At the foot of the mountain...
Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 05:21 PM
Standing at the foot of the first mountain, which obscures other, loftier, more perilous mountains is where I am.

I got funding from ACE for London Tales. I'm working with Marc Boothe from B3 Media. He's amazing. He listened to my original idea and fired it up and we stretched it out to the point where it's become bigger and more beautiful and stone-scarier than I ever imagined. If anyone can make this ship fly, it's him. And Apples and Snakes and Spread the Word are supporting the project. And Charles Beckett. I'm so lucky, so lucky, so lucky (and so so so relieved I took on as much work as possible for the beginning of this year, because it means that I can conceivably afford to do this thing.)

When Marc first heard the news, his spontaneous reaction was 'Oh sh*t'.
Although the grant is large, it doesn't pay for time, which of course is superrelative when it comes to artistic stuff. Much of any useful thinking is done in bed, sometimes asleep. How does one bill for dreams?

I did a gig with Benjamin Zephaniah in Bristol for Poetry Can last week - it was an inspiration. He glows, He promised me a tai chi lesson. Sometimes I feel like I need to go on a spiritual journey before I even attempt this creative one but then I get to thinking about yin and yang and how pretty the lights shine in the dark. So here I am, beat up and travel-weary and just beginning.

I've been mainly doing skill-sharing and school-related stuff, I'm with the wonderful Michael Rosen in the Barbican Pit next week, for the Can I Have a Word 2010 celebrations, but I don't think that they are public performances.

But there are some new diary dates up on the diary page. It would be lovely to see you in Plymouth, or Bath, with 3 - 5 year olds, or at a sunny afternoon pub- session, in Petersham.


SPIN at the Lyric
Thursday, March 25, 2010, 04:50 PM



With the gorgeous Breis.

WHEN: Saturday 27 March @ 11am & 1pm
WHERE: Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL
TICKETS: Special offer children £5 & adults free, ring box office and quote "Apple Offer"
BOOK: 0871 22 117 22 / www.lyric.co.uk
www.applesandsnakes.org
Me and A F Harrold
Monday, March 22, 2010, 10:05 AM
We are doing two gigs together this week. I'm thinking of asking A F if he wants to work out a little something for the second one. We won't have much time to rehearse and I'm really lazy, morally and intellectually but kind of average physically, so rather than anything involving words, it could be an interpretive dance happening during each other's sets. Could be worth a look?


Rhythm and Muse: Featuring Francesca Beard & A F Harrold

Thursday 25 March, 8.30pm
Studio, Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street,
Kingston KT1 1


Rhythm and Muse, a platform for new, upcoming and established musicians
and poets will be making its first appearance in Kingston in the Studio at the Rose Theatre. Come along and be inspired!

Tickets: £6, concessions £5
On the door or online
www.kingston.gov.uk
www.rhythmandmuse.org



BEARD, BIRD, HARVEY & HARROLD - A Poetry Show
Saturday, March 27 at 7:00pm
Jacqueline Du Pre, Cowley Place, off The Plain, OXFORD

Surely the pinnacle of performance poetry at this year’s Oxfringe. George Chopping will introduce four of the UK’s finest poets, both on page and stage. Opening the evening will be AF Harrold, offering “subversive humour that is quite brilliant” (Brian Patten) shortly followed by “the spine tingling” (The Independent) Francesca Beard. In the second half, Julia Bird, will be reading from her debut collection “Hannah & the Monk” (Salt, 2008) before the night is rounded of perfectly by the dulcet wit of Radio 4 regular and Guardian poet, Matt Harvey.

£12 (£2.40 per poet)/£10 concs. ONLY 45 concession tickets left. Anyone/everyone is entitled to a concs ticket, first come first served! Tickets will be available on the door OR in advance from www.wegottickets.com TEL: 08708033475
Apples & Snakes at Soho Theatre
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 08:30 PM
I'm supporting the lovely Ian McMillan tomorrow night (Wednesday 24th Feb) partly through the medium of spoken word but mainly by going on last and so allowing him to catch the last train home.

It's an Apples and Snakes gig too. So. Good.


WHEN: Wednesday 24 February @ 8pm
WHERE: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE
TICKETS: £8 / £6
BOOK: 020 7478 0100 / www.sohotheatre.com
www.applesandsnakes.org

I
Heart
Apples
&
Snakes
MIGHTILY


Animal Olympics @Watermans
Friday, February 12, 2010, 11:23 AM
If you have kids and/or an emotional age of 4 - 11, please come down to Watermans in Brentford on the 14th February at 3pm, where me and the plush toys will be performing 'Animal Olympics'.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a wackily alternative/weirdly inappropriate Valentine's Day date, this could be the very thing.

"Celebrate the Chinese New Year - the year of the Tiger with Animal Olympics by Francesca Beard. This is a storytelling show featuring all the animals from the Chinese Zodiac in an Olympics talent show..."

Box Office 020 8232 1010
Watermans 40 High Street Brentford TW8 0DS


Oh and it's the first day of the New Year, year of the Golden Tiger.





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