There was a full house at St George’s church on Friday night for John Davies, a guy on form performing several of his poems from his new collection Jizz.
Together with music, dance and movement, a wonderful collaborative performance was achieved. Helen Lunt (cello, flute, keyboard) and dancers Harriet Morris and Rosa Firbank brought a further dimension to these amazing poems.
Jizz is described as ‘a bird’s eye view on life that’s both touching and playful. It’s a whiz round life’s big events and little foibles, a fly-through stuff that fascinates or frightens. It’s a quick flutter through beginnings and endings, love – and sheds. And all kinds of birds!’ and it lives up to that explanation.
I loved the choreography, the music and many of the poems, including a beautiful one called ‘Song Thrush’, ‘Channels’ which was funny and inventive, a wonderful shed poem ‘Maximum Shed’ and many more capturing the imagination of an appreciative audience.
In the second half of the evening there were enjoyable performances by poets Kate Gale from the USA and Ciaran O’Driscoll from Ireland, musician Margaret Farrelly and Brighton singer-songwriter Pete Howells! All a real bonus to a very creative evening.
I met John a few years ago at one of his Shedman performances. He seemed at the time to be a gentle and perceptive man, was already an established poet, but also one with drive and humour.
It is a daunting task to write so many wonderful poems let lone perform them with such panache. The event was described as a pilot for a national tour in 2018 so if it comes anywhere near you it will be well worth the journey.
Jizz: New and Selected Poems by John Davies is published by Kingston University Press in the UK, price £9.99. and is available in all good bookshops and on line.
I’m not sure who presented John with the bouquet but it was a fitting end to the evening.
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