Wordsmiths & Co. Poetry Chat-Show

Wordsmiths & Co. is a poetry event unlike any other. While most events will offer you a swathe of poets and poems, Wordsmiths and Co. takes a much more modern approach and is pioneering the ‘poetry chat-show’ format.

The set closely adheres to the ‘between two ferns’ stereotype – complete with sofas, coffee table, rug and pot plants. ‘Loose poets’ is hosted by the incredible Jo Bell, leading the show with ease and humour in a way that truly engrosses you. After seeing this show I felt elated and crushed. Finally, I had found a chat show that truly appealed to me, but it only comes around once a month.

If you are a fan of poetry (or even of chat shows!) you will not be disappointed by Wordsmiths & Co.

**Deborah Stevenson**

Deborah Stevenson was the first poet up on the night and she kicked it off with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Despite being 22, Deborah is already an accomplished poet and currently heads up the Nottingham collective, Mouthy Poets. As amazing as her poetry was, the energy being thrown out of the front row by Stevenson’s Mouthy friends gave the performance an ecstatic atmosphere. Not only were cheers and shouts being thrown her way, but also squawks, barks and howls – a truly unique experience of poetry.

Stevenson’s poetry is as big and bold as she. Like all of the night’s poets, we were treated to experiences from her own life. Collision Street was particularly powerful and really demonstrated the diversity of performance and expression that Stevenson can achieve.

_Highlight: Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky delivered in the style of an American gospel preacher._

**Andrew Frolish**

What struck me about the second poet – Andrew Frolish was how old-fashioned he seemed. Where the other poets on the night were very much about big, brash, exuberant poetry, Frolish’s lines seems to be much more traditional. His poetry is what I would describe as ‘cosy poetry’ – the type of poetry that talks about family, tradition, Britain as it was, the old urban spaces, and Middle England. The type of poetry you would imagine cosying up with in an armchair on a Sunday afternoon, allowing the poet to whisk you away into their world.

But none of this is a criticism. While Andrew is no super-cool and totally-hip rockstar poet, he is still a master of his craft and has created some truly excellent poetry. If anything, his apparent position as the ‘old-fashioned traditionalist’ of the night made his poetry the most exciting and intriguing. And more power to him for it!

_Highlight: A two-part mythology of a father in construction and deconstruction._

**Patience Agbabi**

Patience Agbabi is a poet wrapped in language. On the night of the performance she wore a blazer with lines of poetry twisting around the sleeves and her poetry is just as informed by literature as her outfit was. A reworking of The Canterbury Tales would seem like a project of madness to most people, but it is this endeavour that Patience currently occupies herself with. However, instead of a pilgrimage we have a Routemaster bus trip.

While Andrew may have had the outward appearance of a traditionalist, Patience is proud of her classical roots and alludes to them very regularly. The Canterbury Tales aside, Agbabi is a poet very much concerned with keeping the old forms of poetry alive with a modern twist. In her discussion with the host, it was clear that Patience was a monumental bookworm and discussed the form of poetry with an ease and comfort that revealed the depth of her understanding.

A significant part of the joy of Patience’s poetry is the world she creates – home to a wide and varied cast of characters. While in one moment she may be a Nigerian businesswoman (The Wife of Bafa) and the next she may be a man out to avenge his wife (Unfinished Business).

In talking to Patience I was interested to hear just how much of a student of poetry she considers herself to be. Despite having been heavily involved in poetry since the early 90s, Patience is forever looking to explore her medium and step up her game. It was delightful to hear her citing Kate Tempest as an inspiration with not a note of insincerity. There seems to be, in fact, nothing insincere about Patience Agbabi – as her outfit betrays, she wears her words on her sleeve.

_Highlight: The Memento-inspired, film-noir palindrome Unfinished Business._

**Kate Tempest**

Kate Tempest is a poetic cyclone, an emotional hurricane, a tropical storm of big ideas and a tsunami of real experiences. Screw it, I’m saying it – the name Tempest describes Kate perfectly.

Before meeting Kate I was unsure of what to expect. All I knew was that, at least in the poetry world, she is a rockstar. Brit school; Nuyorican Poetry cafe; Billy Bragg; Scroobius Pip; Benjamin Zephaniah. Kate Tempest is making waves in many oceans.

Yet upon meeting her I was struck by three key character traits – modesty, shyness and intensity. Not only is Kate Tempest one of the most modest people I have encountered, despite her vast accomplishments, it is clear that she is not in the business of self-aggrandisement. All that Kate cares about is finding a way to give a voice to the emotions inside of her, and they are big emotions indeed.

The influence of Kate’s hip-hop roots is evident in her poetry and she blurs the line between the two mediums. Yet she utilises this to give an extremely contemporary voice to some of her classic favourites – William Blake in particular.

There is already a book to be written about Kate Tempest but all I will say is this: never before have I witnessed a poet that has so successfully balanced dichotomies. Contemporary hip-hop and classical poetry. Extreme shyness with outbursts of love for everything. A poetic voice spoken under the limelight that explores deeply those who are often forgotten. You owe it to yourself to see Kate Tempest live.

_Highlight: The deeply moving and inspiring Thirteen Commandments_