I’ve had a few bits and pieces in the press of late. METRO – Article about spoken word, featuring an interview with me THE STAGE – Four star review of Frankie Vah THE STAGE – “Drop Everything and Book” – Frankie Vah is 2nd top recommend show at 2017 Fringe NORWICH EYE – Five star review for Frankie Vah OUTLINE –…
There is a current trend in advertising to use “spoken word.” I fell in love with live poetry because it was subversive and anti-establishment. It’s so depressing seeing that on adverts now. I’m not blaming these young poets – there’s loads of people I know and like who have done adverts. I know the money is hugely tempting, but I…
I’m delighted to announce we are launching my new collection The Toll on Friday 10th February at The Courtyard Theatre, Shoreditch. It’s free to get in, and I’m told there might even be free booze as well. Everyone is welcome, but you must RSVP to james [at] pennedinthemargins.co.uk The event starts at 7pm. There will be a reading about 8pm.…
Wow! My second poetry collection has finally been sent to print. Eek! There are 34 poems, selected from over 80, which date from late 2012, just before Mondeo Man came out. While I have been working on this book, both of my children started school and my marriage ended; in the wider world, the world has seen war in Syria, Brexit…
Michael Gove stated whilst campaigning for Britain’s exit from the EU that British people had had “just about enough of experts.” And indeed he and his co-conspirators relied on rhetoric and downright untruths more than the reasoned advice of those more qualified. With America going to the polls today to choose between a seasoned experienced career politician and billionaire, racist…
I recently made a film with Shaun Peel from the Beeb for National Poetry Day. It was supposed to be from the p.o.v. of a Suffolk landmark. I chose something that is as much a part of Essex and Norfolk – The A12.
Let’s All Go To Grammar School Let’s all go to grammar school! Ink wells! Blackboards! Metre rules! Arithmetic and joined-up script and all that Goveish rose-tint schtick. Yes! Let’s all go to Grammar school! Where the oeuvre of Rupert Brooke is read by apple-cheeked young men! Let’s all go to Grammar school! Let England’s leafy suburbs ring with Latin verbs…
It’s Great to Have My Country Back The dream of ’45 is dead united Europe full of lead division reigns but SHIT THE BED it’s great to have my country back! The markets shake like Georgie Best as Farridge thumps his flabby chest and struts about like Kayne West. It’s great to have my country back! Auf Wiedersehen Miss Merkel…
I’m honoured and humbled to have had a good evening at The Saboteur Awards on Friday. What I Learned From Johnny Bevan won Best show, and I was runner-up in the ‘Best Spoken Word Performer’ to Emily Harrison, a very deserving winner. Both awards were publicly voted, THANK-YOU for voting for me. I’m delighted that my work has struck a…