Just off the Royal Mile, down along the cobbles and between the narrow walls of Jackson’s Close, Appletree Writers and Friends gather every Sunday of the Fringe to celebrate spoken word. In the cosy intimacy of the Whole Works venue, writers and poets from around the country come to showcase their work. The Waiting Room seats just seventeen, in plush comfortable armchairs around the room. A grandfather clock soothingly ticks away in a corner as writers and poets get up to share their work with their audience.
Creating an atmosphere of relaxed openness, Spoken Word Sundays is an admirable and friendly initiative from Appletree Writers and Friends.
Last Sunday at one o’clock, writers from the North East of England came to present their work in the showcase ‘Identity on Tyne’. The personable Sheree Mack, writer and facilitator, introduced the writing initiative, read some of her own poetry and introduced the guest poets Degna Stone, Wajid Hussain and Catherine Graham. The hour passed swiftly as we were drawn in by the poets’ varied talents, from Stone’s accounts of childhood and motherhood to Hussain’s witty poem about facial hair and Graham’s contemplative words about her mother and the phenomenon of aging. These writers are either published or on the point of being published and provided a professional and delightfully soothing hour of escape from the bustle of the Fringe.
This Sunday is the last in a series of spoken word events, featuring a writing workshop, poetry readings, music and more. This final day of events will close with ‘Walking In My Shoes: Women Speaking It Out’ raising awareness for the Edinburgh Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, to which all profits from these events are donated.
Creating an atmosphere of relaxed openness, Spoken Word Sundays is an admirable and friendly initiative from Appletree Writers and Friends. Do be sure to book tickets ahead as the small-scale events do tend to sell out quickly.
