A first taste of performance poetry

Before becoming Poet in the City’s website manager, like a large number of our audience, I hadn’t been to a poetry event before.

After helping out at quite a few events covering a broad range of themes and poets, I didn’t think I’d find anything as exciting, vibrant and fresh on the poetry scene as performance poetry. Back in February I had the chance to catch the Bradford show.

My first exposure to performance poetry was when viewing the videos by Sky Arts especially the documentary from the tour’s first date at the Latitude Festival. However after watching the documentary and comparing it to my own experience of the show I realised there was something missing.

It was missing the energy and physical connection with the poet that is provided when you are watching the performance. The connection with the audience is a vital component of poetry but even more so with performance poetry. The connection allows the audience to feel the poetry as well as experience it. In order to appreciate performance poetry at its best, you need to see it performed first-hand.

Each show also gives a slot to a local performance poet. Joolz Denby’s more traditional reading of her poetry provided a good juxtaposition to the musicality of the rest of the performance.

The level of audience participation towards the end showed how well the performers connected with the audience. It felt like everyone had become part of the show when El Crisis brought us into participating in his mermaid song. It was great for us and for them.

The show at Bradford University’s Theatre in the Mill featured El Crisis, Jason Yarde, Joolz Denby, Kat Francois and OneNess.