The run through of Punch and Judy went OK. Mike Luckins, who used to be my drama tutor when I did theatre studies at A level, came along to watch and give me feedback. I really value Mike's opinions and was delighted that he agreed to help me.

He thought the poetry was excellent and that the performance was between a seven or eight out of ten, which considering I had only performed it in the lounge before was pleasing! He said the piece was, in his opinion, suitable for Edinburgh festival or Brighton festival (because of the Punch and Judy link). Mike is going to send his comments via email this week so I will update the blog as soon as I get them.

I have also started work on a cut down version of P and J which I can use in venues which aren't big enough for the full show i.e. Cardigan - Word Up. I checked with the organiser and the booth won't fit in there which is what I had feared. I believe that my performance piece will work minus the more theatrical beginning and end and can be done using only hats and wigs to indicate a change of character. This means I can then sit on a chair to perform and make use of stand microphones which they use at this venue to overcome the background noise from the bar and the drinkers that don't watch the show.

Well, it's been ages hasn't it. I've been busy doing this and that. I've had some work in schools for the Birmingham Write On Project, which I thoroughly enjoyed once I'd settled in to it. I was working with six - eight year olds doing all sorts of poetry type things. I've also completed my residency with Wolverhampton Libraries and had to do a performance for that. We've had an Image Text Image Exhibition and performance in Shrewsbury. I was a runner up in the Ledbury Slam and of course I've been rehearsing Punch and Judy.

I've also sent my Arts Council Evaluation form back. It took me a couple of days to complete and I was really glad that I'd kept my records up to date and that I had this blog to refer back to. They have released the final bit of money so they were obviously happy that I'd done what I said I was going to. I requested that I was able to use the money that Arvon sent back to get some mentoring for Punch and Judy and the first bit takes place tomorrow. I'm very nervous about performing it infront of real people (even though it's only three of them).

August is a quiet month in terms of Performance Poetry so I've decided to have a bit of a rest but I've got bookings coming in for September onwards.