On the 25th of September, at Fruitworks Venue Canterbury, a mythical spoken word night unfolded! From Neurodivergent+ retellings of Othelia and Greek myths to tales of witches and experimental sound performance to reclaiming the macarana… this was an energetic and onece in a life-time night!
Wow! – This night was really full of the energy MixMatched thrives upon! – we had a full house at Fruitworks, and an exciting array of performers, new and old!
We were fortunate enough to have Kat Peddie join us, leader of Free Range and Creative Writing Lecturer who specializes upon mental health and creative writing at University of Kent. She also encouraged one of her students, who had been shortlisted for her poetry upon Greek myths and legends to come too!
We were also graced by Zara, Host of her own Neurodivergent+ inclusive night in Margate, Hive Mind, who also has a special interest in Greek myths and legends, reimagining parts of their melodrama, strife and tragedy to be inclusive of her own experiences, and championing intersectionality across all mediums.
Neurodivergent+ lives were reimagined within a number of powerful myths that have woven themselves into our sense of history.
A MixMatched first, Yvette, exquisitely dressed in a sequin dress and cat ears performed an experimental sound piece which was a new treat for the MixMatched stage, expressing very raw emotions surrounding mental health struggle and grief/anger.
We also had two new musical acts! – Jazz who, like a siren, lulled us with her lullaby-like melodies, and James Kirk, who had made his own quite demonic mask for the occasion, played his own blend of improvisation alongside planned tunes.
Alongside our set, our welcoming atmosphere encouraged one signup… who had a poem about a greek myth! Perfect!
The night was ended with one of Ellen’s poems and experimental, unabashed group dancing displays… a reimagining of the Macarena! – A number of audience members, including the host got up upon the stage to join a tribal inspired take upon this dance!
Set List:
Emma Robdale – intro to the theme and own performance on re-claiming witches.
Penny – absurd storyies and word play!
Yvette experimental sound/music/prose –
Jazz – Music
Adam Dor – Comedy
Zara – Poetry
James Kirk – Music
Lunar – poetry.
Ellen – Experimental
Lucy Pook – Poetry