“Lit fuse” – poetry at the MAC

During our recent stay in Birmingham, we went alomg to a poetry evening at the Midlands Art Centre (locally known as “the MAC”).

MAC has been host to many of my happy memories. I first discovered it in the late 70’s as I made a hesitant emergence from a very shy childhood and teenage years into my 20’s, with the help of some brave people. A shy, slightly aggressive, sometimes embarrassing and (so I’m told) attractive butterfly, who was determined  to engage with and make it through this scary but wonderful thing called life, with or without other people. Several decades later, I’m happy to report that I am making it through life with increasing  joy and excitement thanks to God and some great people. (So glad it wasn’t without people……..I can’t imagine life now without relationships).

It was probably the MAC cinema or the art exhibitions that I first discovered (I don’t exactly remember). Then, the bookshop and contemporary dance classes (lots of leaping across the room in Ballet Rambert style). I loved it but only did a term as I got distracted with wedding preparations so don’t ask me to demonstrate any routines! At the first dance class, I recognised one of the other students as a new girl at my work place, a physiotherapist. A friendship grew over coffees and Cadbury creme eggs in the cafe after the class  and my shy ” hang around the edge of the group listening rather than joining in” approach to the work staff room changed a little for the better 🙂

Later on, I would take my 3 preschool children to MAC and the park – puppetry shows and childrens activities. We would walk in the park, feed the ducks and visit the playground. Returning to the cafe, I would buy drinks and occasionally a doughnut (cut into 3 pieces, one for each of the children – thrifty times!) or 3 mini milk ice lollies – do they still make those?? I’d joined the local La Leche League group (birth, breastfeeding and child raising) and on one occasion we descended upon the MAC and the park with all our babies, our friends and their babies, our bags and picnics and had such a good time. Not sure if the MAC ever recovered from so many radical mums breastfeeding our children in public, offering freshly prepared wholefood snacks to toddlers and wiping runny noses on our long patchwork ‘earth mother’ skirts! But at least we didn’t churn up the grass with pushchairs, being totally committed to baby carriers, swaddling and Welsh shawls! I’m not sure how much our baby raising concepts produced different or better outcomes for the children than any other methods but it was a very rewarding, fascinating and (mostly) fun time 🙂

(Excuse me while I pause blogging to congratulate husband on finally getting the karaoke machine to work ready for tonight’s New Year party…. “Yes R – marvellous job! The flashing lights are lovely and thanks for singing ‘I will survive’ to me so early in the day – I’m sure we will survive and even make it to church on time at 10.30 tomorrow =)

Eighteen years ago, R and I joined a writing group at the local library. With other members of the group, we visited the MAC for a poetry evening. Later, we adjourned to the bar area, (contemporary art work on the walls and not many seats so you could wander and browse in sophisticated fashion as you drank your tipple).  One of our older group members, P entertained us with glorious stories of her younger years spent in Berlin, recounted as she leaned on the wall, wine glass in one hand and an elegant little hand rolled cigarette in the other. We all sat on the floor and laughed a lot together. P moved away from the area some time later and gave us her amazing old travel chest which now houses a huge amount of Hot wheels track and cars in our box room!

On another occasion, we saw the poet Micheal Rosen perform his poetry there and he signed a copy of his latest book for us before we left. Then there was the warm summer evening when they had dragon boats on the lake in the park. They were lit with lanterns and moved around the lake as night fell to a backdrop of music and, if I remember correctly, fireworks. Magical!

The MAC has always had an array of music for all tastes on offer. They began a series of free live music evenings outdoors in the courtyard on a weekly basis through the summer. I remember taking my teenage son to a few of them. He’s a talented drummer and was doing a college course related to the music industry at the time.

So, just before Christmas, we returned to the MAC again, this time for another poetry reading. Four up and coming young poets (so tickets were very cheap) performed their work one by one in a small theatre on a tiny wooden stage set at the base of our ramped seating. Their poetry was themed around traumatic events – difficult relationships, addiction and a neglected child. The last poet was so convincing that I left under the impression that he had personally experienced the trauma he had just spoken of – that is, until R asked me if I’d realised each poet had performed poetry about the same scenario but just written from the different perspectives of the four individuals involved, baby, the father, the neighbour etc. Doh! I’d wondered why they all seemed to have similar themes! So well done last poet – you’re obviously a very convincing actor!

And that’s the beauty of the MAC – full of surprises, encouraging new talent, showcasing more established performers, broadening your heart and mind and set in a beautiful park! And I haven’t even told you about the hot houses and the recently refurbished building with it’s new cafe serving tasty soups and savouries, proper coffee and cup cakes!

Why don’t you give it a try sometime and let me know what you think? Google MAC and Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston for lots more info.

Enjoy 🙂