Cynical Ballads
September 2012
Luke Wright, the UK’s most celebrated performance poet, is bringing Cynical Ballads to Melbourne International Arts Festival in October.
Speaking via email from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he tells The Melbourne Review, “I reckon Cynical Ballads will go well in Oz because I’ve always amazed at how little culture shock there is between our two fine nations.
“Last time I was over, I referenced Phil and Kirsty from (UK TV show) Relocation, Relocation and most people seemed to get it. Besides, it’s always a fun thing to talk about any weird references before a poem as it breaks down any remaining fourth wall.”
Armed with a cheeky grin, Wright weaves subversive, poetic stories about modern life while taking on such diverse topics as school ground heartbreak, ungrateful children and flagging relationships. He also brings humour and profound intelligence to each of his works.
Aided by the darkly humorous illustrations of Sam Ratcliffe, the consummate performer peppers performances of Cynical Ballads with pot shots at Keats as he also mourns the decline of the broadside. He made his way into performance poetry, however, by playing in punk bands.
“I then met a songwriter and poet called Martin Newell who introduced me to (veteran performance poet) John Cooper Clarke and I was hooked. This was when I was 16. I started doing poetry between bands in my home town of Colchester. Band crowds are the worst in my opinion as they are too cool for school indie kids staring at their trainers feeling embarrassed for you or angry middle-aged ex-punks throwing heckles.
“So once you’ve done that kind of thing, arts festival audiences are a treat,” he adds.
Apart from everyday British life, Wright admits to “politics, media and my own petty longings” as among his other inspirations. “I also feel we are becoming more politicised in the UK because of the recession and the coalition. Writing about society and politics feels more relevant now.”
As an artform, it’s often said that poetry is a dying one. What does Wright think about this? Simply, “That’s just bollocks. It’s just not that noisy.”
Wright will be busy over the coming months and years. “I have a couple of documentary ideas, a new show for 2013 and a tour for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe show, Your New Favourite Poet, for early next year. And I’m hoping for another trip to Australia next year if anyone will have me.”
Of course Australia is great for the weather, he says. It’s a big plus but “for me Australia is just a very, very relaxing place to be. People are friendly, the food is amazing and my brother lives in Brisbane and always comes to see me wherever I am performing. I love my brother dearly so this is a very big treat. We eat steak and drink Coopers’ Pale Ale and it’s bliss.”
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