west midlands artists

nearly a full page in this morning's Birmingham Post which looks much better in the actual paper than it does online. It is right next to a feature about all the Birmingham artists performing this year, including Rosie Kay Dance Company (5 July), Bryan Corbett Quartet (6 July), Thomas Trotter (7 & 9 July), MDCC Theatre Company (5, 6 & 12 July), Polarbear (9 July), and the Sabri Ensemble (10 & 11 July). Of course, alongside these artists, is the inaugural Lichfield Festival Chorus (8 July), and the culmination of the two year Stone City Voices project with Lichfield Poets and David Calcutt (12 July).

just over two weeks left

with just over two and a half weeks to go until the festival kicks off, and with the stark reality of everything becoming increasingly apparent, the second of our education projects in schools is up and running since first being discussed over a year ago.
Today was the first day of Choices, a project run in partnership with Apples & Snakes. Contemporary poets Polarbear and John Berkavitch have spent all of today at Nether Stowe High School with three more schools to go before the week is out. One more visit to each school in a few weeks time, then everybody gets up on stage to show what they've been up to on 4 July.
Polarbear returns later in the festival for his upgraded show if i cover my nose you can't see me. It was stunning when I saw it in development at the Birmingham REP last year. Should be even more incredible now.