New Voices

New Bohemians continues to go from strength to strength. Last Friday saw an excellent performance by four "new voices" from within the group, Lukas Russell Thomas, his mother Dee, Iris Lewis and Peter McDade. Jodie Orton provided a very pleasant interlude busking for us which, along with the poetry and the usual drinks and nibbles, made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Fresh from his success as the Gloucestershire Prize winner in the Buzzwords poetry competition, Peter joined Iris to give a joint presentation. Their poems ranged over a broad territory encompassing everything from myth to anthropology via an errant terrier named Smudge. Lukas certainly made us think, starting his performance with quotes to identify - Shakepeare or hip-hop? Remarkable how a well-read audience can get things so wrong! Certainly a challenge to our perceptions. Several of Dee's poems centred on motherhood and I could definitely identify with her reversal of the roles in Larkin's famous quote "They fuck you up, your mum and dad .."!

The next New Bohemians gathering will be on October 14th at 7.30pm; David Clarke will be leading a workshop before the usual open mic. Do join us at deepspace in Hamiliton Street in Cheltenham if you can - it promises to be another great evening.

Iris and Peter

Lukas and Dee