POETRY ISLAND FTR – JENNIE OSBORNE & IAN ROYCE CHAMBERLAIN

Host Ian Beech will be delighted to introduce July’s joint headliners, two local favourites, Jennie Osborne & Ian Royce Chamberlain, performing Shouts and Echoes, supported by a full cast of talented performance poets from across the South West.

Two of Devon’s most powerful poetry voices come together in this double-act, delving deep into what Jennie has famously called ‘this messy business of being human’. Her writing is subtle – the impact is in what she leaves us to work out for ourselves. Ian’s work is more direct – he pulls no punches. They’ll cover other subjects too. And they promise you will laugh.

Jennie lives on the edge of Dartmoor, and loves walking by sea, river and moor, as well as writing and performing. Poetry is how her inner self tells her about what is happening in and around her. Her richest work comes from a combination of inspirations. It can be invited, but not forced. Working with visual artists takes her work in new creative directions and she is part of a ‘Poets, Painters and Printmakers’ collective who produced a collaborative anthology in 2012. Her first collection, ‘How to be Naked’, was published by Oversteps Books in 2010, and poems have featured in many magazines and anthologies. She’s also involved in Poetry Teignmouth, Moor Poets and Two Rivers Poets, and her second collection is in preparation.

Ian Royce Chamberlain is one of the South-West’s top performance poets. He is a regular at festivals and open-mic events, and was Exeter’s first ever slam champion. But most of his work is more serious and has appeared in the RSPB Anthology of Wildlife Poetry, ExCite Poetry’s pamphlets and The Broadsheet, among many others. In 2013 he won the National Trust High Cross House poetry competition and has also won short story competitions. Ian is a member of Moor Poets and part of the innovative Poets & Painters group. He was co-founder of Poetry Teignmouth and the highly successful Teignmouth Poetry Festival. He describes himself as ‘a poet for real people, not just other poets’. His first collection ‘stumble into grace’ was published in 2012.

Doors open 7.30pm Show starts 8:00pm Tickets £6.00 – reserve your seat by contacting Ian via email: ianbeechpoetry@btinternet.com

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