West End Writes Spring Celebration
Performances included poetic meditations on spring, a humorous account of living in a care home, odes to friendship, community and belonging, and powerful accounts about how global politics affect the everyday lives of residents of Newcastle’s West End.
Writers shared work in many of the languages spoken across the city, and audiences were gripped by every word. This was the first time some of the performers had shared their writing, and it was clear there are so many talented artists and writers, with so many stories to tell, voices that need to be heard.
The following groups shared their work at the event.
World Writes
World Writes, a group of multilingual writers who speak English as another language, shared their work produced as part of a multilingual creative exchange. The exchange took place as a series of online workshops with writers from around the world, writing in over 20 different languages, culminating in a publication which explores how language interacts with body, place, shape and sounds.
Introduced by lead writer Mymona Bibi, group members Tilottama and Nabiolah performed their poetry.
Creative Drop-In
Members of a peer writing group who attend our creative writing drop-in at St James’ Church, Benwell, produced an anthology of poetry titled This is the Place. Lead writer Jasmine Plumpton read their collaborative poem of the same title, and group members Jill, Eddie, Denise, Sophie, Sandra and Peter each read their own poetry.
Here I can
find a space
to play, create, enjoy a day.
Here I can talk and laugh
with new friends.
Here I can express myself.
Here I can climb mountains,
write undiluted words to the wise.
Here I can use my brain,
and chat, be free.
Here I can let my pen run wild
and be myself with others like me.
Collage self-portraits by Creative Drop-In members
Remembered West
Remembered West, a group of writers aged 50+ who met weekly, presented multi-artform self-portraits and performed poems they had written, exploring themes ranging from spring to the power of connection and friendship, introduced by lead writer Susannah Ronnie. The group also presented audio pieces and archive boxes, detailing their past and present through various photographs and documents.
A peek inside the Remembered West archive boxes
South Asian Women's Group
A group of South Asian women aged 50+ who met weekly presented اپنی آواز (‘Apni Aawaaz’, Our Voice), a multi-lingual poetic documentary which explores their experiences of moving to Newcastle and the friendships they have formed.
Their group leader Malya Bhattacharya prefaced the film with a personal account of what it meant to collaborate with older South Asian women as a younger woman from India living in Newcastle, sharpened by her perspective on the current escalating violence between India and Pakistan.