Displaying items by tag: performance

Many thanks to Lin Pettersson, doctoral researcher at the University of Malaga, Spain, for her great article about The Palace of Curiosities, published in Neo-Victorian Studies.

Neo-Victorian Studies
8:2 (2016)
pp. 200-223

"Definitely an Author to Watch": Rosie Garland on the (Neo-) Victorian Freak
Lin Pettersson
(University of Malaga, Spain)
Abstract:
This interview with Rosie Garland, conducted by Dr Lin Pettersson, gives insight into the author's writing and her concern for issues regarding gender, normalcy and identity through a discussion of her acclaimed debut novel The Palace of Curiosities
(2013)
.
Garland speaks about the difficulties of being a woman writer and going from struggling to getting published, winning the Mslexia novel competition, and subsequently signing a two-book contract. She is a writer, singer and performer –
labels that blend together in the prose of The Palace of Curiosities as the author combines the performativity of the neo-Victorian literary mode with the visual dynamics of Victorian popular entertainment in an exploration of gender issues, identity and deviance through the trope of the nineteenth-century freak show.

Keywords: deviance, freak, freak show, Rosie Garland, gender, identity, normalcy,
performance, The Palace of Curiosities, visibility

you can read the whole article here:

http://www.neovictorianstudies.com/

Neo-Victorian Studies is hosted by Swansea University, Wales, UK

Published in News
Monday, 11 May 2015 16:12

7.3.2015 - Interview with WordMothers!

I was interviewed recently for WordMothers – a wonderful blog run by Australian writer Nicole Melanson. WordMothers is dedicated to showcasing women's work in the literary arts around the world. It features female author interviews and women in the book industry discussing what they're really passionate about.
Here's the link! Or you can read it in full below.
Click to read the interview on the WordMothers blog

WordMothers – Rosie Garland interviewed by Nicole Melanson
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I was a reader. Even more fabulously, I was read to. Early on, I discovered the joy of being transported to other worlds via the magic of words. It wasn't long before I started telling my own tales. I have a cough-sweet tin filled with books I created for my dolls, and wrote my first novel aged nine - a thrilling adventure involving super-heroines, spaceships and sharks. With pictures.
In fact, on the (mercifully rare) occasions I meet someone who professes to be a writer and yet not have time to read, my chin taps the floor. As Stephen King said: "This is like a guy starting up Mount Everest saying that he didn't have time to buy any rope or pitons."

WHAT IS YOUR LATEST BOOK OR CURRENT PROJECT?
I'm not happy unless I'm busy on a number of projects and am still learning the art of getting that number right...
My second novel 'Vixen' is out in paperback on February 12th and there's a busy book tour coming up. It's set in 1349, the year the Black Death arrived in England. This springs from my fascination with eras when the world was on the cusp of massive change.
I'm writing new poetry. In particular, a sequence of narrative poems inspired by the 2 years I worked as a teacher in Darfur, Sudan. Truly a stranger in a strange land. In addition, I'm getting on with my next novel for HarperCollins. It's at that stage where I hate it, and it is little more than a tangled heap of words.
I'm also treading the boards as Rosie Lugosi the Vampire Queen. If that wasn't enough, my band The March Violets are touring Europe and the USA in autumn 2015 with our new album, Made Glorious.
http://www.marchviolets.com/
Yes- busy. I love the interesting projects that come into my life! One I am particularly excited about is being invited to co-curate the John Rylands Library Literary Gothic exhibition in summer 2015.

WHAT IS YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT LIKE?
I count myself as very, very lucky. I have a room of my own, to paraphrase Virginia Woolf. It's lined with bookcases and every square inch is stacked with bits and pieces picked up over the years (from Californian sand dollars to statues of Kali and all points in between).
I'm a writer who likes peace to scribble – which is the word I use to describe first-stage work. I love the physicality of handwriting at this stage. When I've got to the editing stage I move to the computer. I know a number of creatives who find music conducive to work – I guess I'm one of those who prefers quiet. I think it's to do with the fact that I love music – if I listen to music while I'm writing I end up singing along and writing goes up the spout.

