Write to Speak presents Kate Fox News at Hull Truck - Wednesday 12th January 2011
By Mark Walmsley
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The last Write to Speak event of the third season was crowned by a brilliant night's entertainment featuring BBC Radio 4's Kate Fox and 4 of Hulls very own up and coming poets, Catherine Scott, Kerry-Joe Pulford, Michaela Bamber and Pam Scobie .
Normally, it could be said that the likes of the very talented Kate Fox who has graced the Hull Truck stage on numerous occasions would have been 'supported' by other performers but on this occasion it has to be said that the first act was every bit as professional as Kate's headline billing 2nd act.
As usual, the very capable Joe Hakim played host and made everyone feel very welcome but this time Joe had to present the show solo as his Write to Speak stage partner, Mike Watts was at home with 'Man Flu' (good name for a poem!), but in true Write to Speak style the show carried on.
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First on stage, breaking the ice was Pam Scobie . Pam's poetry is superb and her acting and vocal talent has the audience mesmerised by her stories and very witty dialogue.
Michaela Bamber followed with an equally rounded performance and the poems she performed were very enjoyable, polished pieces of what started as sketchy outlines a year or so ago at the poetry workshops when we could ever imagine where they would take us.
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The third poet of the night was Catherine Scott, who in my opinion never fails to shock. Just when you think Catherine has a particular style, she comes out of left field with something of a completely different style of work demonstrated with her very witty and well constructed Sweary Mary poem which was quite 'Exemplarary' (you had to be there!).
As if the evening couldn't get any better, the most unlikely performance of the night was delivered by Kerry-Joe Pulford.
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Kerry recited a volley of entertaining poems that were seamlessly interspersed with impromptu conversation and, more importantly, a confidence and command of the stage space that underlined the quality of the evening up to that point. In my opinion, a great personal performance by Kerry that brought the first act to an unwelcome end.
After a quick beer (or two), the medium size audience filtered back into the Studio to see the main act, Kate Fox. By no means did Kate upstage the girls from the first act but Kate's performance was every bit as good as I remember from other shows.
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I found that this time round there was more of a personal note to her act as she opened up about her early life which of course was told in a way that only Kate can, with a sense of irony and incredulous disposition (I don't think Hull Truck have had many gun runners on its cast list?) which Kate wove into a really funny set punctuated here and there with on screen visual references to her 'Newscasts'.
At the cost of a tenner to get in (not including the fiver I paid for her book at the end of the show) it was easily money well spent and at £2 per performer, all of whom were brilliant, was equivalent to sneaking into the World Cup final and having to buy a coffee at half time.
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So once again, with Joe rounding off another Write to Speak extravaganza of which I hope there are many more to come, another thoroughly enjoyable evening was had.
Hull Truck have supported the Write to Speak events over the last two years or so. I hope they carry on supporting local writing by making this venue available for the massive efforts of the likes of Cilla Wykes, Joe Hakim and Mike Watts in bringing these events to the public and, just as important, bringing all the Write to Speak poets who have been given the opportunity to take their works from the page to the stage. And very talented work it is, too.
To Sum up. All 5 girls on the night were superb.
Oh yes, Get well soon Mike.
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| What's Happening? |
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| Chill Out |
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