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Shedding light on any subject you choose
It's basically a bloke in a shed – that's how poet John Davies described his unique offering to the Havant Literary Festival.
For two days later this month he will sit in a garden shed in the middle of Havant town centre, talking to shoppers about sheds, poetry, everything and anything.
'Everyone has a shed story whether they're young, old or whatever their cultural background' said John, who goes by the name of Shedman.
'People bring their stories and I tell them mine or read some poetry. Or it could be kids wanting to take me on a quest to find the best sheds in Havant. For festivals it really is brilliant.
'A shed story can be about anything. I usually start off by asking people what's the first shed they remember. It could be your grandad's or your dad's shed or other people say when I was in Ethiopia I saw this amazing shed. It can really open up a conversation.'
Every time Shedman makes a festival appearance, he brings a new shed with him. The shed for the Havant Literary Festival is being brought over from the Isle of Wight before being assembled in West Street.
John joked: 'It's called Shed Assembly Day or the acronym for it is SAD. I'm not the most technically minded so it's often a day to see grown men cry.'
After two days the shed will be raffled, with the proceeds going to charity.
Earlier this year, Children's Laureate Michael Rosen feared for the future of poetry in schools, saying preparing for an exam culture was having a disastrous effect on teaching the literary form.
But Shedman is more optimistic.
'There's an awful lot of schools that invite poets in,' said John. 'Children get poetry but maybe not from teachers.
'One of the most popular art forms is rap. Children can recite vast chunks of rap and that's the rhythm you get in poetry. Children just get poetry.
'For an awful lot of people, when they think of poetry they think of it as the pompous stuff rammed down your throat in school. You shouldn't make poetry compulsory. It should be something people want to study.'
Shedman will be at the Havant Literary Festival on Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27. To find out what else is happening at the festival go to www.havantlitfest.hampshire.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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