Storytelling & Performance


Thursday 02 October


Thursday 02 October
6PM-9PM

Storytelling & Performance
Matt Black on 'Fishing Dentures out of Mashed Potatoes' (and other topics)

A special Rugby Literary Festival warm up evening event as part of the Art at the Alex First Thursday series. This will be a delightful evening of entertaining poetry to celebrate National Poetry Day, with Matt Black. Expect poems with plenty of humour, love, and one or two surprises in a lively programme. Matt may well bring a poetic friend or two Matt Black, ex-Derbyshire Poet Laureate and well known for his entertaining performances, reads from his new collection ‘Fishing Dentures out of Mashed Potatoes’ and other works. Copies of Matt's book will be available for sale with proceeds to Myton Hospice.

Free event: Donations to Myton Hospice. Age 18+

Venue
Art at the Alex

Booking
Not required

Friday 03 October



Friday 03 October
7:30PM-9:30PM

Storytelling & Performance
An Evening with the Rugby Café Writers

Come and join the Rugby Cafe Writers for an evening of stories, poems and original songs. The event takes place in the beautiful surroundings of St Andrew’s Church, Rugby and will feature members of the Cafe Writers, a group of experienced and new writers who meet regularly to discuss the craft of writing and storytelling. You will hear very short stories, some dramatised, poems, and songs, including some from one of Rugby’s favourite bands, The Scutters. There will also be a bookstall and a bar. Visit Rugby Cafe Writers to find out more about our group. Tickets priced £3.50 in advance or at the door.

Venue
St Andrew's Church


Friday 03 October
7:30PM-9:30PM

Storytelling & Performance
Word of Mouth

A fun evening of spoken word with a mixture of literary and funny writers. Featuring, Zena Barrie, Jo Howard, Dave Williams, Fat Roland, Tom Jenks, Nicole Swengley, Eamon Somers, Jason Cobley, Lulu Allison, Mark Bowsher. Event will have an interval. Books will be available to buy directly from the authors. Age 18+.

Venue
The Rugby Hotel


Friday 03 October
8PM-Late

Storytelling & Performance
A Poetic Interruption

Enjoy the regular vibe at Rugby’s award nominated cocktail bar - The Aviary, which will be disrupted throughout the evening by spoken word artists & performers. These short bursts of perhaps poetry, limerick, tales or excerpts, could be comedic, dramatic, or just bizarre. For a fun Friday night, that promises to be unusual and irregular, why not join us for a cocktail, a coffee, a beer or a juice, and listen to a poet talk about a moose, a sad story about a goose, or a tale of a criminal on the loose.

Performances at random times during the night. Age 18+

Venue
The Aviary Bar

Booking
Not required

Saturday 04 October



Saturday 04 October
11AM – 4PM

Storytelling & Performance
The Travelling Poet

A chance to have a poem of your choice read to you by the festivals very own travelling poet – he will be easily recognisable in his own special T-Shirt asking people on the street to stop him and read them a poem.

Venue
Rugby Town Centre

Booking
Not required


Storytelling & Performance
How To Make Your Stories Make An Impact…The 5 Ps of Perfect Presentations. Prepare: Practice: Posture: Perform: Pfollow up.

Saturday 04 October
12:45PM - 1:45PM

I’m Ernie Boxall, and I’m a storyteller. I tell my own stories, children’s stories and every Saturday night a ghost guide around one of England’s most haunted houses. I help you make the “Maximum Impact with More People Without Anxiety or Dread”. Many people say that you “have to be heard to be believed.” I say “You have to be believed to be heard.” Well told stories can achieve this, but how many of you lose sales through anxiety or dread? Remember, if you can speak you can communicate. If you can speak well you can connect. But if you can speak very well you can change lives. Listen to Ernie tell stories and help you tell yours.

Venue
The Rugby Hotel

Booking
Not required


Saturday 04 October
2PM – 3PM

Storytelling & Performance
This Town

This Town is a modern-day epic narrative poem, performed and written by exciting new talent Rory Aaron (BBC New Creatives, Southbank Poetry Collective). An ode to home, This Town uses powerful spoken word to transport us to a post-industrialised landscape, weaving together stories of loss, PTSD, and friendship. There is also a Workshop taking place after this performance. Tickets for the performance are £7 or join in the workshop as well for £9.

Venue
Macready Theatre


Saturday 04 October
2:30PM – 3:30PM

Storytelling & Performance
A Pocketful of Poets

Rugby is known as the birthplace of the poet Rupert Brooke – there’s even a pub in the town named after him! Why not come along and listen to what contemporary local poets have to offer? A pocketful of Poets will present a selection from their work to entertain, enlighten and enliven your day.

Venue
The Rugby Hotel

Booking
Not required


Saturday 04 October
7:30PM – 9PM

Storytelling & Performance
Getting a Taste for the Bard: In Conversation with Ben Crystal and Dr Varsha Panjwani

Shakespeare on Toast author is in the hot seat as Dr Varsha Panjwani (Lecturer at NYU and Podcaster) interviews Ben Crystal on his approach to Shakespeare. Panjwani will use her insightful interview techniques, drawn from her award-winning podcast Women and Shakespeare to deep dive into Crystal’s creative processes, where he illuminates what a trip to a Shakespeare play in 1600 would be like. Get ready to receive a masterclass on the poetry style Shakespeare wrote in, a taste of original pronunciation and some critical discussions around The Bard for good measure.

This is relevant for all ages - younger people experiencing the Bard for the first time through to older audience members who love Shakespea Tickets: £7

Venue
Macready Theatre

What’s On


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