Two Poems: Gloria Sanders

We’ve got an Annexe favourite for Two Poems today. Poetic stalwart, Gloria Sanders reads her piece, The Contortionist, and a work by Felix Dennis.

Et Al: The Podcast

Not too long ago, we held our inaugural literary event. It was a roaring success (even if I do say so myself) and we certainly had a few giggles. If you were there, well done. If you weren’t, shame on you, but not to worry. We’ve got something that will make it feel like you were almost there.

As a Christmas treat, we’re giving you the Annexe presents… Et Al PODCAST! Crafted by the talented Mr Nick Taylor, the podcast revisits some of the highlights from the night and has a ton of extra features. There are interviews with all the performers and a lovely soundtrack too.

Each performer is highlighted as a chapter so you can jump around if you like, though we think it works best in its entirety. Enjoy!

When All This is Over by Siobhán Campbell

Using the descriptive language of fairy-tales, Campbell conjures up the possible future of a very real and very violent present. It’s a future that could well be a fairy-tale and thus it comes to the reader as a story told before bedtime of distant lands with mystical creatures. A place that can exist if only you believe in it hard enough. Each stanza, made up of three lines, feels like a sigh for the potential peace that the writer longs for.

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Siobhán Campbell is a Dublin-born writer living in London. For more about her and her poetry, jump here.

The poem is read by Christopher Delaney.

Our Halloween Spoken Word Mixtape

Happy Hallowe’en everyone! You might have done your All Hallows partying this weekend, but that doesn’t mean that today can’t be a spookfest too. To help you celebrate in true spooky style, we’ve put together a ghoulish spoken word mixtape. From Edgar Allan Poe to Massive Attack. From Emilie Autumn to The Moulettes with a hair-raising stop at Bram Stoker. It’s all there with many more stories and tunes to chill the blood.

If you wish to see your inevitable fate, see the tracklist after the jump.

Two Poems: Charlie Dupré

We have a rather special edition of Two Poems today as the poet in question is also performing at our inaugural event tomorrow night!

Poet and actor, Charlie Dupré, started his vocal career spitting bars for various DnB DJs. Somewhere along the line he found his calling crafting poetry and has since astounded audiences across the capital. Drawing from real life, the classics and everything in between, Charlie weaves stories that leave you feeling lyrically sated. We caught up with him recently to chat and record this edition of Two Poems. Hear first, one of his own works and then a poem by poet and playwright, Philip Ridley.

Regrets of the Scottish King

After the jump, you can read a little interview with Charlie in which he talks about Swing n Bass, jury duty and the similarities between Shakespeare and hip hop.

I Am the Boy – Philip Ridley

Anatomy of the Event

Just a little plug about our upcoming event.

The incredible Charlie Dupré has been added to the bill. He’ll be taking to the stage alongside Will Conway, Gloria Sanders, the Instant Theatre and the absolutely amazing Nathan Penlington.

Come along and enjoy a letterpress biscuit with us. Tell your friends. Shout it from the rooftops. Annexe is putting on a show!

That’s a lot of information, but if you want even more, head over to the events page.

Spoken Word Mixtape #3

Finally, our third Mixtape is ready for your aural consumption. It’s taken a while, but only because we’ve been scheming and planning all sorts of other delights for you. Like this.

Our first ever literary event takes place on Tuesday 18th of October. If you’re London-bound you should come along. We’ve got fantastic guest writers and poets, Instant Theatre and you can also get the first three spoken word mixtapes on CD, in a hand-made, limited edition slipcase, absolutely free!
So, back to the mixtape:

Full tracklist after the jump.

Annexe Presents… Et Al.

Well, colour us excited!
The inaugural literary event from Annexe Magazine is all planned, prepared and is fast approaching. Everyone in Annexe HQ is positively beaming with the news of our incredible line-up. In the lab, the team is crafting the finest in bunting, biscuits and puns. It’s set to be a firecracker of an evening.

Click the image to see the details grow before your very eyes.

Some of the highlights on the bill include:

Nathan Penlington
Will Conway
Gloria Sanders
Instant Theatre

You can find out more about them and read more about the whole night over on the events page.

Remember, put the date on your calendar:

Tuesday 18th October
7pm for a 7.30 start
£3

The Charterhouse Bar
38 Charterhouse Street
EC1M 6JH

Closest tube: Farringdon or Barbican (3 minute walk from either)

Two Poems: Kate Bingham

A short while ago, I was lucky enough to meet renowned poet, Kate Bingham. Thoughtful and eloquent, Kate chatted with me about writing, poets and the pitfalls of television. Somewhere along the way we played an impromptu game of rounders. After all this, Kate kindly read some of her poetry for us. So here, for your aural delectation are two poems. The first is by Kate Bingham herself, and the second is one that she described as being very fond of.

Two by Kate Bingham

Words by Edward Thomas 

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Kate Bingham lives and works in London. Her work, for which she has received the Eric Gregory Award, has been in numerous publications, such as Oxford Poetry, The Independent and the Rialto. She has released a collection of poetry called Cohabitation and her first novel, Mummy’s Legs.

Illustration for Two by Nick Murray.
The photo of Edward Thomas is lifted from David Constantine’s commemorative piece to Thomas from the Guardian.

Lady Sword Swallower by Nick Murray

You might have heard that Annexe editor, Nick Murray, also does a little writing of his own. Here’s one of his short stories. It was published earlier this year in Inc. Magazine #3. The reader is the magician Lee Warren.

The fantastic illustration is by the Brighton based illustrator and fellow writer, Hannah Bailey.