Momentum gathers at grass roots for arts scene
[gallery] Regular readers of The Ticket would be forgiven for imagining our life is one long backstage party. Yes, we have our MA in Aftershow Ligging, but there's more to local arts than hanging out with Example, The Hairy Bikers and Sir Steve Redgrave, fun though all of that is, writes Andy Richardson.
When the headline performers take their leave, Shropshire also has a burgeoning grass roots arts scene that's the envy of people who live in neighbouring counties. Every night of the week, our market towns and villages host fringe events to cater for all tastes.
The county has one of the UK's healthiest folk music scenes, there's exceptional amateur dramatics, great poetry and visual arts and a wealth of classical musicians.
There's also an emerging literary scene, featuring writers and organisers of events dedicated to purveyors of both fact and fiction.
The recently-installed boss of Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Rachel Buchanan, is leading the way. The popular director has eclectic tastes: she's just as likely to book a tribute act as she is a talk by a South Korean poet, or a wrestling match as a performance by a classical ensemble.
Literature, however, is one of her greatest passions and that love is shared by the venue's marketing manager, Jenna Blair.
In coming years, you can expect Ludlow Assembly Rooms to be at the vanguard of Shropshire's emergent literary scene.
The venue hosted a writers' networking afternoon earlier this month, giving a few dozen authors, poets and hopefuls the chance to make connections with publishers, theatre groups and more.
The special guest at that event was Jonathan Davidson, the ultra-bright and exceptionally-witty chief executive of Writing West Midlands, a region-wide group that seeks opportunities to promote the work of authors.
Davidson delivered an impressive talk, explaining how people can find out more by utilising the free resources made available by Writing West Midlands.
He had special reason to be in Ludlow, as one of his own works will be performed soon, when Ludlow Assembly Rooms hosts Being Human on October 5. Being Human is a dramatic performance of extraordinary poetry from around the world, presented by three performers, with music, projections and striking imagery.
Charting the drama of our lives, these are thoughtful and passionate pieces that will touch the heart, stir the mind and fire the spirit. There will be poems about being human, about love and loss, fear and longing, hurt and wonder.
Jonathan said: "It's more like theatre, than poetry, in that we've taken 34 poems and they will be performed by three young actors, almost like a play. The poems follow a narrative, in that they cover all corners of human life, from birth to death. There is pathos, sorrow and comedy: Being Human is very different from a poetry reading.
"Some of the poems answer one another, as though they are in conversation. It was a challenging piece to create, but we're very proud of what we've achieved."
Being Human promises to be a highlight of Shropshire's autumn arts season and tickets are available from Ludlow Assembly Rooms at www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk or by calling 01584 878141.
