New year, new performer as Steve Pottinger enthralled the audience at Petersfield Write Angle.
Although a first-timer with Write Angle, Steve has published three poetry books and co-written the best-selling autobiographies of two leading members of UK punk scene - Steve Ignorant of Crass and Ross Lomas of GBH.
He is a regular at Blackpool's Rebellion punk festival at the Spoken Word Stage of Rebellions, and performs around the circuit.
His laid-back style is strong, confident and theatrical. It's so gentle, it's like hearing love poems - but don't be fooled. He's a rebel who 'speaks softly but carries a strong word'!
His poems and stories flow together. He's a great raconteur, combining humour with cynicism. 'Thirteenth Floor', inspired while he worked for the homeless, describes a 'down and outer' who, after 'all he's been through', still maintains his innocence against all odds.
Steve hopes social services won't destroy him. He tells of the hen party in his railcar when he hadn't slept for days – how they endlessly shrieked but had so much fun, he found himself laughing, and how important laughing is.
Some know what they want to be when they grow up. Steve 'never had a clue.. still doesn't'! He wants to travel, see the world, meet people…
His poem, 'Key City', based on his home, Walsall, in the West Midlands, where all keys and locks were originally made – a city of 250,000 people, once thriving with factories, forges, fires, furnaces - 'now on its arse', full of charity shops.
He also tells of his dad , a GP, and where once existed 'identity, pride and dignity' - it's now gone.
He spoke of Blackpool, where his grandad lived and which he visited after his death. How it has no pretensions. It is what it is. Set on seafronts. Very picturesque.
Steve's philosophy comes through every poem. His one love poem, written so he had 'one token love poem', reeks cynical. It won't last. It can't.
Orkney, he describes with much love. His grandad grew up there. 'Did you ever go to a place you'd never been but felt you were at home?'
Steve sees the good in the world. A wonderful entertainer and much appreciated, judging by the response of the audience.
At the Open Mic, newcomer Mark Arnold produced his own political rant, 'Up the Flagpole'. David Roberts performed 'Butterflies', a lovely descriptive poem about two lovers parting.
Sven Stears – a take-off on poems with long titles and short (two word) poems. He did 'Hound' - 'he bit your wrists' and 'Harmonica' - the poem so aptly describes the parts of the harmonica. Excellent!
Chris Sangster did 'Greyhound Angel' - a tribute to a stranger who helped someone who couldn't get money, was hungry, tired and couldn't call home.
Maria Hewitt performed 'The Ant Queen', before Dave Allen offered 'I Could Have Sworn I Deleted Her Number'.
Jean Anne Naumcyzk did 'Cruise on QE', describing the ship with its shops and entertainment.
The ever-amazing Audi Maserati tuning his uke 'like tuning a sitar', did a song about 'yesterday is history', about a cowboy who 'stopped killing folks for fun' after meeting 'that girl' 'when the theatre came to town'.
Another song about an 'internationally recognised playgirl, given plastic surgery, ending with 'her disconnected perfumed feet'. His song, 'Hi Honey, I'm home' was lovely, sad and 'too real'.
Jack Warshaw sang about Greenwich Village in the '60s. Then a softer song, 'Passing Through', in which everyone joined in.
Tricia Cane read 'I sit by your side' about a harmonious love that can't last. Then a poem describing the morning sun.
Gilly, an audience favourite, read love poems 'To Womankind' – explaining the power they don't realise they have. 'Encore!' was heard as he left the stage.
A fine start to another busy year for the thriving creative group.
