Lucienne Kim Flavell Performs At The Ledbury Poetry Slam 2015

 Lucienne Kim Flavell 

Performs At The Ledbury Poetry Slam 2015

There was a queue of people when I arrived at The Market Theatre. The gentleman at the door asked if I was a performer. I said yes and he led me into the reception area were a group of poets chatted excitedly. 

The venue

I could feel my mouth going dry as I contemplated the task ahead of me. This was my first public performance in five years and I had never performed at a poetry slam. I had never been to a poetry slam. I didn't know what to expect.

I attempted conversation with a couple of friendly looking women. They told me they had both performed at many poetry slams. They said I was very brave to start at the biggest poetry festival in the UK. 

The organiser led us to the front of the hall. I counted over two hundred heads. I frowned as more people poured in and started to take up residency in the gang way; they had accidently oversold tickets. 

Sara-Jane Arbury read out my introduction and I climbed the few steps to the stage. I could feel my heart in my mouth as I reached the microphone. I took a few seconds to scan the faces in the front row. My mum give a thumbs up.  

Lucienne Kim Flavell Ledbury Poetry Slam 2015

I took a deep breath and did everything as I had practiced; the facial expressions, the emotion in my voice. Towards the end my whole body was shaking; not because the poem I was reciting was mournful but because my nerves had got the better of me.

Numerous people congratulated me after the show. They were not aware I had been anxious. My mum said my trembling had made my performance more convincing!

Ledbury Poetry Festival 2015

Ledbury Poetry Festival 2015

My mum and I arrived at Ledbury train station not knowing there was no taxi rank. I called the B&B owner who told me taxies were private hire and I had to book them in advance. Only four gentlemen served the market town. I called each of them to discover they were fully booked during the poetry festival.

The owner of the B&B rescued us from the train station. We were dismayed when we realised he was taking us deep into the countryside.  The website had claimed the property was a short walking distance to the centre of town. It was in fact 7 miles away.

The owner of the B&B said there was a reliable bus service. The bus stop was an hour walk away and the bus came four times a day.  This meant we would miss out on the morning and evening performances, including my performance at the Ledbury Poetry Slam! Nightmare!

The bus time table

My mum waiting on the grassy knoll for the bus.

I managed to get the number of a gentlemen called Phillip who served Birmingham Airport. He travelled over to us every day to drive us into town and back. It cost us £40 a day but we didn’t care. We were desperate.

The B&B owner advised us to book a table for every meal during the festival or we might get turned away. Great. My mum and I constantly checked our schedule to see when we were available for lunch or dinner, then walked up and down the high street checking with each restaurant if they were free.

On the plus side the B&B was beautiful; a converted barn in the middle of a working farm.  The beds were comfortable, the bathroom was light and stylish. The place and had a real home sweet home feel.

The food was delicious at every restaurant we went to. I would recommend the Feather’s Hotel for dinner if you are heading into Ledbury. Such exquisite ingredients, gorgeously presented and bursting with flavour.        

I Will Be Performing at The Ledbury Poetry Festival

I have exciting news! I will be performing my poetry at the Ledbury Poetry Festival; the biggest poetry festival in the UK! My name will be joined by the likes of Michael Donaghy, Jo Bell, Simon Armitage, Imtiaz Dharker, Don Paterson and Pam Ayres.

How I Became a Poet Part Two

Reunited with award winning novelist Patrick Gale, who's guidance led me to become a poet.

How I Became a Poet

In October 2010 I met Patrick Gale, an award winning novelist, with my mum and sister-in-law in Brighton. My mum told him I had just started to write poetry. He said I should go to Arvon to study. It was at Arvon that I met Hugo Williams who told me I had talent and I should send my poem 'Afterword' to a competition. 'Afterwod' won a Highly Commended Prize in The Poetry Box International Competition. After that I suddenly found myself in many Literary magazines including Writing magazine, which had Patrick Gale on the front cover. Now, my mum has arranged for me to meet Patrick Gale again. I believe my entire career as a poet stemmed from meeting him. I can't wait to see him and say thank you.

Mid Sussex Stanza

I recently set up a poetry group in the Mid Sussex area. We meet up once a month in Haywards Heath to workshop our poetry and discuss the work of poets we admire.

If you would like to join our friendly and supportive group, please contact me via the contact form or email Lfpoetryworkshop@gmail.com for more information.


The next meeting is on the 25th of February 2015.

Welcome To My Page

“Lyrics can lift one's heart, prose can make one think, and speeches can move one to action. Poetry can do all three.”

I have been writing poetry for five years. In that time I have become a multi-award winning poet and poetry teacher.

                       

You can read my poetry here, find out more about my awards / publication history and contact me about workshops / one-to-one tuition or any question you may have.