Tag: Poet

That was the year that was 2024

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged for the whole year – not very good at this regular malarkey am I! Well here is a quick round up of the poetic and creative highlights..

Statistically speaking, during 2024 I read to 780 people in the room, 27 on zoom, and 193,000 via Radio Nottingham and Riverside Radio. I read live stories at three events and poetry at fifteen events.

I organised or co-organised 5 events and MC’d at 4.

Image above by Hazel Warren from Women Say Stuff

A Journey Inside traveled to two festival for interactive performances at Wandworth Arts Festival and Nottingham Poetry Festival. Fablous feedback can be seen here: Plus it was selected for the Fivars Festival of International Virtual Augmented and Reality Stories 2024, winning a selection laurel.

There was so much more to tell you about, so here are a few snippets snaffled from other places:

During the Hockley Hustle in October Speech Therapy let me perform some sad poems to unexpected live Mariarchi band accompaniment, then tango with Kate Hendry recorded planned fiddle playing. Great supportive audience and fabulously hosted by Keith Ford all for the Hockley Hustle. Thanks for the photo too.

Poetry, Song, Cake & Freinds – 3 took place in October. Pete Yen of We Shall Overcome wrote: Wonderful lovely evening at Sherwood Methodists last night for the WSO event organised by Lytisha Tunbridge, in aid of St Ann’s and Sneinton Food Store. Best part of £350 in cash donations, and lots of food donations too. But also raised spirits. The featured artists were all excellent and so too were the Poetry open mic’ers.

DIY Poets had our annual outing to The Gate to Southwell festival and had a marvellous time sharing poems, hosting the Bard to Southwell Competition and generally being jolly. They even caught some of us dancing poets on their official video

DIY Poets at The Gate to Southwell Festival 2024

Happy 2025 to all and I will try to be more regular this year!

Poet-in-Residence speaking!

Where to begin?! So much happening with Wollaton Arts News, Nottingham Poetry Festival, qualifications and much more to look forward to in the coming couple of months.

Lytisha, that’s me!, has been appointed Poet-in-residence for the Wollaton Arts Festival. This means as well as hosting the Poetry Aloud evening on Friday 24th of June, I will also be engaging with the Wollaton community during the festival week and the results will be showcased at the Wollaton Arts Festival finale, Wollaton Park on Sunday 26th June. I do hope you get to join us for some events, in person or via Zoom.

As part of my #DYCP I have completed and passed the Award in Education and Training, and am now qualified to teach adult learners. This will enable me to create even more dynamic learning experiences for groups and workshop participants. I am keen to expand my work with young adults so if you would like to book me, please do get in touch at Info@lytishapoet.co.uk.

Lytisha, woman in 50’s with white hair, raising a glass full of brightly coloured juice.

Nottingham Poetry Festival is almost upon us. There is a whole host of amazing poets lined up, and more events than you shake a stick at! I am directly involved with these three, plus will be watching many more!

Sharing Spaces with the Social Model Writers at Nottingham Playhouse on Sat 7th May 2022 at 2.30pm

We are delighted to be performing ‘Sharing Spaces’ at The Neville Studio in Nottingham Playhouse as part of Nottingham Poetry Festival 2022.

The event is free to attend and to make this event as accessible as possible to both performers and audience, it can be accessed in the venue or via zoom.

To book your free in venue or via zoom ticket click here.

DIY Poets Festival Showcase at City Arts, Hockley is on Thursday 12th May 22 at 7.30pm.

DIY Poets are a Nottingham collective that have grown and developed some very fine poets through their regular critique sessions, workshops, and performances. This is our showcase. Details here.

WSO & Poetry Aloud presents: These are the Days at Sherwood Methodist Church, NG5 2EN on Friday 13th May 22 at 7.30pm

These are the days: …. luxury mansions owned but empty, streets being the sheets for others. Displaced people at our doorstep, from wherever they had to leave. These are the days we didn’t imagine in 2022. For more details and to book your spaces click here:

Phew- so much happening in the next short while – and I haven’t mentions Ludlow Literature festival, or the next set of Lite Bites in the pipeline! Watch this space. I’ll leave you with the trials of the creative writer… never knowing what lies beneath!

Cat, Dixie, pawing at the seam cut into the carpet