Dead Good Poets Society – November 2008 Diary

November’s Diary

Thursday 6th @ 5.30pm: George Szirtes gives this year’s Kenneth Allott
Memorial Lecture. Winner of the Faber Memorial Prize & the T S Eliot
Prize, Szirtes is also an award-winning translator. Victoria Gallery &
Museum, Liverpool University. Free.

Friday 7th: 6.30-7.30pm – Philip Pullman: The Elementary Particles of
Narrative. Looking at the smallest possible units of story, the talk
will focus on how such units work and change and become charged with
meaning in larger narratives. Sherrington Lecture Theatre 2, Liverpool
University £5/£3

Saturday 8th @10.30 – 11.30 am – Jo Shapcott & Jamie McKendrick read
from Signs and Humours, an anthology that brings together over 100 poems
written over the last 2000 years to show how the body has continued to
fascinate and agitate poets. Sherrington Lecture Theatre 1, Liverpool
University £5/£3

Saturday 8th: 11.30-12.30pm: Liverpool Poets Now & Then. Who is your
favourite Liverpool poet? Have a coffee and join in the debate.
Starbucks, Liverpool One. Free.

Saturday 8th @ 11am & 4pm – Comma Films: Story & Poetry Films shorts.
Premiere of 8 short films adapted from the country’s best contemporary
short stories & poems. The morning event is followed by a discussion
with David Constantine at 12.30pm. FACT, Wood St, Liverpool. Free.

Saturday 8th: 12.30-1.30pm – Brian Patten, one of the original Mersey
Poets reads from his collections Armada, Gargling with Jelly, and The
Mersey Sound. Sherrington Lecture Theatre 1, Liverpool University. £5 / £3

Saturday 8th: 4-5pm – Carol Ann Duffy lived in Liverpool for a decade.
She’s welcomed back to read from her many award-winning collections and
to discuss her work and career. Sherrington Lecture Theatre 2. £5 / £3

Saturday 8th @ 6.30pm – Simon Armitage reads from and talks about his
diverse collection of work. The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool. £5 /
£3 Tel: 0151 702 5324

Monday 10th: 7.30pm-9.30pm – Liverpool’s Poetry Café, in association
with Homotopia, presents Gerry Potter, Cath Nichols and Dominic Berry.
Gerry Potter, having temporarily retired his alter ego, Chloe Poems,
wows us with his new poems inspired by his home city of Liverpool. Cath
Nichols, former co-ordinator of Dead Good Poets Society, performs new
work and poems from her previous collections, Tales of Boy Nancy & My
Beautiful Assistant. Dominic Berry, fresh from his book launch, puts the
performance back into poetry. A vibrant and varied evening – one for
your diaries! Costa Coffee, 14 Bold Street, Liverpool. Free, but a
donation towards PA hire is always welcome!

Wednesday 12th @ 8pm: Dead Good Poets Society Open Floor. 24 slots of 5
mins each for poets to perform their own poetry. If you plan to perform,
please arrive early to book a slot. The 3rd Room, Everyman Bistro, Hope
Street, Liverpool 1. £2 / £1

Thursday 13th: 6.30pm-8.30pm. Aileen La Tourette, who has guested for
Dead Good Poets Society in the past, launches her latest book, Late
Connections (Ilura Press) with readings and book signing. All welcome!
The Hub, Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool. Free.

Saturday 15th 11am – 1pm. Dead Good Poets Society Poetry Reading Group.
A change of date and time for the Reading Group this month, but normal
service will be resumed next month. This month the group will be looking
at Villanelle poems. If you would like to receive copies of the poems in
advance, please contact Sarah on 0151 709 5224, or copies will be
provided on the day. A chance to discuss poetry in good company. No
previous experience necessary. Newcomers are always welcome. The
Conference Room, Liverpool Central Library. Refreshments provided. Free.

Tuesday 18th @ 3.30pm – Ma Jian, a leading dissident Chinese writer will
be reading and discussing his work. His new novel,Beijing Coma (Chatto &
Windus), stems from the events in Tiananmen Square in May 1989. “Spiked
with dark wit, poetic beauty and deep rage”. The Windows Project, Liver
House, 96 Bold Street, Liverpool (above News From Nowhere bookshop).
Please ohone 0151 709 3688 if you would like to attend.

Wednesday 19th @ 8pm – Dead Good Poets Society Guest Night with Adam
Khan, the Bard of Wirral, who mixes classical language and poetic forms
with the concerns of Modern Life. The 3rd Room, Everyman Bistro, Hope
St. Liverpool 1. £3 / £2

Thursday 20th: 6.30pm-8.30pm – The renowned poetry magazine The Rialto
is making the long trip from East Anglia to Liverpool John Moores
University. Editor Michael Mackmin will be talking about how to get your
poetry into magazines and how to submit a first collection. Emily Wills
will be reading from her second, Rialto published, collection
‘Developing the Negative, and Michael Mackmin
will also read his poetry. Dean Parkin who works for both The Rialto and
Aldeburgh Poetry Festival will be on hand to offer his advice too. Come
and listen to the editor of one of the most important British poetry
magazines, have a glass of wine and enjoy the poetry. Time permitting
there will be an open mic. Room 006, Ground Floor, Dean Walters
Building, Liverpool John Moores University, St James St (by main
entrance of Anglican Cathedral).

Thursday 20th: 6.30pm-8.30pm. You are warmly invited to the book launch
of Dave Ward’s second poetry collection, ‘on the edge of rain’
(Headland). The Hub, Bluecoat Arts Centre, School Lane, Liverpool.
Wine, drinks: reading and music. RSVP dw.windowsproject@btinternet.com

Friday 21st: 7.30-9.30pm – Manky Poets presents Jeffrey Wainright,
former Professor of English at Manchester Metropolitan University, who
will read new poems and from his four previous collections. Chorlton
Library, Manchester Road, Chorlton, M21 9PN. £2 /£1

Saturday 22nd Reader Day: 10am – 5pm @ Liverpool Central Library.
celebrate Liverpool’s literary legacy through a series of author
readings, discussions and workshops that will inspire you to pick up new
books, share thoughts with other readers and provides a unique
opportunity to meet some of the city’s great literary folk.
Prize-winning novelist, Dame Beryl Bainbridge talks about her
distinguished career and astonishing literary output with Jane Davis.
Frank Cottrell Boyce, screenwriter and author, discusses his favourite
local writing as part of a panel discussion. Editor of Mersey Minis,
Deborah Mulhearn gives an insight into the city’s wide-ranging written
heritage. And join poet Rebecca Goss in a poetry workshop to discuss a
broad range of poems about that age old toil, work – be it human or
nature – it’s all about survial. Tickets are free and are available to
collect from the following branches of Liverpool Libraries: Central,
Allerton, Childwall, and Norris Green. You can also email
events@thereader.org.uk to book a place or to receive further information.

Thursday 27th: 7.30pm – 9.30pm: Liverpool Poetry Café presents Wild
Woman Clare Campbell hosts an evening of poetry readings. Clare is the
innovative leader of Liverpool based social enterprise Wild Woman and
runs the acclaimed Wild Transformation Course which helps people find a
route out of unemployment and depression to follow their dreams. Expect
magic, affirmations, soulful irreverence and poetry penned by Clare and
her favourite poets Jackie Kay, David Whyte, Rumi and Mary Oliver. Costa
Coffee, 14 Bold St, Liverpool. Free but donations welcome.