e-mail graeme@jkenna.fsnetco.ukPerformance Work
Wirral Ode Show Poets 1997 – date
Little Bohemia Group 1997 – 2000
Explosive Mouth Group 1998 – 2001
Rubyactive 2002
Guest Poet Dead Good Poets 2002, (including support Les Murray)
First Thursday 2002
Writing on the Wall Festival 2002 (invited to host workshops 2003)
Organiser “Poets & Pints” Wirral CAMRA Festivals 2000, 2001
Buxton Fringe Festival 2003
Venues Performed at include
Wirral Guitar Festival, Wirral Jazz Festival
Euro Wirral, Wirral Green Fair, Birkenhead Show
Bluecoat chambers
The Pilgrim, The Egg, The Magnet, Seamus O’Donnell’s, The 57 Club
Birkenhead Priory
Everyman Theatre, The Pacific Theatre
Buxton Old Club House
Publications
Over 40 poems published, numerous broadcast on local radio. Appeared on The Viewing Room BBC2. Anthologised 2002 Headland Publications. Co editor Peace Poetry anthology with Pete Kalu and Samshad Khan 2003, Crocus / Commonword. Small Press publications contributed to include Reach, Breakfast All Day, Quantum Leap, and Orbis, winning both an editors’ and readers prize. Lyrics used by several solo artists / groups
Workshops
I provided two workshops on comedy writing and performance and writing to the 2003 Writing on the Wall festival. I have been asked to provide workshops by the Manchester Poetry Festival.
My Poetry
My poetry grew out of my comedy writing; I also perform as a stand-up. It is aimed to be concise and punchy. It has two contrasting moods; bleakly humorous, and humorously bleak. The Wirral Ode Show, which I co-ordinate, helps an average of over 20 new poets per year to perform for the first time.
