Kempe Studio | awritersfountain

Once in a while you get golden opportunities to do something outside of your normal/usual experience. I have always loved finding places for my poems outside the bound pages of a book, this is why they have appeared in Bank Vaults for an International Dance Festival, formed art installations, been displayed on poetry trails at festivals and on fences at museums and hung on branches of trees.

I love performing at unique events also. That is what last night was to me.

Cordula Kempe lives in the Kempe Studio at The Muses in Stratford-upon-Avon, where she produces an annual programme (and has done for 30 years) in aid of The Ruldolf Kempe Society in support of Young Musicians/Artists. Dame Judi Dench is the Patron.

I have known about these classical programmes since 2016, Cordula uses actors for the readings, although from time to time there are opportunities to contribute poems to the Word & Music Programmes, Cordula (as far as I know) has never used the poets themselves for the readings.

Songs of Apollo Word and Music Events

A new way to meet, enjoy and love the Classics

Bergonzi Quartet & Friends
with RSC and NT Actors

Kempe Studio at The Muses
58 Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6BA

Last night ‘Poetry is Life: Colour, Light and Shade’ was a programme of music & poetry read by actors & poets devised by Cordula Kempe, Angela France & Zubin Varla.

It was a truly magical experience. Crossing the lines of my acting past and my writing present, being absorbed by words, music, humour, talent and soaking up the atmosphere created by 22 creatives in a room as wonderful as the studio. I know Poetry is Life – but if I was in any doubt I would know it now for sure.

Actors of the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre are reading their own favourite poems on a given subject, which this year is colour, light and shade.

The words will be interwoven with short piano pieces ranging from Bach to Shostakovich, played by well-known actor and singer Zubin Varla. © Stratford-upon-Avon Herald 2018

It was a privilege to be part of ‘Poetry is Life’ last night, the Songs of Apollo programme devised by Cordula Kempe with words and music music, traditionally the words have been spoken by actors. Programme 1 of the 2018 season was special because it included invited poets reading their work.

Following a workshop with Angela France last year, poems were submitted and the accepted works formed part of the script.
There were 15 poets involved in last night’s performance: Angela France, Nina Lewis, Kathryn Alderman, Jenna Plewes, Marg Roberts, Connie Ramsay Bott, Ann Alexander, Wendy Freeman, Cathy Whittaker, Belinda Rimmer, Susan Davies, Hazell Hills, Ann Drysdale, John Mason & Linda Williams.

A wonderful experience to be part of.