www.57productions.com

57 News Summer 2006

Welcome to 57 News – a new quarterly issue with which we aim to keep people posted of what’s going on at 57

57 is pleased to announce exciting new developments in its programme for the internet - in October 2006 we launch a totally new website - redesigned as a dynamic electronic catalogue - carrying new audio-visual, audio & interactive content – including the launch of the worlds’ first ‘poetry video-jukebox’ (www.poetryvideojukebox.com) & ‘iPoems’ (www.ipoems.org.uk)

The poetry video-jukebox will feature newly produced & special arkive poetry-films - & similarly - iPoems - will present new recordings – alongside 57s original & popular back-catalogue – starting with 1001 MP3s

Plus 57 announces a wealth of new content for the already hugely successful poetry jukebox (www.poetryjukebox.com), newly commissioned articles – further developing the websites’ value as an educational resource – including specially commissioned teacher & student support materials (in the first instance for A Level & above) - & the development of the ‘electronic art’ content of the site in general, including, in particular, the use of ‘Flash’ animation & the creation of down-loadable poetry ring-tones, poetry wall-paper & poetry screen-savers

Access to the new site will be through subscription-based membership areas & by directly down-loadable MPEG & MP3 files

The artists featured include:

John Hegley, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Kamau Brathwaite, Ian McMillan,
Tom Leonard, Jane Draycott, Benjamin Zephaniah, John Cooper Clarke,
Michael Donaghy, Sarah Maguire, Liz Lochhead, Moniza Alvi,
Linton Kwesi Johnson, Kwame Dawes, Roger McGough, Choman Hardi,
Peter Finch, Brian Patten, Zena Edwards, Neil Rollinson, Adrian Mitchell,
Rita Ann Higgins, Levi Tafari, Jackie Kay, Michael Rosen, Imtiaz Dharker, Jayne Cortez, Christopher Logue, Matthew Sweeney, Francesca Beard, Salena ‘Saliva’ Godden, Dorothea Smartt, Courttia Newland, Mark Gwynne Jones, Nick Toczek, Attila the Stockbroker, Joolz Denby, Aidan Andrew Dun, Mahmood Jamal, Patience Agbabi, Neil Sparkes …
among many others t.b.a.

The website will be launched on Tuesday the 3rd of October at the Soho Writers Theatre, London - with a special reception for artists, the media & the public - along with special promotional events organised in association with partners throughout the UK.

This new production programme enjoys the support of the Arts Council of England

57 proposes to offer FREE one months’ trial membership - after which annual subscriptions will be £10 - to access all areas. Downloads of audio-visual & audio content will also be available at £1 for 1 x MPEG & 50p for 1 x MP3 files - representing what we believe to be great value (all figures inc. VAT)

The website will evolve in time to become one of the most innovative & significant public spaces for poetry yet seen

Media enquiries can be addressed either to 57 Productions (contact details below) or our press partners: IDEA Generation

Tel: 020 74284949
Email: frontdoor@ideageneration.co.uk


To read more about these new developments please see The Guardian Unlimited article by Charlotte Higgins posted recently on the Culture Vulture (plus weblog):

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/06/14/do_you_want_poe.html


Throughout Summer & Autumn 2006 57 continues with its expansive & popular touring, media & educational programme – details of which can also be found on the website

More to follow …

OTHER available articles

Adrian Mitchell's Farewell
Adrian Mitchell - 'the shadow poet laureate' passed away on the 20th of December 2008. Here is his farewell poem

New Media and the Teaching of Poetry in Higher Education
Nigel McLoughlin of the University of Gloucestershire shares insights as to how new media is beginning to inform poetic teaching practices in Higher Education in this newly commissioned article for 57

Digital Poetry Goes Live!
Here's a copy of a new article as first published by the National Association of Writers in Education (Writing in Education, Issue 41) - by Paul Beasley of 57

57 News Autumn 2007
In Autumn 2007 57 announces a wealth of new content for the iPoems & Video Jukebox systems - & is engaged in an extensive promotional programme - inc. events, workshops & talks - here are the details

Mikey Smith by Mervyn Morris
Here's a fine new article on the great late Jamaican dub-poet Mikey Smith from Mervyn Morris - especially commissioned by 57 - & coinciding with the re-release of a rare recording of Mikey's poem 'Say Natty Natty/Goliath' on the Poetry Jukebox - STILL FREE!

Recent Press
Here's a selection of links to recent press - with thanks to The Guardian's Culture Vulture, Open Magazine, plus ...

Performance Poetry and Theory
Performance Poetry and Academic Theory in the Trenches: Suggestions for a necessary Dialogue by Cornelia Gräbner

THE POET IN THE COMMUNITY: A LITTLE ADVENTURE
The popular poet & broadcaster Ian McMillan writes about his experiences of working with the public at large & small in a specially commissioned article for 57

57 launches iPoems & the Video Jukebox
57 is pleased to announce the launch of www.ipoems.org.uk & www.poetryvideojukebox.com - in October 2006 - here's the announcement

The Bowery Program in Applied Poetics
Here's an announcement of A Certificate Program in Applied Poetics at the Bowery Poetry Club, New York Summer 2006 Session: August 13-August 27, 2006

Ivor Cutler, John La Rose & Linda Smith: The Guardian Obituaries
2006 witnessed the loss of Ivor Cutler, John La Rose & Linda Smith - inspirational figures - memories of whom are cherished & whose work & influence lives on. Here we offer links to The Guardian Obituaries by Mark Espiner, Linton Kwesi Johnson & Jeremy Hardy respectively

The Bitten Tongue
The Censoring of a Poem: 'Isaiah' by Jean 'Binta' Breeze

Hovis has left the building
Another sad link - Hovis Presley, poet & comedian, a premature obituary - from Toby Hadoke for The Independent (sorry, it seems you would have to buy this now - it is a touching item)

Kamau Brathwaite: My Emmerton 2005
Here is a copy of an open letter received from one of the Caribbean's most distinguished sons - concerning the plight of & fight for his physical & spiritual home - CowPastor, Barbados

A Hot Weekend: Performance Poetry Conference
In the Summer of 2003 a special conference was inaugurated at Bath Spa University - on the subject of 'Performance Poetry'. Here, the curator - writer & performer Lucy English, gives a personal account of what was involved & its outcomes

Michael Donaghy The Guardian Obituary
A fine appreciation of the work & life of Michael by Sean O'Brien

Courttia Newland Interview
Young black British purveyor of 'urban realism', Courttia discusses his work to date & that in progress

Sound Poetry
Leading experimental poet, Peter Finch, traces the emergence & development of 'Sound-Poetry' within British & European contexts - providing a special focus on Bob Cobbing - & hyperlinks - to explore this avant gardist phenomena - in a specially commissioned article for 57

Liz Lochhead Independent Interview
Liz discusses her recent collection of poetry - The Colour of Black & White (Polygon) - & her adaptation of The Thebans

Linton Kwesi Johnson New Humanist Interview
Linton battles interview fatique to deliver a frank & revealing account of his personal development - through politics, poetry & music

A Conversation with Jean “Binta” Breeze
Dub and Difference: the transcript of a recent interview conducted with Jean by Jenny Sharpe for Callaloo journal (USA)