War was on everyone’s mind as a crowded Green Room witnessed the last Freed-Up of the season last night.
The quality and variety of poems and poets, the ambience created by hosts Steve and Dominic and the warm, generous support of the audience added up to a truly wonderful event - was one of those humbling affairs that make you want to dash outside and ask the rest of the world if they truly realise what they’re missing.
Is it popular? So full was the list of readers that top-class poets in the audience did not get a chance to read (and here I apologise again to Steve and Dominic about voicing my disappointment at not hearing Lisa Bee read – but I was four pints of Guinness in, on an empty stomach!).
At Write Out Loud we pride ourselves on doing all we can to avoid the entertainment model, instead putting the participant-poets first. And so does Freed-up, superbly. We’d be proud to be running a night such as this giving as it does a platform for anyone to come and share their own words in appreciative company.
There were about forty people crowded into the room and I am sure they will have a problem when they return in the new year as numbers build.
My only dislike is the serried rows of chairs, making it a bit like a hospital waiting room – though this is a minor, personal quibble. What else they could do with so many participants I don’t know.
I did not take notes on the night so cannot do a name check. But it would be invidious to single anyone out in what was a thoroughly enjoyable evening that was impossible to leave before the end, in case I missed anything.
Roll on Freed-up 2008!
Julian