Introducing: Blah’s Big Weekend, Wardrobe Theatre

So here it is – Blahblahblah’s Big Weekend is upon us. Alliteration at its finest.

Blahblahblah has been in existence for, oooh, around six years now. We started with monthly nights of spoken word chicanery which regularly sell out – and last year we introduced the magnificence that is the Big Weekend. We were not satisfied with a measly ten shows a year but needed to bung in a good concentrated dollop of all that is sacred in performance poetry.

So, three days on the trot. THREE days of words, verse, superlative performers, rhyming, improvising, laughter, chatter, heckling, a couple of sniffles, much clapping, some feet stomping and a whole lotta beer.

For regular fans of Blahblahblah, you will know our host and programmer is the sterling Anna Freeman – a freedom fighter for the gingers of this world and a canvas for Bristol’s finest tattoos. She is also pretty nifty with words and she will be our guide during the three days of the Big Weekend. She is also the brains behind putting the weekend together, so when you see her in the bar be sure to buy her a pint for just being awesome.

This year’s Big Weekend is being held at our mate’s house, the extraordinary Wardrobe Theatre in Old Market and we are dead pleased to be able to work with them whilst our usual gaff, Bristol Old Vic, is having its redevelopment.

Tongue Fu. Pic: Steve Ullathorne

And we have invited back some of our old poetry chums to help us with the weekend, like the sensation that is Tongue Fu. Last time they were with Blah the audience wouldn’t let them get off the stage. A band, some poets and a rather lush and charming master of the revels leads to an anarchic night of irreverence.

Cecilia Knapp on the Saturday afternoon promises to be dead special with music, beatboxing and beautifully funny stories. It is a perfect Saturday afternoon, just perfect.

Cecilia Knapp

Do the inspiring writers’ workshop in the morning with the lovely Roundhouse folk (from that there London) and see Celicia’s show in the afternoon all for one price. Look just bring your tent with you and stay all weekend. We’d love to have you.

Bristol poet Vanessa Kisuule will have her old typewriter ready to go as she will type you a poem on whatever subject you like. Give her an idea and she will produce poetry for the soul. Just for you. Who else can offer that?

Vanessa Kisuule. Pic: Ailsa Fineron

Stand Up and Slam hit Bristol and take over the city with their whirlwind night of madness – a hit at Edinburgh Fringe these guys will take your funny bone and tickle it until it screams for you to stop. Saturday doesn’t get any better.

Stand Up & Slam

And then on the third day there was…. drum roll… Rob Auton (pictured top). One of our favourite folk and a massive hit with the Blah audience. The Guardian called him the Brian Cox of the poetry world – I don’t know what he thinks of that. Why don’t we ask him when he brings his extraordinary show on sleep to the Wardrobe stage?

So put aside the weekend, think of nothing but Blah. Bathe in the waters of spoken word, join the congregation, raise your pint and settle in for one of the highlights of Bristol’s year.We are ruddy pleased to say that the weekend is selling like…. um…. hot cakes? Have you ever had a hot cake? No, me neither. Just saying, do book your tickets to ensure you’re with us. There will be poetry, there will be laughter, there will be tons of loud clapping, there will be no tears, there will be wassailing. At a time like this (thanks Mr T, you know who you are), just submerge yourself in the healing weekend that is big and is Blah.

Blah’s Big Weekend Friday, March 17 to Sunday, March 19, Wardrobe Theatre. For more info, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk/blahsbigweekend.html

Sharon Clark works with Anna Freeman on curating Blah’s Big Weekend. Co-founder of Raucous, Sharon is a playwright and dramaturg who has worked with Bristol Old Vic, the Arcola, Sherman Cymru, Theatre West and others. She is writer in residence at Bristol University, lecturer in writing for theatre at Bath Spa University and Associate Artist at the egg, Theatre Royal Bath.