'You can expect a lot of uncomfortable talk about death and sodomy, and many different coloured lights'
It's nice to see Salford's premiere poetry event Evidently grow in recognition and spawn some interesting off-shoots. A new generation of poets have started to gain popularity and crop up at festivals, on television and at The Fringe.
Host Kieren King played two popular sets at the Glastonbury where Dominic Berry was poet in residence. Add to that, several Evidently familiar faces (including Joy France) appearing in television commercials. So, it comes as no surprise that other Eagle Inn poets have started to create their own shows and that their names have started to appear in local events listings.
Christopher Bowles, who stars in LIVE in Technicolour at the 3M Theatre on 31st August, is a performer that I first met at Evidently, whilst I was writing a Salford Star article. He was one of their popular regulars on the open-mic slot and was instantly chatty and welcoming. However, poetry wasn't his initial passion...
"I actually had a really roundabout way of starting performance poetry" he recalls "I opened a theatre company, Magpie Man Theatre, in March 2015, and began developing my debut show, MOUTH, for the Greater Manchester Fringe. One of my friends pointed me towards performance poetry a genre I hadn't even known existed at this point.
"As a result, I went to see Rod Tame perform at a World Book Day event, and fell in love with the idea of poetry being performed and felt as a live medium" he adds "Rod was cast in the resulting show, and he brought some of the local poets along to support."
Christopher had been gaining experience as a performer and appearing at different events showcasing his confident and theatrical style... "I've always been very dramatic - I'm a self-confessed drama-queen through and through" Christopher explains "I grew up in the performing arts; I've learned how to be shocking and emotionally charged without having to necessarily reach for taboo or excess; and the theatre background has definitely helped in that regard."
With many fledgling performances now under his belt, he has put together a fully-formed and eclectic set. It has been a busy few weeks for Chris. To underline his success, earlier this month he returned to Evidently as a headliner and in July he performed his very first solo show at the Kings Arms as part of the GM Fringe. The show was well received and was nominated for a Fringe Award...
"LIVE: In Technicolor was a bit of a chance happening, actually" he says "I was asked by my editor to produce a collection of flash-fiction, parts of which I adapted into poetry. I began writing the collection in October last year, as a response to the frustrating lack of explicitly queer material on the theatre and spoken word scene no-one really talks about rimming, or anal sex in club toilets, do they?"
Christopher will give the audience an insight into his popular Fringe show and copies of his book, Spectrum, will be available on the night. Spectrum is a collection of 110 pieces of flash-fiction and poetry, all named after and inspired by a veritable rainbow of different colours.
There won't be too much goatee stroking, as Christopher informs; "Expect much crotch-grabbing; epic descriptions of anal vagaries; and of course; many, many, rainbows..."
Amidst the sexual content, the show is interspersed with serious and extremely moving moments... "Unfortunately, I lost my father to bowel cancer over Christmas, and as a result the work took a sudden change of tone and became a cathartic way for me to deal with my grief, yet resolutely reaffirm who I am and my confidence in my lifestyle choices" he explains "As a result, the collection became centred very much around sex, queer identity, and loss."
Christopher elaborates on what the audience can expect from his show and launch at 3MT... "I've roped in infamous Salfordian monkey-poet, Kieren King, to compere the event for me" he says "I've also asked some local, rising queer poets to perform support sets for the event Liv Barnes, and Sukhi Bansal; both of whom are absolute joys to watch, and definitely worth keeping an eye on.
"Liv has just started headlining her own gigs and is going down an absolute storm and I'm super proud to be giving Sukhi his first headline appearance" he adds "In addition to all three of these spectacular performers, I'll of course be bringing back the solo show, so you can expect a lot of uncomfortable talk about death and sodomy, and many different coloured lights."
Christopher Bowles: LIVE in Technicolour and Spectrum book launch
Thursday August 31st 7:30pm
3M Theatre
Afflecks, off Oldham Street, Manchester
Free entry to the event, but donations to help get the poets drunk gratefully received
For more information click here
Christopher's book Spectrum will be available on the night at £5 (RRP £7) or online click here
Have a look at one of Christopher's signature pieces on YouTube click here
Words by Ian Leslie
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