Turn off the main drag of Bond Street and head down a back alley, past the bins: directions to The Writer’s Place are gloomy. Yet on the first of New Writing South’s Word Jam Fridays, the premises positively shimmered with the sparkling energy and talent of its guests.
Dean Atta and Deanna Rodgers, both poets extraordinaire of London’s Rubix Collective, brought “Come Rhyme With Me”, featuring their very own engaging MC double-act, and a menu of spoken word – a flavoursome mix of beat-cum-rap-cum-poetry-cum-storytelling.
This was a mighty feast, never mind the highly-praised Caribbean-style rice and peas provided by local caterers Cumming Up.
Atta and Rodgers served up canapés – raw passion which in their two poems contained more of the bittersweet ingredients of lives, loves and growing up than could be described as bite-sized.
“Starters” were startling offerings from Roundhouse Collective members. Their mentor, Polar Bear, must be a hard act to follow, yet has plenty to be proud of in these adherents of his style.
Maria Ferguson has had 85 views on YouTube of The Owl And The Pussycat Part II, yet this should be required viewing for anyone who feels this is not a world in which they wish to live. To say she’s good seems patronising.
When the main course came it was a relief that John Berkavitch rebuffed his recommendation as “meaty and robust”. Rare with blood might do it – we were privileged to share his six-year-old’s story of unfairness and birthday wishes.
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