The Lichfield Garrick Theatre is celebrating the ongoing success of its spoken word open mic night, Top Hat Spoke the Word, an event created to showcase the wealth of local creative talent.
Organiser Joss Knibb launched the event just over a year ago after noticing the quality of poets in the area. From the very first night, the demand was clear, with around 50 people filling the room.
People have been enormously kind to me over every event, and they’ve been incredibly supportive of each other, too. I think they’ve created something that is actually quite special. Nobody needs to be frightened to get up and to perform because we all know how terrifying it is, and everybody’s work has merit. The beauty of the open mic lies in its spectacular variety and its irreverent, welcoming atmosphere. It’s a dedicated space for spoken word, meaning the stage welcomes everything from poetry to short stories and performance pieces. One evening featured a range of works, including very, very short poems that were perfectly formed… little gems, short stories, radio-play type performances, long-form poetry, and even a performer testing out a piece destined for the Edinburgh Fringe. The events are designed to be fun and engaging, not overly serious. We desperately didn’t want an event where we all had to sit there looking very serious and absorbing poetry. There’s got to be irreverence to it as well. You’ve got to be able to laugh and to think deeply about things… It’s about sharing what it is to be human
For local writer Trina, who regularly attends the events and is also part of Joss Knibbs’ Creative Writing Group, the open mic offers a vital chance to share work:
It is an opportunity, and I remember the first one I went to… and it was the first time there was any inkling that it might be okay.
Kirk, a first-time attendee, found that the medium of spoken word allows for deeper, more complex discussions:
One thing I found when I went to the festival and I came here tonight, is that difficult topics, when they couched in a poem, they become more palatable.
Kersty, who is also part of the creative writers group, notes that the atmosphere helps overcome the nerves of sharing personal work:
Standing up and reading something that you have written… sharing something that’s quite personal that’s come out of you is unbelievably difficult. And the first time I read, I shook for the rest of the session. Everyone is so welcoming. It’s such a safe space.
The quality of work performed is often exceptional, with many participants returning regularly. The bi-monthly event has successfully built a loyal community.
The whole point of being creative is to add something to life… to add thoughtfulness, to add a self-expression. Both the mic and our group hopefully lead with that idea that there should be laughter, that there should be a supportiveness, that we should become a group of friends in addition to a group of creatives.
Joss is described as an unbelievably nurturing person who brings out the best in everyone. The emphasis is on respect, freedom to experiment, and constant encouragement.
The open mic runs every couple of months at the Lichfield Garrick. The next event is scheduled for November.
Additionally, the Lichfield Garrick will host a full day of creative support and performance with Writers Together in February. This new event is aimed at all creative writers and includes a morning social, an open mic for local writers, a two-hour fiction writing workshop, a stagecraft workshop, and finishes with a young person’s open mic from 4-6 pm.
Finally, Joss Knibb will soon be a regular voice on the Lichfield Radio airwaves as Head of Culture, not only as part of the Drive Time Team but also hosting Lichfield Radio’s art show, Artworks. The show, which will also be available as a podcast on YouTube, will feature interviews with a wide range of people who make their living in the arts from local actors and singers to stonemasons and sculptors. Guests will be invited to discuss their creative life and share the strangest thing in their home.
