Category Archives: Liv Torc
This weekend at the Festival
Jen Hadfield’s ‘Credo’ workshop is sold out, so is ‘Up With The Bard’ with Liv Torc. There are still some tickets left for the other events, and in the library today we’re looking forward today to the University of Exeter Creative Writing Programme Reading (featuring top festival volunteer, Jos Smith), Greta Stoddart and newly Forward Prized, Julia Copus. Later, in the Phoenix, Cyprus Well, ExCite Poetry and Apples & Snakes have the Meter 2010 Networking Event (only a few places left for that one) with a performance by Dorothea Smartt. Saturday finishes off with Apples & Snakes Live, with Bard of Exeter Liv Torc, and Aoife Mannix with accordion hero Janie Armour.
Sunday kicks off in the library with the ExCite Poetry Lunch with Rachel McCarthy, Fiona Benson and Rachael Boast. This is followed by the Shearsman Showcase with Elisabeth Bletsoe, Damian Furniss and Jaime Robles. The festival closes with Ruth Padel at 4pm, reading and in conversation with Rachel McCarthy of ExCite Poetry.
But not quite … supported by Exeter Phoenix, the Festival finally heads off into the night with the utterly brilliant Devon Incarnate Folk Singer and Folk Hero, Jim Causley.
Full details in the programme, and tickets are available from Exeter Phoenix.
A huge thank you to our audiences this week, and we look forward to seeing you this weekend!
Ian wins the Slam!
Back Row Left to right: Poets Liv Torc, CLive PiG, Ian Royce and Jon Freeman
Front, Slam Score Supremo, Kate Wilson
What a night! Laughing Arrow’s Exeter Poetry Slam kicked off Exeter Poetry Festival with verve and style! A huge thank you to audience, performers and to Bard of Exeter Liv Torc for making it all happen.
Sadly, all the poets couldn’t win, and here are the top three:
Ian Royce – first place
Clive Pig – second place
Jon Freeman – third place
Ian wins some stage time at the Apples & Snakes Live @ Exeter Poetry Festival on Saturday 9th October at 8pm in the Voodoo Lounge at Exeter Phoenix – starring alongside Bard of Exeter Liv Torc, and Aoife Mannix and Janie Armour. Tickets are £7/6 concessions and are available from Exeter Phoenix.
FRINGE NEWS: Sign up for the Exeter Poetry Festival Poetry Slam!
Laughing Arrow presents… The Exeter Poetry Festival Poetry Slam
Kick starting the Exeter Poetry Festival in spectacular spoken word style – the finest, fieriest and feistiest poetic talent from across the city will compete in a knock out slam, which takes poetry off the page and mainlines it into the adrenal glands. Hosted by the Bard of Exeter and Festival Poet in Residence, Liv Torc and featuring a panel of expert judges, The Exeter Festival Poetry Slam promises to be a hugely fun and frisky foray into the world of Performance Poetry. Although be warned – moments of tenderness, insight and genius may lurk among the sparks. To find out more or to throw your biro in the ring contact livtorc@yahoo.com
Sunday 3 October, 7.30pm, Bike Shed Theatre
The full programme and ticket information for the festival will be out very shortly. Keep checking this site for updates!
liv pic courtesy alice carfrae
Fanfare for the festival’s Poet in Residence!
Introducing Exeter Poetry Festival’s first poet in residence: Liv Torc.
The winner of the South West heat of Radio 4 National Poetry Slam 2009, Liv is a stand-up poet, wondermentalist and comedian and the new Bard of Exeter. She has shared a stage with John Hegley, Murray Lachlan Young, Andrew Motion and Matt Harvey, working for Apples and Snakes, Phrased and Confused and the Wondermentalist Cabaret. She is the shyly proud author of the shiny yellow poetry compendium ‘Take Your Monkey and Get out of My Life’.
Liv performs all over the UK at festivals, gigs, cabarets and the occasional front room. She runs regular cabaret events and hosts a monthly open mic night at Exeter Phoenix, where she provides a platform for emerging poets and comedians. Last summer Liv and Beryl the Feral launched their 2 woman show ‘For Our Sins’ at Ways With Words Festival of Literature and Ideas in the Great Hall at Dartington.
“Exeter needs a poetry festival,” says Liv, “it might not know it – but it absolutely does. South Devon has trillions of excellent writers, poets and performers squirreled away in silos, performing in back rooms and junk shops – it’s time they were outed in front of an audience. It’s also time those audiences got a taste of how vibrant, moving, funny, entertaining and life changing poetry can be.”
“I am really chuffed to be the festival’s poet in residence – this is my city and I have worked hard over the last couple of years to create more poetic opportunities… Becoming the Bard of Exeter was a definite start but it’s not a title I want to wear like a medal, it’s more of a call for action… a challenge to work with and encourage inspiration. Ultimately i just want to help provide and support quality poetic entertainment – because when it works, there is nothing better.”
Liv will be opening, workshop-ing and performing at the Festival, October 7-10 2010.
pic (c) Alice Carfrae
Exeter Poetry Festival 
