~ Martin Newell ~
~ Rhian Edwards ~ NEW VOICES: Sabrina Mahfouz ~ Heather Phillipson ~
~ Alex Gwyther ~ Hollie McNish ~ Michelle Madsen ~ Anna Freeman ~ Will Averill ~
~ Simon Mole ~ Rosy Carrick ~ Sam Riviere ~
The Wildman of Wivenhoe AKA Martin Newell is a musician and poet who has packed a lot into his life. From cassette only albums to jazz vocal records, to TV shows and writing, his talents and independent spirit are renowned. He contributes poems to The Sunday Times every week as well as writing a weekly column for the East Anglian Daily Times, has released recordings of his own poetry readings and often guest presents on the BBC. His last novel ‘A Prospect of Wivenhoe: Snapshots of an English Town’ was an inspired anecdotal history of his hometown.
Rhian Edwards returns to Latitude with more of her inspired, passionate poetry. In recent years Edward’s has been commissioned to write poems for BBC Radio 3 and a one-woman poetry show for Battersea Arts Centre. Her first pamphlet of poems from 2008 ‘Parade the Fib’ was made Poetry Society Book of Choice in that year. Having racked up 200 plus performances in her six years of providing poetry for willing audiences, Edward’s experience will make for another memorable performance.
Described as both "energetic and smart" by The Economist, Sabrina Mahfouz is a rising talent in poetry and playwriting. She has debuted work on Radio 1/1 Xtra, has been nominated for Poet of the Year by the Erotic Awards and her latest short play has been shortlisted for Soho Theatre Westminster Prize.
Rising star Heather Phillipson is an acclaimed poet whose poems have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, across the BBC. She has won several awards, including an Eric Gregory Award in 2008 and a Faber New Poets Award in 2009. Her pamphlet is published by Faber & Faber. Alongside her poetry, Heather Phillipson is also an internationally exhibiting artist. She has received awards, commissions and residencies for her short films, with recent screenings and shows in London, Paris and New York.
Surrey based wordsmith, Alex Gwyther’s hip-hop influenced poetical prose is “reminiscent of Braintax and The Streets with a wit that recalls that of Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner, which would be more of a compliment to Turner”. Weaving extraordinary tales of modern life in Britain, Gwyther has become a regular on London’s spoken word scene, whose highlights include the only poet to perform in London’s Week of Peace in front of 4,000 people.
Winner of last year's UK Slam Farrago Championships, Hollie McNish's adrenaline-pumped performances have wowed her audiences. Having performed with street/break/traditional dancer Sarah Baker, she's a thoroughly modern poet with themes ranging from love and politics to pure comic asides.
Michelle Madsen is the founder and host of Hammer and Tongue London, a key component of the UK's poetry slam circuit. Her own style embraces everything from satire to her hometown landscapes and she continues to play an important part in bringing poetry to life in the capital and now to a field in Suffolk!
Anna Freeman, who refers to herself as the Ginger Poet on her Myspace, is as singular a talent as that nickname suggests. She's consistently wowed audiences, whether at shows or on YouTube judging from new converts and their comments, and her fast-paced, irreverent style will continue to garner her new fans.
American born Will Averill is a multi-talented poet currently calling Norwich home. He has co-founded theatre companies in both the US and the UK, written and performed in his own works as well as conjuring poetry and performing his mix of comedy and wordplay around the country.
Simon Mole is an emcee and spoken word artist whose writing and performance foregrounds the unseen and the unheard, the forgotten and the yet to occur. He makes passionate and honest music exploring concepts and ideas from outside the standard spectrum of hip-hop content, and his poems are shared with listeners in a way that pushes them to make their own meanings and connections. Mole has recently been commissioned by the poetry magazine Apples and Snakes to write a spoken word theatre show, which he performed for the first time at The Albany in March.
Described on her own website as "surreal, sensual and decidedly left-field", Rosy Carrick is also currently the host of Hammer and Tongue Brighton. Quite apart from her own excellent performances and work, she also encourages newcomers as a UK approved youth slam coach as well as talent spotting for the annual UK Schools Slam Poetry Championships.
Sam Riviere began to write poems while at the Norwich School of Art and Design. His work has appeared in various publications and competitions; he co-edits the anthology series ‘Stop Sharpening Your Knives’, and was a recipient of a 2009 Eric Gregory Award. Faber & Faber published his pamphlet this year as part of their New Poets scheme.
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