. The event’s organisers, Apples & Snakes always provide a varied selection of poets with different styles, and tonight’s line-up was no exception. As always, it included the Forked resident compere, Plymouth’s own Queen […] "'Pin It")
REVIEW: FORKED AT B-BAR, PLYMOUTH (24/03/11)
Another top night was had by all at Forked, the spoken word bi-monthly at the B Bar (downstairs from the Barbican Theatre). The event’s organisers, Apples & Snakes always provide a varied selection of poets with different styles, and tonight’s line-up was no exception. As always, it included the Forked resident compere, Plymouth’s own Queen of Showbiz, Mama Tokus. Mama has a genius for being totally at ease with her audience, and she dropped a few verses of her own. She is also a blues singer, currently working on her debut album.
Headliner, Cardiff-born Mab Jones is clearly a skilled performer and writer. She’s been described as “Pam Ayres on methadone”, she’s won prizes and she certainly grabbed the attention of the Forked audience. But before Mab, Jack Bean, Catherine Brogan and Talking Tekla took to the stage. Jack was up first, setting the scene with his sexually charged poetry (bit of theme for this night’s performances). New to the scene, Jack has a natural charm and seemed comfortable onstage. Catherine’s upbeat personality and upfront performance skills won the day, but it was hard to tell how much of the impact of her poetry was down to its graphic sexual content rather than her skills as a poet.
For me, the star of the show was Talking Tekla, with his rapid-fire ragga MC style. You could almost hear a killer bassline behind his bouncing rhythmic words, heavy in Jamaican Patois. It would be safe to assume that he could just as easily use the microphone in a jungle or dubstep rave, or even with a reggae band behind him. Maybe he’s already doing these things? Somebody give him a record deal and his own TV show.
Forked is an event you want to go back to time and time again- you can feel that by the audience’s reactions. A thoroughly enjoyable night as always, featuring some fantastically talented poets.
The next Forked is on Thursday May 26th, 8pm at Barbican Theatre’s B-Bar, Plymouth. Tickets: £5 in advance from B-Bar or online.
Featuring Underdog – beat poetry and music from Cornwall inspired by Tom Waits, witty poetry from the freshly crowned Bard of Bath, Jennifer Walters and Northern performance poet, Dominic Berry.
www.applesandsnakes.org
Words: Arash Torabi
Pictures: Angie Knight
