You don’t need to run a study to realise that the vast majority of poetry readings and book launches occur within a few kms of our major urban centres. There are, of course, exceptions – I remember years ago being invited to a poetry magazine launch and reading at Rooty Hill RSL club and I’m aware of a poetry and writing group that meets at Auburn library – but overall poetry doesn’t have a high-profile in the outer suburbs.

It was refreshing, therefore, to come across Melbourne based Outer Urban Projects (http://outerurbanprojects.org/) and their current project Poetic License. Outer Urban Projects have a simple mission statement:

To provide long-term high calibre artistic activity, employment, social engagement, mentoring and educative opportunities for young people in the ever-expanding neglected outer urban northern belt of Melbourne.

and to drill down a little more:

Outer Urban Projects is a bold not for profit performing arts organisation that collaborates with young people and their communities in Melbourne’s culturally diverse, artistically starved, ‘hardcore’ outer northern suburbs. We specialises in producing and presenting high calibre arts projects that seamlessly combine street, cultural, contemporary and classical forms. We are driven by the vibrant cultural mix and stories of the outer northern suburbs and the racial, social and class inequities that challenge our young people.

An illustration of this commitment can be found in their current project, Poetic License, which lands for one night only next Wednesday 22 April at the Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre in Preston. Described as a project which brings together “young rappers, poets, singers, beatboxers and musicians to riff on a classic Greek masterpiece”  it is inspired by Aristophanes’ Ancient Greek comic masterpiece ‘The Frogs’. As their publicity describes it  “A god descends to the underworld to resurrect a dead poet back to life to save the city from war and ruin. In 2015 the need has again arisen”

Directed and Produced by  Irine Vela Poetic License includes an impressive ensemble of writers and performers to combine the new and the old in a salon style underworld to wrangle the timeless question – can the spoken word really move and inspire. Can it change anything? Poetic License is underscored by harpist Genevieve Fry, a 13 year old poet Dante Sofra must hold his own with wordsmiths and performers spanning six decades, including  veteran performance poet Komninos Zervos, singer, writer, weaver and orator Grace Vanilau, Speed rapper and Beat Box champion Kevin Nugara (aka Rapid Spitfire), alternative Jazz vocalist and neo-beat poet Ileini Kabalan, Alabama raised inspirational speaker Ebony MonCrief, a poet performer of freefalling and confronting emotion, Koraly Dimitriadis  and the understated but infectious, indefatigable hip hop artist Mahmoud Samoun (aka Babz). Support Acts include Gospel and Hip Hop trio Divine Favour blending Maori and Pacific Islander  influences with sisters Fokaoho and Tangata Paea Tupou with Cousin Ruci Ucu Kaisila and The Outer Urban Projects string quartet led by Natasha Hanna and sought after MC, Beatbox rap artist Yung Philly.

It is a shame I will be stuck in Sydney on Wednesday night. If you are attending Poetic License Rochford Street Review would be interested in your view of the production.

– Mark Roberts

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Mark Roberts is a Sydney based writer and critic. He currently edits Rochford Street Review and P76 Magazine. He also has a number of manuscripts looking for a publisher.

POETIC LICENSE
Date: 22 April, 2015
Time: 7.00pm
Location: Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre, Cnr Bell St & St Georges Rd, Preston
Cost: Full $23, Concession $16, Family of 4: $72, Group 6+: $15, Group 10+: $12, Under two Free (must be seated on a ticket holders lap) Transaction fees may apply
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT http://darebinarts.com.au

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