October '24 Newsletter
Gigs, Books and the Perfect Christmas Gift.
Hello, hello! Here’s the newsletter for Autumn. There’s a whole host of things upcoming across Poetry and Comedy over the next few months, so it has got me thinking about adaptability, watching the leaves change and fall it feels like a nice dollop of pathetic fallacy.
As a freelancer, adaptability is the core skill I rely on, to deliver my work. I’m lucky to suit the project-to-project style of working that comes with this route through life. spending one day working in a school, another providing support and mentoring to a new playwright and another typing out news letters means that I am never going to be bored. It’s one of the core reasons why I am such an advocate for improv training in all forms of creativity.
A key tenet of improv is accept and build, within an improv scene this allows a performer to construct imagined worlds and scenarios, but outside of that sphere it means you are able to take what’s thrown at you with a lot more confidence. If you are working in an environment with a particular style of creative culture, accept that is the status quo and build with your own experience. This can easily lead to welcoming creative spaces, that value everyone’s contribution and, where needed, can affect change based on experience rather than guesswork. Likewise if you are performing to an audience you can use their attitude and energy to meet your work much more simply by incorporating it or contrasting it.
Thank you for having a read! In the mean time here are projects, products and goodness knows what else.
Ben x
SERIOUS NONSENSE FOR THE UNBEARABLY FESTIVE.
My brand new book is available for order now! Serious Nonsense for the Unbearably Festive is a romp through Christmas packed with laughter, rhyme and a few moments that get to the heart of what we need in the cold wet dark months of the year. Perfect for gifts to all ages, it’s available to pre-order for £10.00 plus postage. Order it here.
Enjoy a sneak preview from the book about Pigs in Blankets.
Lullaby of the Pigs Hush darlings, hush, on your tiptoes to creep . The pigs in their blankets are trying to sleep. Swaddled in bacon and tucked up in bed, Each piggy is wrapped from tail to head. Snug with their siblings, these sausages doze, As the hustle and bustle gradually slows. Safe in their baking dish, each of them dream, Of cosy, hot ovens, and letting off steam. Tomorrow’s exciting, that can be sure, With turkey and trimmings, and quite a bit more. But that comes tomorrow, this is today, Leave them to rest, let them slumber away. So, hush my darlings, it’s Christmas tonight, Like blanketed pigs, sleep well and sleep tight.
Shows
4th October - Derby - Slam Judge - Derby Poetry Festival
I’m one of the guest judges for Derby Poetry Festival’s Slam, come and see the winner be crowned!
- Tickets
6th October - Nottingham- Poetry- Bad Betty Live
I’m a featured artist at Bad Betty Live, a night of music and poetry at the gorgeous Peggy’s Skylight.
- Tickets
1st November - Nottingham - Improv - Ben Pals
My eponymous improv show returns to Nottingham at the Malt Cross with special guest Orla Ratcliffe
- Tickets
6th November - Nottingham - Improv - BiProv
Connected by their Bisexuality, this group of performers will create a fully improvised show because they couldn't make up their mind on a script
- Tickets
9th November - Nottingham - Comedy - The Fall of Byron Montrose
The solo show that started it all off - My first solo hour, a pun filled romp across Napoleonic Europe with questionable poetry and silliness abound.
- Tickets
9th November - Nottingham - Improv - It’s A Trap! The Improvised Star Wars Show
Improvised tales from a galaxy far, far away. See a loving parody of George Lucas universe brought to life before your very eyes.
- Tickets
Workshops & Classes
24th November -Nottingham - Poetry - Get Set, Go!
A performance poetry workshop exploring stage & set craft
- Tickets