 | 17 December 2009 Accessibility help Text only |
|
|
| BBC Homepage | | |
| |||
| Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend! | | |
FeaturesYou are in: Leicester > Entertainment > Theatre and Arts > Features > Live and Lyrical  Jean 'Binta' Breeze Live and LyricalBy Rebecca Wooster (guest contributor) Leicester's Y Theatre brings you a week of inspiring live literature, from performance poetry to rap. Find out about the local artists taking part. As part of the cultural programme for the Special Olympics, Lyric Lounge will bring poetry, rap, spoken word and lyrical genius to The Y Theatre between 25 and 31 July. Artists performing in the evening will include John Hegley, Jean 'Binta' Breeze and BBC1Xtra's Ras Kwame, as well as a range of community groups. The Lounge will also feature daytime events, such as poetry workshops, open debate, special performances and 'Book Doctor' sessions. We take a sneak peek behind the scenes, at some of the local artists and organisers helping to make it all happen…  Vijay Mistry Street-Rhyming TalentVijay Mistry, of 2Funky Arts, is passionate about urban music and culture. Having been involved in the local urban scene for over a decade, he has promoted a range of festivals and events. Vijay has helped to select artists for one of the week's evening events - ILUVLYRICS - combining poetry, music and hip hop culture. "This will bring together some great performers from the urban circuit" says Vijay. "We've got the mighty Street Rhymers - a group of vibrant local entertainers - and the wickedly talented Ras Kwame." Vijay anticipates that the event will attract lots of young people to the Lyric Lounge, as those performing have a large youth following. "It’s also an open competition for local lyricists, MC's and poets, to battle it out for a £100 artist development bursary- show us what you’re made of".
 Steph Fawcett WORD Up!Steph Fawcett is a secondary school English teacher and an emerging poet. She also helps to run monthly live literature night, WORD, at The Y Theatre. As well as featuring a headliner for every show, WORD includes an open mic opportunity for new poets. Leicester is brimming with undiscovered talent and nights like these help to showcase what’s out there. The Lyric Lounge line-up includes a WORD special, featuring Edinburgh Fringe favourite Lucy English, whose hippy-chick turned domestic goddess persona has entertained audiences across the country.
 Michael 'Sure Shot' Brome Straight-talking young menMichael Brome, aka Sureshot, is a prison officer by day and professional poet by night. As last year's ASS Festival Spoken Word Slam champion, his experience in writing and performing poetry is something he likes to pass onto others. Michael has taken a creative mentoring role in Showcase Live. A project run in connection with Leicestershire NHS Partnership Trust, Showcase Live gives local young men, with experience of mental health issues, a chance to express themselves through poetry, rap and spoken word. The men taking part are aged between 16 and 35 years, and are of diverse cultural origin. The project ran successfully last year, with a performance at The Y, and this year's show is set to be just as spectacular: "It’s an opportunity for young men to work with established poets, musicians and digital artists, to create their own work and find their voices."
 Jean 'Binta' Breeze Comedy, theatre and spoken word collideJean 'Binta' Breeze is an internationally renowned poet living in Leicester. Born in Jamiaca, Jean first developed her work as part of the 'dub' poetry movement. Jean’s poetry has explored politics, mental health and a range of other subject matters, through her unique style. As Lyric Lounge patron, she will be hanging out at The Y throughout the week, performing at a number of Lyrical Lunchtimes. Jean will also be writing poetry inspired by work created for the Special Olympics Cabaret event. She has shadowed a number of local community groups taking part, including Movers Theatre Company, Remit Performing Arts & Songwriting groups, Bright Sparks Comedy Project and the Adult Learning Group from Countesthorpe College. Their work combines music, comedy, theatre and spoken word.
Museum objects come to life!Najite is a seventeen-year-old MC from Leicester, whose on-stage alter ego goes by the name of Tamtrum. She has been commissioned, as part of Lyric Lounge event Write Way Up, to create poetry based on museum artefacts. Najite has been writing and performing since the age of eight, but this show will be her first official commission. The talented teen has always loved writing stories and poems. But with a passion for music, it was only a matter of time before she started getting into lyric-writing in a big way. Najite heard about the opportunity to take part in Lyric Lounge on the radio, and went along to the WORD audition, purely for the chance to perform. She was "surprised" and delighted to be picked, from twenty poets, to develop her work. As well as Najite, Write Way Up will feature six other poets – bringing heritage objects to life through words, music and stunning visuals.
 Rickin Bilimoria Poetry is what you make itThe Edge is a performance that will bring together young people from across the city, in a multi-media explosion of poetry, rap, music and spoken word. To inspire young people to write material, workshops have taken place at The Contact Project (St Matthews) and Southfields Library (Saffron Lane Estate), with Rob Gee and Steph Fawcett. Rickin Bilimoria, Project Manager for the Lyric Lounge, has run similar youth initiatives across the city for the last few years. He understands the power of poetry, in encouraging young people to express their creativity. "Live literature comes in so many forms - It’s really about finding your own lyrical style," says Rickin. "The Edge encapsulates the spirit of the Lyric Lounge – poetry is what you make it."
Music Hall MagicLydia Towsey is a Leicester-based poet, live literature producer and arts in health specialist. Her own work examines, among other things, body image, gender roles and…polar bears. "My poetry is about being honest," she says. Lydia is the Artistic Director for Lyric Lounge and has shaped the programme to accommodate a variety of tastes. From the outset, she knew that John Hegley would make a fabulous headliner to celebrate the finale of Lyric Lounge, and was chuffed when he agreed to be part of it. Storytelling, guitar-strumming and poetry-wielding John will be performing his own set alongside a group of talented older men. "He really is the godfather of performance poetry… an inspiration to so many writers and performers, myself included."
Extra infoAll tickets for evening Lyric Lounge events are available from The Y Box Office, on 0116 255 7066. To book a FREE place on a workshop, volunteer, or perform as part of the many open mic opportunities, contact Rickin Bilimoria at 2Funky Arts, on 0116 222 0639 or info@2funkyarts.co.uk. Evening shows are parental guidance for young people aged 12 and under. More info is available on the Lyric Lounge website... The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites last updated: 30/06/2009 at 11:42 SEE ALSOYou are in: Leicester > Entertainment > Theatre and Arts > Features > Live and Lyrical 
External Links
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites |
| | About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy |
