Wordsmiths put their identities on show in literary marathon
ST Mary in the Baum was the atmospheric setting for this year’s Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival Writers Showcase.
A very well attended celebration of the best of local wordsmiths with the very topical theme of Identity.
The three and-a-half hour literary marathon opened with the wonderful Sue Devaney.
Currently touring with Calendar Girls The Musical, Sue dashed back to Rochdale to deliver a powerful set of spoken word testimony, poetry and song that gave the audience her intimately personal take on identity. Sue delivered an uncannily authentic version of Gracie Fields’ ‘thingy ma bob’ and an uplifting rendition of Etta James’ W-O-M-A-N.
Touchstones Creative Writing Group’s performing arm Pulling Threads then took us back to St Peter’s Field, Manchester, Lancashire, England, Monday, August 16, 1819 with a stirring and moving exposition of early nineteenth century working class struggle for identity with Peterloo.
The collective of writers known as Weaving Words, led by the irrepressible Eileen Earnshaw, gave a tour-de-force of selfpenned poetry that delved deep into the theme of identity.
Light relief was provided by Langley Writers, with their skilfully written and hilariously delivered take on Monty Python’s iconic
Four Yorkshiremen Sketch.
Katie Haigh then gave a heartfelt and powerfully moving rendition of a selection of her poetry before introducing the amazing Sign Along With Us.
Jade Kilduff with her little brother, Christian, age 4, accompanied by family members, signed along to their favourite songs.
Their enthusiasm was infectious and the obvious delight on Christian’s face brought a tear to many an eye: Christian has disabilities and his family were told he wouldn’t be able to talk or communicate.
The always highly entertaining and engagingly provocative Robin Parker delivered an expertly varied set that deployed narrative, illustrated poetry and song, in the style of his beloved
Sex Pistols, to tell his personal story and promote his social action campaign.
The Showcase marathon closed with the poetry of Seamus Kelly who treated us to a selection of his poems, old and new, chosen to give the audience an insight into what identity means to him.
Such was the audience appreciation that a queue formed to buy copies of his book, which he duly signed.
A Showcase that vividly illustrated the incredible talent of our borough’s wordsmiths.
Mention should also be made of the great job done by the SWCT technical team, led by 19-year-old Tom, ensuring the production complemented the excellence of the performances.