Had a lovely surprise waiting for me when I got home today, a package of good things from Sunitha of British Council. (Many thanks!) First a copy of New Writing 15 edited by Bernadine Evaristo and Maggie Gee with plenty of good stuff inside - poetry and prose from exciting writers around the globe. (You can read about it and even read some of the pieces here.)
And then I found in the envelope something that I thought even better - three copies of a collection called Wellversed which pulls together the poetry of the writers who worked with the British Council as part of their programme to bring performance poetry to KL and/or performed at the Wayang Kata performances at La Bodega and No Black Tie.Is Kuala Lumpur turning into some kind of poetry hot spot?asks the intro to the collection.
Well if it is, the largest share of praise must surely go to British Council for making something really great happen here. For being the catalyst that has got so much else moving.
14 comments:
[q]Is Kuala Lumpur turning into some kind of poetry hot spot?[/q]
Maybe its an exclusive, intimate thing. Most of us Malaysians don't read.
so oral literature is good! yes, i think you're right about the intimacy.
i really enjoyed wellversed. especially francesca beard's poem... though she's not a kl poet
oral literature? verbal diarrhea more like it. haha. im so cynical about my fellow countrymen. i need to shut up. merdeka is near.
mohani - there's real talent here ... sometimes admittedly talent that is a little raw ... but it's only with opportunity and encouragement that writers grow.
mslaysian writers are proving their world classness so there's no room for cynicism. and maybe some of these young writers will be the international award winners of the future ... or perhaps this will fall to the next generation they encourage by their sheer courage in putting their work out in publsic.
if you haven't checked out the local writing scene, do come and do so soon!
thats true.
and yes, i will. soon.
ps/ by no means was i trying to insult the poetry scene here. i stupidly misinterpreted your comment :(
btw, it's not exclusive at all. I actually read wellversed out loud to my friend at plaza damas while we were waiting for dinner and ended up gaining an audience at the restaurant. They liked my impression of Datuk Shan :p There is really some very good poetry in there.
no offence taken but a warm invitation extended
--'course we were drunk and rowdy.
The next generation Sharon refers to above includes a four year old who diligently attends Readings and watches plays by Ibsen.
Ok, proud Mom syndrome, but yesterday she brought home her colouring of a Richard Wagner protrait. When asked what did he write, she confidently replied "Enemy of the People".
animah,
I await the day said 4-year old can carry off this conversation.
hot spot ? not if the weather keeps up.
It's odd isn't it ? there are some people living in the trains there that are better-spoken than many of the people who are making millions here. What's the cause of this apparent disconnect ?
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