‘And, finally, our feature poet! She is active in the West Sussex literary scene as a playwright, a Sunday Times top-ten bestselling ghostwriter, a festival organiser and a poet. She has written folk opera, verse drama for the Brighton Fringe, and her latest play, Whirlwind will premier next summer.
She is the author of two poetry collections. Her poetry is playful and provoking and characterised by sharp observation.
She is interested in how the early life lessons we learn shape female experience.
Her poems have been described as sharp 'domestic noir', weaving the quiet, familiar routines of everyday life with striking twists and tensions. Please give a warm welcome to…Ted Gooda!’
On Tuesday I performed a set as the feature poet for October’s Dorking is Talking at Swirl’s Wine Bar on the High Street. Dorking is Talking, run by Isabel Morris, is a monthly evening celebrating poetry and the spoken word featuring guest poets and limited open mic slots.
In September I performed two poems as a ‘future feature’ taster, The Softness of Sisters and Behind his back (complete with apron prop to demonstrate).
This week I had the honour of a full set, so shared nine poems in total, starting with The difference between boys and girls, The day I chose the wrong ice cream, A hippopotamus on my windowsill and River Arun as a dip into childhood.
It was a first outing for A hippopotamus, and I enjoyed performing it - although an audience member had to check afterwards that they were right about what the hippo really was.
Conversation with the Motya Charioteer and Stepping Stones made a return, and I added Woodpecker into the mix. It got a good reaction; happily, the majority of the audience were female.
Banishing the branks was augmented by my new scold’s bridle replica, though I stopped short of inviting my husband to wear it.
And I finished with Holding Hands, because the nature of most of my work means that I struggle to find a way to end on an upbeat! Holding Hands allows me to land with the idea of writing my own happy endings.
