Afterlife Music Playlist
StorySLAM:Live stated its intent for 2012 last Wednesday with a jam-packed sell out event to start its residency at the Southbank Centre. The quality of the stories didn’t disappoint either affirming that an open platform for short story authors can deliver a quality enjoyable experience for audiences. Joanne will have more to say no doubt.
But I’m posting here for the first time because I regularly get asked about the music I play at StorySLAM:Live, not least by Mr Blacktronica himself, Charlie Dark. So I thought I’d start a trend of posting the playlist after each event. I may come to regret this as things get busier for me this year, but here goes the first installment and let’s see if demand keeps it going!
BTW, the track links are to Spotify and the album links are to iTunes.
Judges for “Afterlife” Announced
We are delighted to welcome our judges for Wednesday’s StorySLAM:Live – “Afterlife“, Lisa Goll and Joelle Taylor.
“I write because I do not know how not to. In some ways, the words write me. There is an art to writing for performance, to writing on air, and it is something that I am still actively working on.” – Joelle Taylor (British Council Author Statement)
Artistic Director of the Poetry Society’s SLAMbassadors, Joelle Taylor is a professional spoken word artist, theatre director and playwright. Joelle knows all about developing and encouraging writing talent. Looking forward to hearing what she has to say to our writers about their short stories.
Lisa Goll is the Chair of the London Writers Cafe, ”Writer (read: aspiring novelist) and avid reader. An ex-book publishing professional, I’ve worked in marketing for HarperCollins UK, Waterstones and the Southbank Centre. I’m always cheering for writers to read their work out for constructive feedback and encouragement as that’s the best way to improve.” We’re looking forward to seeing Lisa work her confidence building magic on our writers. Check out the London Writers Cafe if you write. It’s friendly and supportive and all about the writing. Look out for their special events where you can meet experts from the publishing industry. http://www.meetup.com/londonwriterscafe/members/8763145/
If you haven’t yet bought your tickets, get them here: http://bit.ly/thEYvo; 0844 875 0073
Prizes for January StorySLAM announced
We’re very pleased to be able to confirm the prizes for the “Afterlife” StorySLAM at the Southbank Centre on January 25th. Thanks to the generosity of Spread the Word and the Southbank Centre, “first” and “second” place winners will receive valuable support in the development of their writing from major literary figures.
First prize is a 1:1 Advice and Information session with Spread the Word’s Writer Development Manager Eva Lewin PLUS a place on a session of the winner’s choice from the Southbank Centre’s Creative Writing School series.
Second prize is a choice of a session from the Southbank Centre’s Creative Writing School series.
Online reading reservation is already full. So if you want a crack at those prizes, you’ll have to get there early on the 25th!
Of course for everyone reading StorySLAM:Live is still a fantastic opportunity for authors to comfortably share their work among peers and enthusiasts and gauge their work. It’s also a great social space in which to hang out and hear some great new writing. So if you haven’t already, book your tickets now.
Afterlife and The SouthBank Centre
Photo by Yemisi Blake
Hello All,
It’s been a while since the last blog and indeed the last event. However, we have been busy making sure 2012 is a year to remember for StorySLAM:Live, so here goes with the latest news from London’s only live platform for emerging writers of short stories.
We are delighted to announce that we have a new regular venue for our open entry events at the SouthBank Centre. Starting on Jan 25th 2012 and then on a quarterly basis (the next one is in April) we are looking for entries around the theme of Afterlife for the first event. This is to coincide with the SouthBank’s Festival of Death for the living that is launched on Fri 27th. Examining our attitudes to death and why we are so reluctant to talk about it, this is a chance to add your literary take.
The format will be the same. Each writer gets 5mins to read their short story and get feedback from a panel of industry experts. Register as a user to secure one of our pre booked slots. There are only EIGHT slots available and four will be up for grabs on the night. The proceedings are compered by our resident host Charlie Dark and there will be plenty of time to relax and socialise with like minded literati accompanied by sounds and visuals from Rizomorph. We’re on the Spirit Level so will be creating our own little vibe down there. It’s perfect.
Looking forward to seeing you there, don’t forget to buy a ticket.
P.S. Regulars and old friends of StorySLAM:Live will know Beryl who has made us all smile with her stories of her London past. Unfortunately she has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease which makes the theme of the next event particularly poignant for us. Here’s a link to a brilliant piece by writer and film director Simon Fitzmaurice that gives an insight into life with MND:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/1205/1224308579311.html
Youngers and Elders
‘And don’t forget, if you want a good laugh come to the Tower Bridge Care Centre’.
Maybe not the words we expected to hear on our way out from the second visit to a residential care home in Southwark. But that is exactly what we did – had a good laugh. The evening was heartwarming. We had visited the home previously and the se1 united young authors had listened to the stories of the past and memories of the residents name and name. Now we were back with the results for them to hear. Any nerves on the part of the authors were swept away as they heard the reactions of their subjects. Delighted nods and emphatic YES’s provided a backdrop to the readings. The stories are thought provoking – what was it like to be a child of an Irish widower, brought to London after his mother’s funeral ? What did the Festival of Britain mean to him and did he like it?
The process has been a joy to watch. The mutual appreciation, from the elders given a voice for their stories, only matched by the respect from the youngers and their enthusiasm for the project is a poignant reminder of the relationships that we used to take for granted. It’s been a very pleasing experience for all concerned.
Next week, on July 9th you will have the opportunity to hear these stories and meet the people who created them. We’ve also been working with more active elders who have been writing their own stories based on memories of the time. So if you want to hear what happened on the red sofa do come along.
We’ve got a great programme and will be creating the usual relaxed and friendly atmosphere that our regulars know. Welcoming back resident host Charlie Dark, music and visuals from Rizomorph will introduce you to Electro Swing reflecting our theme of taking the best from the past and mixing it up some.
