NSW & Sydney Poetry Events - November 2016

 
A regular feature from Norm Neill, to encourage the sense of community among poets and the poetry-appreciation community. We would love to have a comprehensive bulletin for Australia-wide, so if you have any feedback, readings, performances, launches, etc. please send an email to kristy@redroomcompany.org.

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Tuesday 1 November, 7.00pm–10.00pm – On the FIRST Tuesday of November, the Sappho Poetry Night will play host to AVANT GAGA #27, with poets John Kinsella, Tracy Ryan, Lorna Munro and Dan Hogan, plus an open mic section. Sappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar, 51 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW. Tapas and drinks at the bar. Free entry.
 
Tuesday 1 November, 7.30 pm – WordinHand will present Candy Royalle, who will debut her epic new work, Caravans, a half -hour rhyming saga about life, love, consumerism, occupation, freedom, death and caravans, and second-placegetter in the 2016 Word Travels sonnet slam Jacqui Malins. Plus the regular open mic session (sign up on the night). This will be Jack Peck’s second-last hosting of WordinHand (Candy Royalle will take over the role in 2017). The Friend in Hand Hotel, 58 Cowper Street, Glebe. $10/$5 donation.
 
Wednesday 2 November, 10.00 am–12.00 noon – U3A Hornsby Poetry Appreciation group with Jocey Pittman, will discuss a selection of poems by a poet chosen by members at the previous meeting. Copies of the poems will be supplied The group will also choose the poet for the next meeting. Hornsby Library, 28–44 George Street, Hornsby. Free after joining U3A. Contact Anne Eagar on 0439 080 137 or at eagarl1@optusnet.com.au.
 

Friday 4 November, 7.00–9.00 PM – Women Of Words will present the opening night of Stand Up and Speak Out: Breaking the Silence on Violence. The event will include the launch of the accompanying chapbook (if it arrives in time from the printer). The opening night will still highlight the poets that are in the chapbook and those involved will be reading their poems. Vinyl Café, 4 Perkins Street, Newcastle All proceeds from the chapbook ($20 each) will be split 50/50 between the White Ribbon Foundation and the Hunter Women’s Centre.
 
Saturday 5 November, 10.00 am– 4.00 pm – Miles Merrill will present Write to Speak, a workshop that will look at ways of using stories and poetry to get your message across, from holding a microphone, to expressing vulnerability, and editing text for a live presentation. NSW Writers’ Centre, Callan Park, Balmain Road, Rozelle. $180/$125 (member)/$110 (concession member). Information and bookings at www.nswwc.org.au or on (02) 9555 9757.
 
Saturday 5 November, 4.00–6.00 pm – Women Of Words will present event one of Stand Up and Speak Out: Breaking the Silence on Violence, featuring poets Ivy Ireland, Gloria Demillo, Alexandra Morris, Beth Spencer, Jan Dean and Magdalena Ball. The Press Book House, 462 Hunter Street, Newcastle. $10 entry. All proceeds to The Hunter Women’s Centre.
 

Saturday 12 November, 3.00 for 3.30 pm –David Malouf will launch Puncher and Wattmann's major new anthology: Contemporary Australian Poetry (696pp), edited by Martin Langford, Judith Beveridge, Judy Johnson and David Musgrave. Ten years in preparation, and collecting the work of the past twenty-five years, the anthology provides a comprehensive new perspective on a rich and exciting period in Australian poetry. The ANZAC Room, 1st Floor, Paddington RSL, 220-232 Oxford St, Paddington. Free entry. All welcome.
 
Saturday 12 November, 4.00–6.00 pm – Women Of Words will present event two of Stand Up and Speak Out: Breaking the Silence on Violence, featuring poets Catherine Knight, Rhiannon Pryor, Jean Kent, Cecelia White and Meg Dunn. $10 entry. Vinyl Café, 4 Perkins Street, Newcastle All proceeds to the Hunter Women’s Centre.$10 entry.
 
Sunday 13 November– Word Travels will present Australian Poetry Slam NSW State Finalist Nardine, National Finalist Troy Wong and 2015 National Champion Philip Wilcox performing sets throughout the day on the Heartbeat stage at the Newtown Festival. (Check the festival website for details.)
 
Sunday 13 November, 3.00–5.00 pm – Eastern Suburbs Poetry Group will hold its next regular monthly meeting. Members will read their own poems, with each poem being followed by a discussion in a supportive environment. All styles and forms supported. First floor, Waverley Library, 32 Denison Street, Bondi Junction. Enquiries ycalder@hotmail.com or neumannc@ozemail.com.au.
 
