Bloomsbury Voices consist of founder Stephanie Gerra and close collaborator, Wendy Shutler, who have now been working together as poets and performers for over 3 years. Ivor Game and Steve Dagleish are the musicians at the heart of Bloomsbury Voices, having worked closely with Stephanie and Wendy over the past few years.
Bloomsbury Voices as an entity was born of Stephanie’s intention to attempt in some way to continue the heritage of artistic enterprise and activity that has long been associated with the area of Bloomsbury, made famous by Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury set last century. The initial impetus for what has become more formally known as Bloomsbury Voices was to create a regular performance platform for local artists, poets, actors and writers to come together in regular, salon-like events to share their work before an audience. A subsequent development has also been to purposely include material in each show that is inspired by local streets and places, so that Bloomsbury itself becomes an intrinsic part of their work.
Bloomsbury Voices have performed themed events at The Poetry Café in Covent Garden for 3 years, with material ranging from “Love, Sweet and Sour” – poetry and music looking at the range of experiences to be had when in love - to “Science, Spirit and Multiverse”, a debate between the spiritual and scientific urges in human experience. Other shows relate to the changing seasons, or more eclectic events that have involved collaboration with artists from the London Miscellany Magazine stable. Most events involve impromptu participation from other poets attending the Open Mic section of our shows. One such open-micer is the ecologist and poet Murray Shelmerdine who will be collaborating with Bloomsbury Voices in a new show this autumn at Flutes in Highgate. Bloomsbury Voices will also be returning to the Poetry Café for their autumn-winter season as of September 21st 2009. (See our Events page for details)
THE POETRY CAFE, 22 Betterton St, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BX