fbpx

Blackpool Groups: Dead Good Poets

Guest post by Ashley R Lister.

As I write this I’m preparing for a night of poetry at the Dead Good Poets’ latest open mic event.  I had never thought I would become a person who went to open mic events. I never thought I’d become the sort of person interested in poetry. It always struck me that there was an air of superficial pseudo-intellectual artifice to public poetry events. But the Dead Good Poets aren’t like that.

The poetry at a typical event is eclectic. There are poets who rhyme every line all the time. There are poets whose blank verses, to paraphrase Keats, “strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost a remembrance.” There are poets who can shock the audience with a rap-like barrage of dysphemistic images and juxtaposed expletives. And there are poets who can have theDGP logo audience in fits of giggles with absurd and surreal humour. Not that the Dead Good Poets are only interested in poetry.poet's guide

At previous events there have been plays performed by poets. There have been singers and musicians on the mic. There have been readings from novels – both published and in progress. The Dead Good Poets have published a book of poetry that was launched before the mayor. The Dead Good Poets have published a book of spooky stories and poems that were part of an installation in Blackpool’s illuminations. They’ve done more but, for the purposes of this article, I think it’s fair to say that the Dead Good Poets cover a broad spectrum of performed and published arts.

Perhaps it’s the audience who are central to the success of a night with the Dead Good Poets? Made up of poets, performers and passers-by, there are usually thirty or forty audience members on a typical night all of whom are supportive to the poets at the open mic. Perhaps it’s the convivial atmosphere of the No. 5 Café that makes the evening so enjoyable. The coffee is good. Alcohol is available and the place has won awards for quality of food and hygiene.

Personally, I go for many of the reasons I’ve listed above. It’s a chance to hear poetry being spoken by the poet who wrote those words. It’s a chance to be moved by words and performances in a way that’s unlike any other form of entertainment you can find in films or on TV. I go because it’s a chance to catch up with friends who share the same passion for poetry that holds me in its thrall. And I go because I love the excitement of occasionally daring to perform my own work in front of others.

The Dead Good Poets are now pledged to meet on the first Friday of each month throughout 2013. The first half of an evening is family friendly and the second half is uncensored. They gather at the No. 5 Café, Cedar Square, from 6:00pm and newcomers are always welcome.No5

Follow the Dead Good Poets on Facebook, Twitter or via the award-winning Dead Good Blog.

Reclaim Blackpool - Mapping Sexual Harrasment
  • Show Comments (1)

  • Adele Robinson

    Vicky – thank you for such a wonderful indepth article about the Dead Good Poets contribution to community art and writing.

    Our next open mic is on 1st February with the theme ‘Love’.
    I sincerely hope that many of your on-line readers will come and sample our great evening and that they will bring their own work to share but please bear in mind that there is a three minute time constraint, ,without prior arrangement and that a contributor can only perform in two sections each evening. This means that everyone can be included.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

comment *

  • name *

  • email *

  • website *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You May Also Like

Colin Davies: Doctor Who Adventure

He’s back.  And this time, he’s brought a companion! Blackpool based poet, performer, author ...

Summer Reading Challenge 1

Record Breaking Summer Reading Challenge

Blackpool Library Service launched their Summer Reading Challenge yesterday with help from pupils from Thames Primary ...