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CHANGES TO SUB VOICIVE POETRY (London UK) The SVP seasons are January to July + September to December, with breaks during much of December and early January & for much of July, all of August and some of September - Xmas and summer holidays Currently, the starting point is an attempt to arrange a reading / performance once every two weeks during the season. These are readings in whatever room is available, currently one of two at The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd. This pattern is added to, or readings are replaced, by collaborations with others (Birkbeck CPRC, October Gallery, Camden People's Theatre and others - details in website documentation) Camden People's Theatre is the latest collaboration and the first reading there was a success in all senses; but subsequent readings there need to be supported - more so perhaps because while the capacity is greater so are the overheads This year, in response to continuing poor and / or unpredictable turnout, the basic programme has been cut, ad hoc. Attendance has got worse. That's usually the way with cuts, but the readings have to pay their small way (a few more people does it) AND not be an insult to the performer. It is better to cut or cancel than do THAT THE CHANGE: The programming starting point will now be an attempt to arrange a reading / performance once every FOUR weeks as the basic programme during the season. If what is offered is supported, the frequency will be increased; and vice versa; but, in the latter case, towards a rapid closedown. A second reading during June was more than contemplated, though it might not have happened; but those plans will now be dropped. It will not happen. Ditto July. Potentially, these are the only cuts that will be made; or they are the beginning of a closure. In the words of supermarkets - and many urge a retailer / consumer approach to poetry on svp - use it or lose it. Don't take it for granted. Tell your friends about the series. Help advertise it. A *handful of people is the difference between a healthy audience and a bad one. It isn't the Albert Hall that has to be filled. If you have programming ideas, say so; but there is no intention of greatly changing the aesthetic direction of the series or of compromising on the principle that each poet has a reasonable length of time to present her work... No slams, not even nudges Collaborations with others will continue. A central aspect of SVP is the presentation of oversea poets and that must continue or there is no point in continuing at all. (The abandoned July reading would have been a relatively unknown oversea poet on whom the series was going to take an informed chance.) The 6th colloquium will go ahead in 2003 - more later. It can be one of many more or it can be the last. The proceedings publication is now in preparation, the deadline for final versions having passed, and should be available in the autumn of this year All the best to all of you. (None of this is aimed personally. It arises from a belief that a reading without an audience is no reading at all) ================================================== The next SVP is being organised in association with Contemporary Poetics Research Centre Tuesday 21 May 2002 6 p.m. from USA: Clayton Eshleman Part 1 6.00-7.20: Artaud the Momo: A reading of Eshleman's translations of Antonin Artaud, with slides and recording. Part 2 7.40 _ 9.00: Engaging Artaud, & Entering the Palaeolithic Continuum: Readings of Eshleman's own writing. PLEASE NOTE THE VENUE VENUE: Birkbeck College, Malet Street To be added to the SVP emailing list, send a blank message to: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------