Pop Up Poetry
I wanna hear poetry that engages – never boring, I wanna hear poetry for Black Country Touring
I wanna hear poetry for you and for me, live at four venues here in Wednesbury
Poetry for your sons and your daughters, we smashed it at Boobielous and Junction 9 and ¾
I wanna hear poetry for you and for me, the Blue Bookshop, and the Vintage Tea
I wanna hear p-p-p-p-p-poetry!
– Dreadlockalien
Pop Up Poetry, commissioned by Multistory through the Wednesbury High Street Heritage Action Zone cultural programme, was Black Country Touring’s first live site-specific production since the pandemic began.
During the first two weeks of December, four poets took up residency in two independent shops and two cafes in Wednesbury Town Centre. Bohdan Piasecki, R.M. Francis, Adaya Henry and Richard Grant (AKA Dreadlockalien) spent time chatting to local shoppers in Blue Sheep Books, Vintage Tea Room & Café, Boobielous and Junction 9 3/4.
The poets created new poems inspired by their interactions with the customers, the staff and the business owners, and then performed their poems in the same shops and cafes throughout the day on 17th December. Audiences were able to watch the performances by joining one of five walking tours between the four businesses, or by dropping in along the way.
The final poems explored themes such as time and memory, shone a spotlight on the independent businesses that are a vital part of Wednesbury high street, and told the stories of the local community.
Award-winning filmmaker, Michael Ellis, created a short film to document the project.
Trailer
Short film
Pop Up Poetry is produced by Black Country Touring, commissioned by Multistory through the Wednesbury High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.
Photograph © Phillip Parnell, 2022
