Tag Archives: Poetry Cafe

New month, new space, new poetry

November 2, 2017 2:42 pm , Leave a Comment ,

1 November saw the Telltale gang return to the newly-refurbished Poetry Café in Covent Garden where we were delighted to be joined by special guests Catherine Smith and Abigail Parry.   The spare and smart décor was the perfect backdrop for readings that were by turns elaborate, engaging, intense, irreverent, comic, caustic and yes indeed alliterative, rhythmic; downright brilliant displays of the sonic magic of live poetry.

Telltale co-founder Robin Houghton kicked off proceedings in style with an exclusive preview of her exciting new pamphlet, All the Relevant Gods, due out in February 2018 with Cinnamon Press.  Next on the floor was Catherine Smith with a funky festoon of poems from collections including Lip and Otherwhere (Smith/Doorstop).   Two stomping sets, a break to enjoy the refreshed upstairs café complete with poetry miscellany on each table like inviting menus (my favourite was the school exercise book inviting visitors to leave a poem), then it was back downstairs for a corker of a set by other Telltale co-founder Peter Kenny.  Halloween may have just come and gone but that didn’t stop Abigail Parry treating us to a trio of Gothic poems amid an exhilarating set that tricked and turned on wicked word plays – we simply cannot wait for Bloodaxe to bring out Abby’s collection Jinx next March.

Thank you once again to Robin Houghton, Catherine Smith, Peter Kenny, Abigail Parry, the Poetry Café and the wonderful audience who filled the room with warmth and laughter.  Next stop:  the Telltale Anthology 2018 – watch this space!

TT 1 Nov pic

Peter Kenny, Abigail Parry, Robin Houghton and Catherine Smith

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Guest poet Abigail Parry joins us for our autumn event

September 18, 2017 3:40 pm , Leave a Comment ,

abigail parryFantastic news – we’ve persuaded the multiple award-winning poet Abigail Parry to read with us at the new-look Poetry Cafe in London on November 1st for our autumn Telltale Press & Friends.

Last year Abigail won two of the biggest prizes out there – the Ballymaloe and the Troubadour. Her long-awaited debut collection Jinx is out with Bloodaxe next year. Abby gives excellent poetry readings  – another great reason to come along on 1st November.

Joining Abby are Telltale founder members Robin Houghton & Peter Kenny, and our marvellous Associate Editor and mentor Catherine Smith – also known for her compelling readings … it’s going to be a great night.

As ever, entry is FREE, although donations are always welcome! Just buy a drink upstairs and come on down to the newly refurbished basement room.

Here’s the flyer, and here’s the Facebook event page – please share with your friends, and thank you!

We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

 

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Another great night at the Poetry Cafe

July 10, 2016 6:10 pm , Leave a Comment ,
Poets at Telltale Press & Friends, July 2016

Sarah Barnsley, John McCullough, Jess Mookherjee & Peter Kenny

Despite the best efforts of Southern Rail to derail our evening in London last week (derail! See what I did there?) it was another lovely/lively night at the Poetry Cafe.

Sadly, Siegfried Baber was poorly which meant he was unable to read, but Peter Kenny stepped in and joined Sarah Barnsley, Jess Mookherjee and John McCullough. All strong readings and a particular pleasure to hear Jess in her first reading as a Telltale poet, with a sneak preview of some of the poems in her pamphlet which we’re working on now and planning to launch in October. Exciting!

Huge thanks also to John McCullough, who’s been a friend of Telltale from the start, having read at our Brighton launch in 2014. John’s latest collection is Spacecraft (Penned in the Margins), a fine book which unsurprisingly sold well on the night.

Thank you to everyone who came, bought poetry, donated to the press and made the evening so much fun.

Here’s footage of Peter reading:

Poet Peter Kenny reads ‘Postcard from Ithaca’ from Telltale Press on Vimeo.

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Telltale & Friends – 7th July The Poetry Cafe, London

June 5, 2016 2:32 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Opinions have been sought, debates held, pros and cons weighed up, and one epoch-shaking decision has been taken. Yes folks Telltale’s summer reading has been finalised!  It will be held at our old stomping ground of The Poetry Cafe, in London’s Covent Garden. It’s all the sevens: the evening starts at 7:00pm, on Thursday 7th July.

Hotter than a sizzling hot thing, is John McCullough right now. He’s a long-term Telltale friend, and his spanking new collection Spacecraft is already going down a storm. On the night we’ll also showcase Telltale’s latest recruit Jess Mookherjee, whose collection Telltale will be launching later this year. You’ll also find on the bill are fabulous Telltale stars Sarah Barnsley (The Fire Station) and Siegfried Baber (When Love Came To The Cartoon Kid). 

Picture the scene… You are sauntering through sophisticated Covent Garden, and effortlessly drift into the Poetry Cafe. Soon you are congratulating yourself on choosing to hear some exceptional poetry. All for free.

If you’re in reach of London, we’re looking forward to giving you a sunny Telltale welcome. Consider this your invitation…

june16-flyer-for-email

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Jessica Mookherjee joins Telltale Press

May 22, 2016 10:51 am , Leave a Comment ,
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Jess Mookherjee, the latest poet to join Telltale Press

We’re utterly chuffed to announce that Jess Mookherjee is the latest poet to be scooped up by Telltale Press.

