Poetry in motion...continues (From St Helens Star)

Poetry in motion...continues

10:33am Thursday 13th August 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

The latest performance of the popular ‘Poetry in Motion – The Journey Continues’ was staged at the Citadel Arts Theatre.

First performed in 2007 this is a unique blend of poetry and movement. Its creator and narrator, Sue Gerrard guides us through the lives of a group of people starting in sixth form and following them on through adulthood.

Sue is an accomplished poet who has performed her work at festivals across the North of England. She has won many national poetry competitions and her work has featured regularly on Radio Merseyside and in more than thirty national anthologies.

Former St Helens Star journalist, Sue has also published five poetry collections and one spoken word cassette. She is currently Poet in Residence at St Helens College.

The characters are all bare-footed and clad in black, adding a surreal quality to the show.

‘Let Me Entertain You’ by Robbie Williams opens the show. This raises the question: is love nothing more than a passing diversion for some? This is a raw look at the emotional mangle that the human heart goes through in life and although they have no dialogue, Sue brings out sensitive performances from her talented young cast who all come from St Helens College performing arts classes.

Throughout this short play Sue displays a keen eye for the subtleties of human relationships. The hesitancy and fear of commitment that love can bring is illustrated perfectly by the narrative line ‘Your maybe divided once over by my perhaps’.

We witness the triumphs and despair of the characters all played out to popular music that everyone will recognise. Peggy Jean gets her man to the sound of The Drifters singing ‘You’re More than a Number in My Little Red Book.’

Throughout the course of the performance we are soothed by Sue Gerrard’s calmly spoken narrative. Never intrusive, but as regular as a resting heartbeat, neither rising or falling, just there, gently leading us through the triumphs and disappointments of her characters’ lives. Sue’s voice seduces and persuades the audience without overpowering the show or detracting from the actors on stage.

Her performance is at once world-weary yet at the same time holding out a defiant glimmer of hope. Does that hope remain until the end? That question can only be answered by watching this riveting show. It will engage your emotions and move you with its humanity.

By ANDREW DUNLOP

• Print
• Email
• Share