Welcome
INSPIRING LITERATURE - WRITERS, TOURS & EVENTS
we offer writers for bookings and we produce and curate literature around the country
UPCOMING EVENTS
The best literature and spoken word
14 & 16 MAY: Spoken Word - Pete (The Temp) Verses Climate Change
Watch a Poet solve Climate Change using only his mouth!
‘Poetry’s answer to Mark Thomas…expert performance skills’ Chortle
Pete The Temp brings high octane spoken word, musical comedy, political commentary, and audience participation in an hour long show at the Cockpit Theatre & The Albany.
3 May at 8pm: Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street London NW8 8EH Tickets £8/£6 BOOK TICKETS HERE
14 and 16 May at 8pm: The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG Tickets £7/£5 BOOK TICKETS HERE
Read the full details HERE
18 MAY: LONDON VOICES
A Wandsworth Arts Festival 2012 event
An aspirational live public showcase of spoken word, song and music.
It presents a platform of South Thames learners in the Creative Industries department - writers, singers, rappers and performers - alongside professional artists ADISA, AOIFE MANNIX, JAMES INGHAM and host MELANIE ABRAHAMS.
Friday 18 May 6pm – 8.30pm
Venue: South Thames College, Wandsworth High Street London SW18 2PP
Admission free, places limited BOOK A FREE TICKET
Visit the South Thames College and Wandsworth Arts Festival websites
2011 & spring 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
10 MAY: Tongue Fu at Rich Mix
An event of words and music that's lively and raw
Tongue Fu is where poetry, storytelling and spoken word collide with sublime improvised soundtracks from the Tongue Fu band (Nostalgia 77) and micro-films-on-the-fly by Dr Cuesta and Magic Marco.
"It's poetry, but not as you know it…amazing” The Guardian
This event features John Sinclair, Ross Sutherland, Femi Martin, Ilana Winsterstein, and Poet In Residence Shane Solanki, plus host/creator Chris Redmond.
Read the full event details HERE
Click here to join the Facebook page
JOHN HEGLEY is at London Liming
Thursday 12 April: Tilt's LONDON LIMING
spoken word, music, carnival on a theme of INDEPENDENCE!
This Tilt’s London Liming explores and asserts the theme of INDEPENDENCE in a year in which many countries commemorate independence (Jamaica, Trinidad, Algeria, Rwanda etc) through a blend of poetry, spoken word, song, and live music. Featuring JOHN HEGLEY, JEAN 'BINTA' BREEZE, ROGER ROBINSON, SIMON MOLE. Co-hosted by Liming patron JOHN AGARD and MELANIE ABRAHAMS. Plus soca, Brazilian, reggae and dance tunes by DJ CLIFFY. MORE INFO HERE
INUA ELLAMS is at London Liming
Feb 2012: Tilt's LONDON LIMING
spoken word & music meets carnival, at Rich Mix, London
Tilt’s London Liming teamed up with Come Rhyme With Me on February 9th to present a mashup of spoken word, singing, live music, special cocktails and food under one roof - London venue Rich Mix. With performances by INUA ELLAMS, FLOetic Lara, JASMINE COORAY , JAMES MASSIAH and DOUGIE HASTINGS. Hosted by DEAN ATTA, DEANNA RODGER and MELANIE ABRAHAMS. Plus soca, Brazilian, reggae and dance tunes by DJ CLIFFY. MORE INFO HERE
Last December: Tilt's LONDON LIMING explores MODERN LOVE
spoken word & music meets carnival, at Rich Mix, London
Tilt’s London Liming presented spoken word, music and a 'go with the flow' approach under one roof at Rich Mix on 8 December. It featured dazzling poetry, prose and song from spoken word greats Michael Horovitz, Francesca Beard, Charlie Dark, Sureshot (Michael Brome), plus music by James Ingham and Melanie Abrahams. This event celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 'Modern Love' show which presented multiple viewpoints on love and relationships in the 21st century. Music by DJ Cliffy. MORE INFO HERE
Last November: Christian Campbell and Jacob Sam-La Rose
Searing poetry and performance
Monday 7 November 7pm at Free Word Centre
renaissance one with Peepal Tree, Bloodaxe and Free Word launched the poetry collections by Christian Campbell - 'Running The Dusk' - and Jacob Sam-La Rose - 'Breaking Silence'. The evening offered readings by both poets of their new work and a Q & A, set within a salon style environment. More info HERE.
