this collection @ McEwan Hall

I’ll be reading a 20-minute set at the this collection showcase in the University of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall on Friday 26th. The event is free and runs from 7 pm to 9 pm.

McEwan hall is a rather grand place to be reading. I danced in there at many a ceilidh as a student and have heard the Edinburgh Renaissance Singers fill the place with a glorious sound. The last time I was in there would be for graduation back in <gulp> 1998, when, as an Edinburgh Uni graduand, one is tapped lightly on the head with a cap reputedly made from — I kid you not — John Knox’s breiks.

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. this collection brings together poets and film makers to create films of/based on 100 poems inspired by Edinburgh post codes. A week past Friday, there was a speed dating-style event for the poets and prospective film makers at the Scottish Poetry Library with a view to pairing up these two sides of the creative coin. There was quite a buzz about the evening, and I met several interesting people. I was pleased indeed that Amy Shields and Ben Warren, a pair of student film makers, were keen to work on my contribution to the 100 poems, “MacAdam’s Inventory o a Tourist Trap“. Amy and Ben struck me as being on the right wavelength for the poem and their enthusiasm for it was, well, eaxctly what you want in collaborators, really.

The McEwan Hall event will gather the collaborations created thus far. On Thursday 25th, the public will have the chance to view them between 10 am and 5 pm. On the Friday evening, poets will read alongside the films, though not everyone reading will have a film of their poem. Other poets on that evening include: Tom Bristow, Christine de Luca, Hayley Shields, Russell Jones, Andrew C Fergusson, Morgan Downie, Anita John, Rob A Mackenzie, Aileen Ballantyne, Jane McKie, Chris Lindores, Mairi Sharratt, Juliet Wilson, McGuire and Claire Askew. Should be a good night. If I get an idea at what point in proceedings I’ll be reading, I’ll post again.