Tuesday 15 November, 6.30-7.30 p.m. – In celebration of Indigenous Literacy Day, local poet Eric Avery will perform his compelling new work, including his poetry commissioned for the New Shoots project. The reading will be followed by a Q&A with the artist. Sutherland Shire Library, 30–36 Belmont Street, Sutherland. Gold coin donation.
 
Tuesday 15 November, from 6.30 pm – Poets at the Petersham Bowlo, hosted by Mark Marusic and Barry Sargent. Open mic format (mainly poems, but also short stories, anecdotes, jokes, acoustic music). Bar and bistro open. 77 Brighton St Petersham. Info: Mark 0410 054 756.
 
Wednesday 16 November, 10.00 am–12.00 noon – U3A Hornsby Poetry Appreciation group with Jocey Pittman, will discuss a selection of poems by a poet chosen by members at the previous meeting. Copies of the poems will be supplied The group will also choose the poet for the next meeting. Hornsby Library, 28–44 George Street, Hornsby. Free after joining U3A. Contact Anne Eagar on 0439 080 137 or at eagarl1@optusnet.com.au.
 
Thursday, 17 November–Saturday, 10 December– The Red Room Company and the Big Fat Smile Gallery, will host Poetry Object Exhibition, an interactive exhibition that celebrates the winning and highly commended entries from the Poetry Object 2016 competition. Award-winning poems will be suspended from driftwood branches. Visitors will be able to listen to narrated poems and have the opportunity to contribute to a group typewriter poem and test the different surrealist writing exercises in the space. Big Fat Smile Gallery, Level 1, 98 Railway Street, Corrimal. Free Entry.
Launch and announcement of winners, Thursday 17 November, 12.00-1.30 pm. Free entry.
 
Saturday 19 November, 12.00 noon-4.00 pm - Poetry Object Exhibition Family Fun Day. As part of the exhibition, The Red Room Company and Big Fat Smile will host a drop-in workshop day led by practising poets and artists. Students of all ages can experiment with language and art-making exercises to create personal responses inspired by special objects. ig Fat Smile Gallery, Level 1, 98 Railway Street, Corrimal NSW. Free Entry.
 
Saturday 19 November, 3.00–5.00 pm – Luke Fischer will launch J. H. Crone's Our Lady of the Fence Post, an imaginative verse-narrative response to reports of the appearance of a Marian apparition on the site of a memorial for victims of the Bali bombing. Upstairs at the Friend in Hand Hotel, 58 Cowper Street, Glebe. Free entry, but RSVP (for numbers) by Wednesday 16 November to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/book-launch-our-lady-of-the-fence-post-by-j-h-crone-tickets-27874324856?ref=enivtefor001&invite=MTA4ODgzOTUvbm9ybWllQGV4ZW1haWwuY29tLmF1LzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend or contact: jenniferhcrone@gmail.com.
 
Saturday 19 November, 4.00–6.00 pm – Women Of Words will present event three of Stand Up and Speak Out: Breaking the Silence on Violence, featuring poets Judy Johnson, Gillian Swain, Chris Mansell, Debbie Robson and Anne Walsh. $10 entry. Vinyl Café, 4 Perkins Street, Newcastle All proceeds to the Hunter Women’s Centre.
 
Sunday 20 November, 3.30 for 4.00 pm – Diana Weston will launch Rosemary Dobson in Words and Music. Rosemary Dobson recorded eight of her poems during the 1970s. Leonie Gambage will read the poems, accompanied by musicians including Shaun Ng (viola da gamba and lute) and Diana Weston (harpsichord). Upstairs at Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Free entry, but RSVP for numbers on (02) 9660 2333 or at events@gleebooks.com.au.

Sunday, 20 November 3.00–5.00 pm – Surprise with Dangerously Poetic Press! Music and Poetry on the theme of Surprise featuring three mystery guests and Jessie Morris with his conscious blues, roots and reggae beats. At Bangalow Heritage House Museum and Cafe, Deacon Street, Bangalow. $15/12 (DP members).
 
