Poetry Review: Sticks and Stones

• Sticks and Stones
• Strawbs Bar
• 21st Feb 2011

‘Poetry’ is a word that would put many people off an evening out. But I cannot imagine anyone who wouldn’t enjoy at least part of Sticks and Stones – an evening of thoroughly exciting, thoroughly listenable poetry that is about as far removed from dusty books and boring verse as you can get. This is not the kind of poetry you used to hate at school, this is performance poetry and, as special guest Joshua Idehen showed, it can be just as funny and moving as music or comedy, and even more inspiring.

The evening started with a number of guest speakers, ranging from brand new to regular performers – the organisers welcomed anyone to read just about anything they’d composed, without judgement. It was refreshing that people weren’t supposed to analyse or criticise the poetry they heard, but simply to enjoy and appreciate it.

The star of the show, however, was undoubtedly Joshua Idehen – spoken word artist and co-founder of the group Pip (A poem inbetween people), who has performed at Glastonbury and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival to name a few. His poetry is lyrical, performed with smooth diction and a lilting rhythm that becomes entrancing. Ranging from ‘My Love’, Idehen’s comeback to the love song – “No, I don’t believe in one love and your love is not my love, my love is far from lovely, trust me” – to a moving story about his troubled relationship with his father, his set was both hilarious and thought-provoking and I didn’t want it to end. A personal favourite was a brand new poem he’d finished writing then and there, based on the student protests. It embodied the views of so many people in a way that could never be expressed by a news reader or politician. It was truly uplifting, and I wish every student could have heard it. 

Sticks and Stones itself has been running since 2004, off the back of its creators (ex-Leeds students!) who don’t make a profit. The £3 entry fee goes towards paying the special guests, who are well worth much more than that. Adam Robinson, co-founder of the event, informed me that the next couple of nights may be their last, as the turnout is too unpredictable and they don’t make enough money. I know that if more people heard about it and gave it a go, they’d love it just as much as I did, and feel just as horrified at the idea that it might disappear. I urge you to try it out. People who like poetry will love it, and people who hate poetry will be in for a very pleasant surprise. Above all, it does what poetry is supposed to do – make you feel excited and restless and inspired. It would be extremely sad to say goodbye to something so special.

The next Sticks and Stones night is 14th March, 7.30pm, Strawbs bar – please come along and maybe we can change his mind!

words: Indigo Axford