A Couple of Larrikins

October 13, 8:00 p.m., 1994

A hard-hitting evening of performance poetry by two notorious larrikins (Aussie term for "likable rogues who flout authority")

Geoff Goodfellow writes about the dark underbelly of working class Australia. He sets out to prove that language is power. He is infamous in his native Australia for stopping work on major construction sites to perform his poetry. He is a word thief who listens, observes and then chronicles the lives of the working class.

Goodfellow was in Toronto for three months as Writer-in Residence at Atkinson College at York University, supported by the Australia council for the Arts, Atkinson College and Wendell Clarkson Co.

Publications include: Triggers, 1992 (and Triggers: The Video, 1993); No Ticket No Start, 1990; Bow Tie & Tails, 1989.

Robert Priest is a Toronto poet, novelist, playwright, television performer and rock musician. Winner of the 1989 People's Poetry award for his ground-breaking volume The Mad Hand, he also wrote the Allana Myles hit Song Instead of a Kiss. In 1992 his musical play for children, Knights of the Endless Day, was produced at Young People's Theatre and published as a novel in 1993 by Penguin Books.

Other publications include: The Ballad of the Blue Bonnet, 1994; A Terrible Case of the Stars (poems for young readers) 1994; Daysongs Nightsongs (poems), 1993; Scream Blue Living (poems), 1992.

Gwen MacEwen's 17 brief poems, entitled After-thoughts, are deeply personal, almost autobiographical in nature. The shape of her own life comes to light as she tells the stories of the people and places she loves most in the world - a world which she is about to leave. They are one of the last gifts of a woman who is about to die, and a delightful celebration of life. To call this "poetry" belies the immediacy and accessibility of the work. To call it otherwise would deny its marvelous truth and beauty.
To me, ultimately, these stories are a courageous act of love through the medium of words. To do justice to my part I feel I must perform this text with an equal measure of bold love, mixed with tremendous humour and pathos, passion and rage, and a terrible, terrible vulnerability. It gives me great pleasure to bring body and soul to words so alive on the page, and to recreate for a brief moment the undying spirit of a great poet.

This is for you, Gwendolyn. Carolyn

William Beauvais: From the outset of his career, William Beauvais has brought sparkle and warmth to his readings of Canadian music. He records regularly and his projects have appeared on Centaur Records, Musica Viva and most recently a record, Bridges, with Brian Katz, on his own label, Winter Longing Records.

Carolyn Guillet: Carolyn Guillet has performed in numerous Toronto theatres specializing in classical roles such as Clytemnestra in The Greeks, Lady MacBeth in Shakespearean Characters, and new works such as Cinderella in Bedtime Stories and Joan of Arc in The Trials. Her creative pursuits encompass writing, direction, music and movement.

Julian Knight: Julian Knight is a freelance violist, playing in a variety of venues and ensembles in and around Toronto. His interest in improvised music arose during younger associations with jazz.

RW


	October 13, 8:00 p.m., 1994
	A hard-hitting evening of performance poetry by two notorious larrikins (Aussie term for "likable rogues who flout authority") Geoff Goodfellow writes about the dark underbelly of working class Australia. He sets out to prove that language is power. He is infamous in his native Australia for stopping work on major construction sites to perform his poetry. He is a word thief who listens, observes and then chronicles the lives of the working class. Goodfellow was in Toronto for three months as Writer-in Residence at Atkinson College at York University, supported by the Australia council for the Arts, Atkinson College and Wendell Clarkson Co. Publications include: Triggers, 1992 (and Triggers: The Video, 1993); No Ticket No Start, 1990; Bow Tie & Tails, 1989. Robert Priest is a Toronto poet, novelist, playwright, television performer and rock musician. Winner of the 1989 People's Poetry award for his ground-breaking volume The Mad Hand, he also wrote the Allana Myles hit Song Instead of a Kiss. In 1992 his musical play for children, Knights of the Endless Day, was produced at Young People's Theatre and published as a novel in 1993 by Penguin Books. Other publications include: The Ballad of the Blue Bonnet, 1994; A Terrible Case of the Stars (poems for young readers) 1994; Daysongs Nightsongs (poems), 1993; Scream Blue Living (poems), 1992. Gwen MacEwen's 17 brief poems, entitled After-thoughts, are deeply personal, almost autobiographical in nature. The shape of her own life comes to light as she tells the stories of the people and places she loves most in the world - a world which she is about to leave. They are one of the last gifts of a woman who is about to die, and a delightful celebration of life. To call this "poetry" belies the immediacy and accessibility of the work. To call it otherwise would deny its marvelous truth and beauty. To me, ultimately, these stories are a courageous act of love through the medium of words. To do justice to my part I feel I must perform this text with an equal measure of bold love, mixed with tremendous humour and pathos, passion and rage, and a terrible, terrible vulnerability. It gives me great pleasure to bring body and soul to words so alive on the page, and to recreate for a brief moment the undying spirit of a great poet. This is for you, Gwendolyn. Carolyn William Beauvais: From the outset of his career, William Beauvais has brought sparkle and warmth to his readings of Canadian music. He records regularly and his projects have appeared on Centaur Records, Musica Viva and most recently a record, Bridges, with Brian Katz, on his own label, Winter Longing Records. Carolyn Guillet: Carolyn Guillet has performed in numerous Toronto theatres specializing in classical roles such as Clytemnestra in The Greeks, Lady MacBeth in Shakespearean Characters, and new works such as Cinderella in Bedtime Stories and Joan of Arc in The Trials. Her creative pursuits encompass writing, direction, music and movement. Julian Knight: Julian Knight is a freelance violist, playing in a variety of venues and ensembles in and around Toronto. His interest in improvised music arose during younger associations with jazz. RW