Haaaaaaaaa... Hope all is well fellas, It's been productive since my last mail, stayed for a week in Scotland, secluded and isolated, kicking out a script, poems and lots of other fun whatnots... perfect to clear my brain as the next six months of madness comes. Madness, what madness you ask? Hold, I shall reveal all... The Formula: 4 News Items / Smthn frm YouTube: FRESH OFF THE PAGE // THE MIDNIGHT RUN THE 14TH TALE TOUR // OPEN NOTEBOOKS YOUTUBE: MICHAEL JACKSON
FRESH OFF THE PAGE// Urgent! Last minute.comness, I know but click here and read on: http://moourl.com/ge02c // Cool photo right? (thnx Kim) Last year, I curated a live Word & Graphic installation under the banner 'Fresh of the Page' for the Southbank's Lit Fest. This year, I return to host and perform at an event - Mashing the Classics - FREE Entry - where writers/performers remix classic stories. Also on the bill: Nikesh Shukla, Rachel Rose Reid, Maxwell Golden, Kayo Chingonyi, Dzifa Benson & Naomi Woddis, and musicians Dylan Howe & Will Butterworth.
Time: 4.30 - 6.00 // Entry: FREE Venue: Queen Elizabeth Hall // SouthBank Centre // Web: http://moourl.com/ge02c //
THE MIDNIGHT RUN // Flashback summer to '05, bored of waiting for a bus, a friend and I decided to walk the bus route. We deviated a bit. After 6 hours of wondering through the night, through the deserted city streets, we had covered huge chunks of London by foot, and were not tired. I titled the excursion 'The Midnight Run' and since 06' there's been a run every year; I invite a bunch of folks, mostly strangers to themselves, and from 6pm - 6am, in summer, when it's hot enough to rock t-shirst, we walk, eat, talk, dance and make merry from sunset to sunrise. The runs are truly magical, I have stories for days... but the movement is growing. This September, there'll be a Manchester MNR, talks are underway for a Glasgow Run, and whispers of Oxford. And exciting news, The MNR is now sponsored by Blacks the Outdoor specialists.
Read more? Download a write up of MNR '07 here - http://moourl.com/hp5u6 //and the Most recent, the Mini May Run '09 here - http://moourl.com/lsshh // The Next Run is on the 8th of August, want to know more? just mail me - themidnightrun@gmail.com
THE 14th TALE: EDINBURGH FRINGE // The play is back! After the 3 sell out dates at the Arcola Theatre in London early this year, my first theatrical outing, The 14th Tale will be touring right through the autumn. A total of 32 dazzling dates, including the Contact Theatre in Manchester, ARC Theatre in Stockton, Ustinov in Bath, Norden Farm in Maiden Head, 2 weeks at the Battersea Arts Centre, The Albany Theatre in Deptford and the Croydon Clocktower.
However, the first place it'll play is The Edinburgh Fringe Fest. For ten days it will be part of the British Council Showcase, at the prestigious Pleasance Courtyard, Venue 33. Please spread the word and come. I'll be publishing the complete dates on my website soon, but leave with this:
14th Tale Edinburgh Fringe Fest. August 19 - 29th (excluding 23) // Time: 2pm // Cost: £10/£7.50 Pleasance Courtyard, Venue 33 // Tickets: http://www.plesance.cou.uk Box Office Call: 0131 556 6550 // Utube: http://moourl.com/e0hqw
OPEN NOTEBOOKS// Over at http://opennotebooks.co.uk something special is going on. Created and curated by Karen McCarthy, it asks the question: 'Can we use blogs and web platforms as interactive, multi-media notebooks, and if so does it change the end result?' Four poets have been commissioned to create one poem online, and blog about the process. I am one of the fellas and until the 22nd of July, I will be uncloaking my creative process, showing bits of my sketch book, and from my notebook. Please stop by and follow the journey. When you arrive on the site, look to the right and click 'Inua Ellams' and my posts will come up.
YOUTUBE: MICHAEL JACKSON There is nothing I can say that hasn't been already, no sentiment I can express that hasn't be played out on television. Perhaps the most curious complex character to have ever lived on screen has left. He battled his parents, his childhood, his sexuality, his gender and his race. As much as he was worshipped and recognised, he was ridiculed and taunted. So celebrating Mike J in his prime, sit and watch this legendary performance: Billie Jean / Motown 25.
SweetXx ---
Foyle's Young Poets Compeitition 2009-06-27
The Poetry Society has just created its first ever viral video! The video is being used to promote the Foyle Young Poets of the Year competition which closes for entries on 31st July 2009. The Poetry Society is celebrating its centenary this year and hopes that in 2009 as many young people as possible will get involved with the UK’s leading poetry competition.
Watch the video here: ---