welcome

i’m a poet and writer interested in words that reach out honestly for core conditions that help all humans, that offer such conditions, to help us find, make, a benign environment for growth for all, serious and fun

i’m especially interested in poetry, literature, film, theatre, music, art, wisdom, counselling (and many aspects of these, including gender)

. . .

Theatre Appreciation – Hope is a 4 Letter Word

An appreciation of Hope is a 4 Letter Word, by gobscure at Alphabetti Theatre newcastle 17 & 20 April 2024

Guest artist at Hope is a 4 Letter Word, Alphabetti Theatre, 17th April ’24

I attended Hope is a 4 Letter Word yesterday evening as one of the eighteen guest artists responding (1 at each performance) to the poem ‘wanting lorca tattoo’ by poet, artist, playwright gobscure. It’s a powerful piece that examines the pressures on us of this world and how we may be tempted to respond, and…

Puddle, Alphabetti Theatre – an appreciation

Appreciation of Puddle, Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, 7th December 2023

Poetry Review: Lucidities by Toni Hurford

a link to a review at Disability Arts Online of Toni’s debut poetry pamphlet and links to purchase the pamphlet online

Angela, an appreciation

Appreciation of the fringe one person show, Angela seen at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, 8 November 2023

Please Do Not Touch This Exhibit by Jen Campbell – an appreciation published

My appreciation of this new collection of poetry from Jen Campbell and Bloodaxe books is published at Disability Arts Online, link in this post.

Play Appreciation – Mr Punch Alphabetti Theatre

An appreciation of the new Play, Mr Punch, by Steve Byron in collaboration with Joana Geronimo at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Three Trans Poems Published on Disability Arts Online’s blog – link here

A Link to three new poems on trans themes published at Disability Arts Online’s Blog

Soup: 10 Years of Alphabetti – an appreciation

An appreciation of the review Soup: 10 years of Alphabetti Theatre @ Alphabetti Theatre 22 August 2023

Raven – a new musical for young people, an appreciation

An appreciation of the new musical Raven – for young people and wild hearts – at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne 16th August 2023

Tangerines, an appreciation

An appreciation of the play Tangerines at Alphabetti Theatre, 26th July 2023 as part of Newcastle Fringe Festival

An Appreciation of Chop, Dissolve, Burn published

Link to my appreciation of Chop, Dissolve, Burn at Alphabetti Theatre 21st June 2023 published at Disability Arts Online

A review of my poetry pamphlet, Lucidities, at Disability Arts Online

a link to a review of my poetry pamphlet, Lucidities, at Disability Arts Online

The Lies, Alphabetti Theatre

an appreciation of The Lies, by Degna Stone, World Premiere, 24 May 2023

Soapbox Racer, an appreciation – Alphabetti Theatre 26th April 2023

An appreciation of Soapbox Racer by Ben Schwarz at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne 25th April – 13th May 2023.

Debut Poetry Pamphlet, Lucidities, Published

Announcing publication of my debut pamphlet of poems on Kindle and in paperback through Amazon.

Person Spec, Alphabetti Theatre – an appreciation

An appreciation of Person Spec, Alphabetti Theatre, newcastle upon Tyne seen 1 March 2023

(a major revision of my earlier briefly posted appreciation)

The Nature of Forgetting at Northern Stage – an appreciation

An appreciation of Theatre Re’s The Nature of Forgetting at Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, 17 February 2023

Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light, Alphabetti Theatre – an appreciation

an appreciation of Tiny Fragments of Beautiful light by Allison Davies directed by Karen Traynor at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2 February 2023

Song of the Goblins, Alphabetti Theatre, an appreciation

An appreciation of Song of the Goblins at Alphabetti Theatre, seen 22nd December 2022

Alphabetti Theatre makes The Stage Awards, 2023 Fringe Theatre of the Year Shortlist

The Stage Fringe Theatre of the Year 2023 includes Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre

Featured as Poet of the Week at Olney Magazine with one poem, A Sea

link to my feature in Olney Magazine and my poem, A Sea

More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish – an appreciation

An appreciation of the Performance of More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, 16th November 2022

Stairwall – The Things We Find, an appreciation

An appreciation of Stairwall – The Things We find by Dance Artist Esther Huss, North Shields 6th November 2022.

vi (2022) – a new poem

over time
a toxic opportunism
to the organised (?)

Out-Out! by Joana Geronimo Performance Review

appreciation of the one person show Out-Out! by Joana Geronimo in world premiere production at alphabetti theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, 19 October 2022

Play Review – Sugar Baby by Alan Harris

An appreciation of Sugar Baby by Alan Harris, performed at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne 27th September 2022.

V (2022) untitled new poem

how well the martialled world submits
curtseys to its lord and mistress
on the back of power limitless
desire fulfilled feels the infinite
sets out to keep its pleasures
so cower in your place, a cage, a rabbit hutch

Voyager I

i wrote a poem
the world doesn’t care

binaries

i can’t not have been there
a frothing skirt
receptive

i can’t not have been there
putting sweat through hurt

. . .