The final fling

Time's running out until the scratch performance of my one hour show this Saturday at the fantastic Hotbed festival, though there's still a chance to get tickets from The Junction's website here.

Hotbed is set to be a brilliant weekend of performances, including the famous one page play competition, and the intriguing 'Stand By Your Van'.

A pamphlet for the ghost

After a hectic month of work and thanks to the heroic efforts of my editor, Les Robinson, my tall-lighthouse pamphlet 'a pint for the ghost' is almost finished, containing poems from the show and some extra ghosts besides. Though it won't officially be launched until later in the year, there will be advance copies available at the Hotbed festival on June 27th. If you believe Ian McMillan (and I always do), the pamphlet is "full of ghosts of language, ghosts of long forgotten stories, invisible ghosts that haunt landscapes we think we know well...an exciting collection from a writer who knows the value of the past, and how to set it against the present to illuminate them both".

When I was gathering quotations for the book, I ended up revisiting great ghost poems by other writers, and realising what a potent theme spirits have been for some of my favourite poets. I started with Robert Frost's 'Ghost House', which evokes a ramshackle, haunted cellar. Then, I moved to Edward Thomas' 'The Other', with its account of a strange pursuit: Thomas' narrator is tracking a man who might almost be his double from inn to inn, though when he finally catches up with him, he meets with a poor welcome... Finally, I turned to John Burnside's work, which is full of allusions to the other, the liminal, the strange. 'The Good Neighbour' is a poem that has haunted me for years.

When I first embarked upon 'A Pint For The Ghost', I wanted to create something that could have a life both on and off the page. The poems in the book create a very different mood to the one they conjure in the show. I hope the ghosts of South Yorkshire enjoy seeing themselves in print...

tall-lighthouse is an independent poetry publisher based in south east London, with a fast growing reputation for publishing a diverse range of writers (including Kate Potts, shortlisted for the Michael Marks award). The press is currently celebrating its tenth year; more details about upcoming events on the tall-lighthouse website.

Martin Figura's photos

Here are a few images of 'A Pint For The Ghost', taken by poet & photographer Martin Figura at the Escalator showcase last month... Terrifying stuff, as I'm sure you'll agree (and that's just my hair).

I'm still busy in rehearsals for June 27th at the moment, so much so that, to my shame, I missed the Cambridge beer festival recently. I've had to console myself by compiling a list of my top ten UK pubs...

10. The Bear, Alderwasley, Derbyshire
Medieval tapestries on the walls, and a dark interior that disguises the sinister bears lurking round every corner.

9. The Fat Cat, Sheffield
Beer straight from Kelham Island brewery, located in the middle of the former industrial quarter. A trip to The Fat Cat will take you on a scenic tour of Sheffield’s red light district. Well worth it for the best beer in town.

8. The Fat Cat, Norwich
A pub by the same name in Norwich with the biggest guest ale board I’ve ever seen, including the famous Fat Cat Marmalade.

7. The Marble Arch, Manchester
I’ve never been to The Marble Arch to see its incredible interior, but my dad’s so in love with it it seems to have become part of family legend and I almost imagine I’ve drunk there...

6. The Blue Ball, Grantchester
Brilliant cider and all the folk music you could ever wish to hear. Walking back across the fields to Cambridge in the dark is brilliant after a few pints.

5. The Queens Head, Newton

Mulled wine and poetry in the winter, and a bard for a landlord.

4. The Bricklayers Arms, London

The first place I ever got drunk in the capital as a teenager, after a happy day eating chips and drinking Sam Smiths beer.

3. Fannys Ale House, Saltaire

Brilliant ale and always packed to the rafters.

2. The Devonshire Cat, Sheffield

It seems all my favourite Sheffield pubs have a feline connection. This pub has a beer menu longer than the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

1. The Arkwright Arms, Duckmanton

My local at home; brilliant beer and an assortment of family drunks. The Arkwright has been the ruin of many a Christmas dinner at home, with my dad and grandad falling asleep on the turkey.