair with the city of Manchester which was enjoyed all round; however, her enthusiastic display seemed more for the video camera than her audience.
For the few hours I spent at the ‘Poetry Breakout’ – part of the first ever Rhythm & Muse festival – there were some encouraging signs for the future of poetry. And those that braved the cold, strained their ears, and simply had patience were granted with some reward. However, I am not convinced that this event did enough to rip the prehistoric form that is poetry from its roots to make it fresh and invigorating for a contemporary audience. Perhaps I expected a bigger tent and a livelier crowd, or fire-breathing poets riding unicycles whilst reciting verse, or maybe I am a product of a generation that is seemingly too preoccupied to have patience with poetics.