Wednesday 23 November, 7.30 pm (doors open) – Live Poets will present Sydney – my Muse! City of Word, Song and Vision. George Clark will present the work of Kenneth Slessor, DiVerse Group of Poets (Marcelle Freiman, Margaret Bradstock, Sheryl Persson, Louise Wakeling and Garry McDougall – introduced by Rob Kennedy) will read their poems inspired by Sydney artists from Margaret Preston to Brett Whiteley, and audience members will be encouraged to present poems, songs inspired by Sydney. Limericks to Sydney will be sprinkled through the evening, and there will be a presentation of the 2016 awards. Live Poets @ Don Bank, 6 Napier St North Sydney. $7 entry includes supper and drinks. Further info/bookings: Danny Gardner (Convenor) (02) 9896 6956 Mobile 0422 263 373 or dannylivepoets@yahoo.com.au.
 
Thursday 24 November, 6.30 pm– The Wollongong Writers Festival will present the Texas to the Gong Poetry Duet Slam and the Enough Said Poetry Slam. Five poets from the Enough Said Poetry Slam in Wollongong will compete with five poets from MicCheck in Texas, who will appear vis Skype. Feature poets will be poetry duo dance act Madi Mae Parker and Francesca Willow. Jane’s Cafe, 1/40-42 Flinders St, Wollongong. Entry $10. Bookings (optional) at http://www.wollongongwritersfestival.com/events-2/.
 
Friday 25 November, 6.30–7.00 pm – Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs will launch Sydney poet Hani Abdile’s new collection of poetry at 107 Projects, 107 Regent Street, Redfern. Free entry, no bookings required.
 
Friday 25 November, 7.10–9.00 pm – Word Travels will present from the USA, The Body is Not and Apology founder Sonya Renee Taylor and the Be Beautiful Project founder Denise Jolly. Plus two duos: Spare Pages (USA and Australia) and One Thousand Promises Tour (USA and UK). 107 Projects, 107 Regent Street, Redfern. Tickets $32.35 at www.wordtravels.info.
 
Saturday 26 November, 4.00 pm - Bill Tibben will Launch Tony Scanlon’s Flying Blind: New & Selected Poetry (1985-2015) at the Carrington Hotel, 15-47 Katoomba Street, Katoomba. Join us for readings of some of Tony’s work, music and refreshments but please RSVP suewildman@bigpond.com for numbers.
 
Sunday 27 November, 1.30–5.30 pm – Wollongong Writers Festival will celebrate an
Afternoon of Poetry at Jane’s Cafe, 1/40-42 Flinders St, Wollongong. $10 Gets you entry to all poetry events on this date.
 1.30–2.00 pm – The launch of Poetry magazine, the Australian edition, edited by Robert Adamson. Poetry Magazine was founded in Chicago by Harriet Monroe in 1912. The magazine has published a new issue every month for one hundred years. Plus readings from the magazine and from Net Needle by Robert Adamson and Robbie Coburn.
 2.00–3.30 pm – Judith Beveridge and Stephen Edgar will feature in Rocket Readings, plus an open mic section with a three minute limit.
 3.30–3.45 pm – A Ben Frater Retrospective, featuring Ben Frater reading his work on YouTube.
 3.30–4.30 pm – The Maddest Tea Party will feature Tim Heffernan, Alise Blayney, Phillip Hall, Robbie Coburn, Michele Seminara, Ariel Riveros Pavez and Robert Adamson, who will explore their experience of illness and recovery through poetry.
 4.30–5.30 pm – Mad Poets Reading will feature the poets from the panel and those who participated in the workshop in October will read from their work.
Bookings (optional) for this event at http://www.wollongongwritersfestival.com/events-2/.
 
Sunday 27 November, 2.00 pm –Poetry Sydney will present poet, editor, deputy-chair of Australian Poetry Ltd, and three-time director of the Australian Poetry Festival Martin Langford in discussion with Professor Emeritus Stuart Rees, Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation, at the Brett Whiteley Studio, 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills. Free entry, thanks to sponsorship of J.P. Morgan.
 
Sunday 27 November, 4.00–6.00 pm – Women Of Words will present event four of Stand Up and Speak Out: Breaking the Silence on Violence, featuring poets Gabrielle Jones, Dael Allison, Kerri Shying and Linda Ireland. Good Brothers Espresso, 40 King Street, Newcastle. $10 entry. All proceeds to the White Ribbon Organisation. (This event is registered as a White Ribbon event.)
 
Wednesday 30 November – U3A Hornsby Poetry Appreciation group cancelled today.

Wednesday 30 November, 7.00–9.00 pm – RhiZomiC Poetry will present poet, novelist and visual artist Anna Couani and poet, short-fiction author, writing teacher and chalker of poetry on pavementsSarah St Vincent Welch . Upstairs at Mr Falcon’s, 92 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Free entry.

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