Her pamphlet, The Swell, will be launched in October.

Avid poetry fans will have not failed to notice Jess’s powerful and intriguingly intimate work exploding into print. Having been writing for a mere three years, her poetry has already graced Agenda, Antiphon, Clear, Ink Sweat & Tears, Interpreter’s House, Obsessed with Pipework, Poetry Shed, Prole… We could go on.

When not involved in this outpouring of beautiful writing, Jess works in Public Health, having an academic background in Biological Anthropology. Now firmly rooted in Kent, Jess spent most of her adult life in London, and her childhood in Mumbles, Wales.

For more about Jess look no further than her spanking new blog thejessicapoet.

Watch this space for news of July Telltale & Friends readings at the poetry cafe, the Autumn launch of Jessica’s The Swell and more. It is going to be an outstanding year for Telltale Press, and one in which Jessica’s poetry will win the new audiences it so richly deserves.

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Video: Peter Kenny & Jack Underwood at the Poetry Cafe

January 17, 2016 11:43 am , Leave a Comment ,

Two short clips from our Telltale Press & Friends night on 7th January 2016:

 

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Great night of readings at the Poetry Cafe

January 9, 2016 9:28 am , 1 Comment ,

On Thursday we had a full house at the Poetry Cafe in London for our first Telltale Press & Friends night of 2016.

Our guest poets were Jack Underwood and Kitty Coles. Jack’s first full collection Happiness was published last year by Faber & Faber – we heard poems from this plus a number of new poems. Kitty is an up and coming poet from Surrey who’s widely published across a range of magazines. Telltale readers were Peter Kenny and Siegfried Baber. It was an excellent variety of voices and a great way to kick off the New Year.

Thank you to everyone who came along, including Hilaire, Louise Ordish, Rebecca White and a host of lovely people, plus everyone who helped spread the word on social media – you are all stars.

Jack Underwood reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Jack Underwood

 

Peter Kenny reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Peter Kenny

Kitty Coles reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Kitty Coles

 

Siegfried Baber reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Siegfried Baber

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A Hot Night at the Poetry Cafe

June 19, 2015 2:19 pm , Leave a Comment ,
Robin Houghton, Peter Kenny, Sarah Barnsley, Tamar Yoseloff & Sue Rose, Telltale Poets & Friends, Poetry Cafe June 2015

Robin Houghton, Peter Kenny, Sarah Barnsley, Tamar Yoseloff & Sue Rose

We had a great time at the Poetry Cafe last night. These things are never without drama! Firstly, Tamar Yoseloff wasn’t at all well, so it was touch and go whether she could be there – so we were mighty relieved and grateful to see her.

Then there had clearly been some mix-up at the Poetry Cafe, as a number of the audience clearly weren’t expecting our event. It was actually standing room only in the end, and although we sweltered a bit no-one really minded. One person who turned up expecting an open mic was disappointed, but a number of others did stay and one person made a point of saying she was glad she did.

Our guest readers gave wonderful readings – Sue’s included some of the poems from her sonnet sequence Heart Archives, a combination of fourteen sonnets inspired by love and loved ones, and her own photos. It’s a really beautiful book, lovely production values, from Hercules Editions. And Tamar read from (and gave some background to) her new book Nowheres, a collaboration with artist David Harker, whose exhibition Drawing the Line is on display at the Poetry Cafe until June 27th. You can read John Field’s review of Nowheres here.

We were very proud to introduce Sarah Barnsley in her first reading for Telltale, a preview of some of the poems from her forthcoming pamphlet The Fire Station.

The audience included two visiting professors from the State University of New York at Oswego, Laura Donnelly and Adrienne McCormick, and a number of their students, which was great fun. And we couldn’t NOT invite Laura to read a couple of her own poems while in London!

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Tamar Yoseloff, Sue Rose & Sarah Barnsley at the Poetry Cafe

June 11, 2015 10:25 am , Leave a Comment ,

Just a week to go till our next ‘Telltale Poets & Friends‘ – our informal reading series featuring special guests. Peter and I hope you can join us at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street in London’s Covent Garden, at 7pm next Thursday 18th June.

We’re delighted to have Tamar Yoseloff and Sue Rose coming to read recent work, and also our newest member, Sarah Barnsley. We’re currently working on the production of Sarah’s debut pamphlet, ‘The Fire Station’, which will be published in September. It’s a wonderful first collection and we’re so proud to have Sarah on board. Do come and hear her read and enjoy a sneak preview of the pamphlet.

Photo of Sarah Barnsley by Hannah Brackenbury

Photo of Sarah Barnsley by Hannah Brackenbury

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Lovely evening of readings at the Poetry Cafe

January 12, 2015 2:16 pm , Leave a Comment ,
Readers at the Telltale Press event, Poetry Cafe, 7th Jan 2015

L to R: Robin Houghton, Peter Kenny, Rhona McAdam, Catherine Smith, Siegfried Baber

Last Wednesday we kicked off the New Year with a super evening at the Poetry Cafe  – more about it here on Poetgal. We’re already looking forward to the next one – will keep you posted!

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