Some upcoming performance dates (eeek!)

This week: Southbank Centre. November: Barbican!

Hello friends,

This Autumn has been an absolute whirlwind! Amidst the back-to-school chaos, I’ve also had a couple of creative projects reaching the their final stages.

These projects may be ending, but they mark the beginning of what appears to be a new chapter of my creative life…

I not only wrote these pieces, but I am performing them as well!

It’s a bit nerve-wracking to be stepping into what feels like unfamiliar territory. (I have actually never performed my poetry for a public audience before.) But I’m really looking forward to sharing this work with an audience.

This weekend: Southbank Centre

This weekend, I have two gigs at the Southbank Centre in the London Literature Festival as part of my work with the New Poets Collective. It has been an amazing year working with this collective, and these events celebrate the work we have done in during time.

Saturday 26 October at 1pm - Poetry Day! in the Queen Elizabeth Foyer. (Free!)

We will be celebrating Poetry Day with the National Poetry Library by presenting new poems inspired by some of the most popular works in the library.

Tickets: There is no need to buy tickets - you can just walk up and have a listen!

Event details: “See a performance from the Southbank Centre’s New Poet’s Collective as they read brand new poems in response to the work of the most popular poets in the National Poetry Library collection. See some of the most exciting new talents in poetry performing live, including Michaela Coplen, Luigi Coppola, Kit Griffiths, Jordan Hayward, Erica Hesketh, Pẹ̀lúmi Obasaju, Kaz Reeves, Patrick Romero McCafferty, AC Smith and William Wyld.”

A note on timing: I have a feeling that since we are part of a day-long programme that things might be running slightly past their scheduled time, but my poem is first in the line up, so it’s a good idea to be there at the beginning if you want to catch my work!

Sunday 27 October at 7.45 pm - New Poets Collective Showcase in the Purcell Room

This showcase marks the end of our year with the Poets Collective - some truly extraordinary writers and people.

I’m going to be sharing a poem called Heartwood that I wrote for my father. Bella Barlow (Composer and - as it turns out - brilliant sound designer) has created a stunning soundscape to accompany my piece, so if you come along, you will get to hear her work as well.

There may also be a bit of vocal improvisation/singing thrown in - TBC!

Tickets: £7.50. Only a few left!

Booking link: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/new-poets-collective-showcase/

Event details: “Under the direction of Vanessa Kisuule and Will Harris, the multi-talented poets of this year’s cohort have explored new ways of writing and collaborating, ways to think about and respond to other artforms and artists, and different styles of performance.

Get up close to their world of exploration and experimentation as they perform and present the fruits of their year of discovery and creativity.”

November 8 & 9: Barbican

This piece has been years in the making, with support from so many wonderful folks along the way. Now CRIPtic Arts is bringing it to the stage under the direction of Jamie Hale.

‘To Rose On Her 18th Birthday’ is a love letter to my daughter based on my own experiences with cancer. It explores how we find joy even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty. The piece features extraordinary photographs by Julia Forsman, documenting my cancer journey.

(If you came along to the online summer showing, you will have already had a taste of this piece!)

Tickets: £18. Friday night is sold out, but there are still tickets for Saturday!

Booking link: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2024/event/criptic-arts

Event details: “A searingly honest, bold, and gripping piece of theatre, bringing together performances from some of the UK’s most exciting disabled theatre makers and companies.

Join us inside the walls of a bustling but dysfunctional theatre, where the acts are hard at work on their latest productions: a solo show about love, joy, and cancer; a comedy about the ways neurodivergent people are expected to sell their stories for the stage; a multisensory meditation on isolation and moon landings; and a dynamic live art show about empowerment and agency.”

If I’m being honest, I’m equal parts excited and nervous at this point, so it would mean the world to me to have a friendly and supportive audience. If you fancy coming along, I would love to see you there!

For now,

Alli

Images: Photo by Kilyan Sockalingum on Unsplash, Sophie Ransby for Southbank Centre, Rachel Gadsden for CRIPtic Arts