2012 - So much for the Apocalypse: Seventy-five
gigs – including Poetry Jams, Lamplight Open Mic Nights, a speech in a church
for my parents in January, rants at JibbaJabba, Take Ten, Scratch Tyne and
Tees, Southpaw, Pink Lane and 100,000 Poets for Change across the north east,
Jawdance and Bang Said the Gun in London plus the final Speakers’ Corner event
in York this December. I ran over eighty writing workshops – including
marathons at Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley, the Lit & Phil in Newcastle –
thanks Sheree Mack – and Waddington Street Centre in Durham City plus poetry
carousels for school kids and Arts on Prescription for adults and shadow coach sessions
for Shake the Dust National Youth Poetry Slam –thanks to Kate Fox for creative
insights and rides from Greenfield Community College in Newton Aycliffe. I’ve
seen some great internationally acclaimed writers and performers this year
including Ash Dickinson, Dominic Berry, Joolz Denby and Justin Sullivan, Buddy
Wakefield and Henry Rollins and absolutely loads of regional talent; I’ve
hosted a poetry slam, a Northern Elements showcase and open mics in County
Durham; produced approximately 1,500 handwritten A4 pages of journal and
maintained an online blog, done the NaPoWriMo thirty poems in thirty days
challenge and published the debut collection by one of the greatest supporters
of north east writers. I’ve been hugely supported by various wonderful people and
organisations in 2012. Many thanks to everyone who has helped me to continue
doing what I do in the way that I do it including Waddington Street Centre and
New College Durham, Red Squirrel Press, Apples and Snakes – particularly
Kirsten Luckins – and Arc, Radikal Words, Leisureworks, The Forge, Arts Council
England plus my family and lovely partner Jenni Jazzhands Pascoe. Best wishes
to them all and everyone else who knows me. Hope 2013 brings you success and
happiness in all your endeavours. Keep it going!
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