A TV ARTS FEATURE ON SPOKEN WORD
renaissance one on Shoot the Messenger
In 2011 renaissance one teamed up with Vox Africa who produce the TV feature 'Shoot The Messenger', a Vox Africa magazine format show offering performance, insight and discussion, and hosted by Henry Bonsu. Together we developed three pilot TV arts segments showcasing innovative arts spanning the African continent and diaspora.
The first in March spotlighted Caribbean spoken word and Jamaican folklorist Louise Bennett click here to watch
The April segment featured Adisa click here to watch
The May-June segment explored the art of 'Liming' with performances by Jean 'Binta' Breeze, click here to watch
JEAN 'BINTA' BREEZE: 2011 POETRY COLLECTION 'THIRD WORLD GIRL'
ENGLAND BOOK TOUR, JUNE TO NOVEMBER
Award-winning poet Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze's new collection, Third World Girl, was published by Bloodaxe in 2011, and she toured with renaissance one between June and November.
What they say..
'A major, perhaps even a great voice. For stature, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze invites a Caribbean comparison with Maya Angelou, except that her range is broader still. Her poetry shifts effortlessly through standard English to a native Jamaican which has no equal in its emotional depth' The Herald
DAN RHODES by Doro Bay
MAY: DAN RHODES and BARRY YOURGRAU
Idler Academy
In May, we worked with Canongate to launch the paperback of Dan Rhodes Little Hands Clapping. Dan chatted to his audience, read fiction and introduced guest writer and multimedia performer Barry Yourgrau who performed from his Gangster Fables collection.
Poetry & Spoken Word in the East Midlands
Tongue Fu at LYRIC LOUNGE, Lincoln
On Saturday 27 August, renaissance one presented a special TONGUE FU event headlined by Lemn Sissay and featuring regional artists Michael Brome (aka Sureshot), Steve Cawte, local guest poets, and Tongue Fu founder Chris Redmond, all performing with the Tongue Fu Band. In association with Lyric Lounge, Writing East Midlands and Cultural Solutions.
Special Commission for BASS Festival 2011
Revolutions in Poetry and Music
Responding to the BASS Festival's 2011 theme of 'revolution, we presented this event of spoken word and music as part of this year's festival, featuring Jean 'Binta' Breeze alongside Kimberly Trusty, Adisa, Michael Brome aka Sureshot and music by Psykhomantus. The event was in partnership with Birmingham Libraries, Bass Festival and Bloodaxe.
WE SUPPORT LITERARY SENSATIONS
Artists Agency & Creative Producers
PASSIONATE ABOUT LITERATURE
RENAISSANCE ONE is a production and artists’ agency that fosters the best talent in literature and spoken word.
Our roster of exclusive clients, and associate artists and practitioners, is drawn from the most articulate and passionate in writing, performance and ideas today.
Because we sign up only the most exciting artists our small, focused company can work closely with them to foster connections and develop talents to build a long-lasting career in the arts.
Click here to see the range of writers and performers we have worked with over the years.
ADISA video performance
Extract from '1968: The Year That Never Ended'
ADISA: performance poet
electrifying wordplay and charisma
We represent the poet ADISA, a well regarded performer and workshop facilitator who travels widely around the UK and overseas.
His spoken word show 1968: The Year That Never Ended toured England in 2009/10, supported by Arts Council England, and produced by renaissance one. It culminated in a sell-out show at the Barbican Pit Theatre in Feb 2010, starring Adisa, with guest musician Randolph Matthews
'Click here for the video '1968 Show on tour' featuring audience reviews and the making of the show
Jean 'Binta' Breeze: available for bookings
Acclaimed Poet, Playwright, Mentor
JEAN 'BINTA' BREEZE is a poet, choreographer and director who has performed worldwide and is recipient of a NESTA Award, and this year, an Honorary Creative Writing Fellowship from the University of Leicester. She is the author of five poetry collections. Her new DVD-Book of selected poems, 'Third World Girl', was published by Bloodaxe in 2011, followed by an England Book Tour produced by renaissance one.
Watch an interview with Jean here (approx. 45 mins into the segment)
For enquiries about Jean, contact renaissance one at hq[at]renaissanceone.co.uk or ring 020 7272 8386.