York Theatre Royal – 25 April 2017. Reviewed by Marcus Richardson
Words and Whippets (and bees?), a poetry evening that was held at the studio of the York Theatre Royal, with four poets bringing their original material ranging from being drunk to running in York. The night was most enjoyable. The four poets of the night were, Katie Greenbrown, Andy Bennett, Hannah Davies and famed poet Kate Fox.
To start off was Greenbrown, a quirky just lovable poet whose poems draw you in with their innocence and simplicity. A poem about saving a bee with some sugar water echoed her style both in fashion and in word, the use of her delivery worked really well here as the kind nature of the piece fitted in and suited the context. Although softly speaking her poem that stood out for me was ‘Someone Else’s Bum’ a poem about her jogging around the Knavemire in York. The greatness of the poem draws you in and gives you the image of York and then puts you in her boots as there are a lot of men which makes her feel uncomfortable and scared.
The second to perform was the Fringe veteran Bennett, another poet who had a poem about a bee with a briefcase. However the poem that stood out for him was about him getting drunk and waking up on the kitchen floor to find that he had drunk a whole bottle of Lennor, yes the fabric softener, and talking to a badger who had attacked him. All of his poems are hilarious and making the audience laugh.
After the interval we were entertained by Davis the only poet who didn’t have a poem about bees. Her poems were very calming and eye opening, her poem about a tattoo was very smooth and felt as if she was telling a story and not reciting, even though there was rhyme and the poetic structure. Her poem however that was written for a domestic abuse fundraiser was absolutely gripping with the tale of her father who was often abusive to her mother.
Now the highlight of the night was Fox who was the poet in residence at the Glastonbury festival. Her poems were generally funny and short. The poem that explores her new love of swimming and how there are always two women who swim breaststroke and talk, was both very short and had the funniest ending. He poem about bees stood out though as she explores Manchester’s history and the power of women through the symbolism of bees, giving us the idea that all worker bees are female.
Compared by political poet Harry Raby, who is the co-host of the frequent ‘Say Owt Slam’ in York. The night was very pleasant to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’ll try and make it to Words and Whippets #6.