Author: Lytisha

I enjoy writing. I hope you enjoy reading some of it.

October – a busy one!

October events:
It’s a busy month, after my late summer break.

Thursday 3rd October – National Poetry Day.
I will be at the Poetry Funfair which is part of The Quite Enormous Poetry Event at The Nottingham Playhouse from 6 to 8pm in the guise of Madame Poetica. So, if you’d like your poetry fortune foretold, look me up. https://www.facebook.com/events/467695464075639/

Sunday 6th October – We Shall Overcome at Emmanuel House
I’ll be hosting an amazing afternoon of poetry and music in, and for, Emmanuel House. Do come along, there will also be a raffle and cake Cake!
https://www.facebook.com/events/335468067329656/

Friday 11th October – Backpack to the Moon – book launch
This is a joint launch with the lovely and talented Hazel Warren who is launching her first collection To See The Moon, and I my latest collection, A Backpack on his Backpack.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2352814358171361/

Sat 26th October – Byronathon at Newstead Abbey
More details to follow.

Sunday 27th October – Hockley Hustle 2019!
Another busy one.

2.30 You can catch me with Two Seda performing on the Acoustickle stage at the Hockley Arts Club at 2.30
https://hockleyhustle.co.uk/…/hockley-arts-club-downstairs…/

3 – 5 We Shall Overcome will be hosting a free fringe event at Emmanuel House. All welcome, no wrist bands required.
https://hockleyhustle.co.uk/…/emmanuel-house-shall-overcome/

So that’s it, just the six events for me in October – when’s my next holiday?…

Snap Notts: River Trent feature

Issue 117 of Nottingham’s Art Magazine, Leftlion includes the River Trent as it’s Snap Notts: feature for September. To create the piece Lytisha was teamed with photographer Mike Kane and they spent a late afternoon along the banks by Trent Bridge, just after the Riverside Festival in August.

During their exploration they met and chatted to Pretty Amazing Grace narrow boat owners Nigel and Fay. They themselves were just back from a visit to the neighbouring boat, a large two bedroom, two bathroom cruiser, quite a world away from their traditional narrow boat. Part of the delight of this part of the Trent is that it is navigable for both canal boats and river cruisers, many of which had made their way and moored for the previous weekends Riverside Festival. Indeed Nigel mentioned they had been moored 5 abreast during the festival. Fay said they had just been passing by when they learnt of the festival from other boaters. Now they have experienced it, they say they will definitely be back next year.

The river was alive with rowers and their trainers cycling alongside, shouting instructions through megaphones when the Snap Notts team arrived. By the time Mike and Lytisha had completed their small circuit and returned to the Boathouse on the Bridgford bank most of the teams had returned to their base.

Take a look, either in the physical magazine or online here. I hope you enjoy the outcomes as much as I enjoyed working with Mike and Leftlion on Snap Notts.

News of Clifton Storey’s project reaches National Activity Providers Association magazine

The Clifton Storey’s project, which was such a joy and honour to work on with the Creative Paths team, has this lovely write up in their quarterly magazine. I really enjoyed capturing the stories which flowed from the first residents of Clifton. From their origins, through the waiting list, to their experiences of Clifton Estate then and now. The team at Creative Paths, with Karyn Stavert at the helm, and visual artist Rachel Scanlon, all worked to make this a project we can all be proud of.

Edinburgh Fringe 2019

Well, that was an experience! Performing as part of the DIY Poets collective in the show A DIY Poetry Fix at Banshee Labyrinth, at prime slot of 8.15pm between 10 – 16 August was exhilarating, exhausting, exciting and a first for me.

Having previously attended the festival, and flitted around trying to see as much as possible in a short space of time, I was aware how much there is to do and see during the festival season. Now, having now seen it from the other side, I see how much work it is for all involved; performers, promoters, flyerers, never stop. Kudos to those that survive a solo show!

My sets seemed to go down well, opening as I did with questions for the audience. ‘Will you dance with me? Will you swim with me? Will you hold me and laugh with me?’ it was encouraging to hear a YES! from the back row. I also had the privilege of compering the final performance to the packed crowd on the Friday night. Great fun.

I’ve posted a couple of photos from the performances on the images page. I also recommend checking out diypoets.com to see more about the Nottingham based collective.

DIY Poets have been instrumental in my poetry journey. They were the first to give me a platform to perform back in 2013, and I became a regular member later that year. A brilliant supportive group that arrange a variety of local events, and are thoroughly involved in the local literary scene. Not that we stop at the county lines! DIY Poets, as well as Edinburgh Festival, have performed at Buxton Fringe Festival, Off the Shelf festival in Sheffield and Splendour Festival, to name but a few.

Back to Edinburgh, what did I learn? 1) Don’t use Flybe if you need to be somewhere by a certain time. 2) Flyering is really important. Target your audiences and get your event details out there. 3) Teamwork is the key to success. Whether in terms of sharing the organising, of accommodation, publicity, knowledge, tips, or just mutual support for fellow artists. It’s a lot easier with a team. Thank you DIYers. Here’s to the next poetic adventure.

Edinburgh Bound!

Very excited to be heading to Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the marvellous Nottingham based poetry collective DIY Poets. We have a weeks residency at the Banshee Labyrinth, a real hub of super Spoken Words events. Our show is called A DIY Poetry Fix and starts at 8.15 all week from 10/8/19 – to 16.8.19. Each night 5 poets are featured and the line up is different daily. I’ll be performing Wed 14th and Fri 16th August, with a whole bunch of talented poets. Can’t wait!