WHEN DO YOU WORK? WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?
I couldn't begin to say what a typical day is because I don't have them. What follows is a swift gallop around a 'writing day'.
I'm one of those 'morning people'. Morning, afternoon, middle of the night, I don't think it matters one iota as long as you find what works for you. However, I like to get started early. Part of it is because the world is not yet fully awake and that sense of possibility fires me up. Another reason is that I have a vicious internal critic who persists in telling me that everything I do is complete crap. She's a late riser, so I get up before she does and get started before the headtalk kicks in.
One of the things I wrestle with is the balance between writing and admin / social networking. A certain amount of the latter is unavoidable – it comes with the territory of writing being my job – but the knack is to refuse to let Twitter take over my life. I do admin in the afternoon. When I'm on a roll, I'll write into the evenings. It varies.
Also important is for me to take breaks. Not just to move the muscles, but to stay fresh. I take a leaf out of Julia Cameron's 'The Artists' Way' and go on an Artists' Date at least once a week: visit a museum, a gallery, or hang out with a creative friend.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Artist%27s_Way

WHAT IS YOUR WORK PROCESS?
I use creative rituals to get me started in the morning.
I'm not alone in being terrified of the blank page and a routine with small steps helps get the creative juices flowing. My day begins with three pages of journaling. This is not so much creative writing as a place to dump 'what I did yesterday' and clear the mind.
My rituals change (damn right too), but right now I like the exercise of writing six images (eg - something I can see / hear / smell, or that struck me yesterday). Coming out of the six images I write a haiku. Then the classic morning pages: three pages of free writing (the magic of 'threes'!). With those warm-ups under my belt, I get cracking on a heftier task like editing a chapter. An athlete wouldn't run a marathon from cold. My take is that a novelist functions in much the same way.
I want to grow, so seek out feedback and input. That might be going on a writing course, a writing retreat, getting feedback from creative colleagues, agent or editor. I am hungry to learn. For me, writing is a life process and is never done. At the age of 90, Pablo Casals was asked why he continued to practice the cello. 'Because I think I'm making progress,' was his reply.

WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
There are times when I feel writing chose me. I write because I am made of stories. I write to work out and express how I think and feel. Writing as breathing out. Roald Dahl said - "A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it."

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
The odd, the unusual, the folk who don't fit. I've always written about outsiders; whoever they might be. My fiction is about people who won't (or can't) squeeze into the one-size-fits-all templates on offer and the friction that occurs when they try.
I know this comes from having always been an outsider myself. My mother used to ask, 'why can't you write nice stories?' However, I don't explore dark themes as some kind of pose, or to be challenging for the sake of it. I write what I write because that's what comes knocking.
Sure, I can produce something that doesn't fire me up (I've tried), but my heart's not in it. There's the rub: I write where my passions reside. I've chased myself in circles trying to second-guess what a publisher 'might' want and it was a disaster. There's no point twisting yourself into shapes trying to please. That way lies madness, and not the interesting, creative sort. Maybe it's one of the reasons it took me so long for my novels to get published. But that's a different blog: http://booksbywomen.org/rosie-garland/

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF WHAT YOU DO?
Keeping going.
As I mentioned above, I struggle with an internal critic who never says anything nice and never, ever stops. Simply put, this inner censor wants me to stop writing. It's been there since I was in my early teens, and shows no sign of going away. Sure, it's had to change its script a little over the past few years what with the launch of debut novel 'The Palace of Curiosities' and follow-up 'Vixen', but it has simply developed nasty new mantras. One example: when people say they like 'The Palace of Curiosities', they're only being nice.
I used to listen to and believe every word I heard. Result? I stopped writing. Call it writers' block if you will. An important part of my writing life has been improving how I deal with internalised put-downs.
The first step was to call the voice 'Mavis'. If you'd like to read my blog on Dealing with the Internal Critic – here it is.
http://www.rosiegarland.com/news-and-events/item/177-being-a-writer-dealing-with-the-internal-censor.html

WHAT IS YOUR VISION AS A WORD ARTIST OR BOOK INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL?
To communicate. To share. To get my stories out there and enable other word artists to do the same. To encourage - myself as well as others - to tell our stories. Especially when the mainstream world tells us those stories are uninteresting, dangerous, weird, off-kilter and just plain wrong. Especially when the mainstream world tells us that.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FEMALE AUTHORS?
Oh goodness, how long have you got? I've been asked this question a gazillion times and I've yet to find a snappy answer. It's impossible! Which is good. I've read work by so many inspiring women that there simply isn't room to list them.

Published in News
Monday, 19 August 2013 20:28

18.8.2013 - Isle of Arran Poetry Adventure

Just returned from a week on the Isle of Arran, Scotland...

A week spent in the company of wonderful writers such as Gerry Potter, Mel Rees, Stevie Turner, John G Hall, Sarah Miller, Chanje Kunda, Steve Waling, Steph Pike, Anna Percy, Leanne Bridgewater, Charlotte Henson - and so many more I can't list them here!

Peaceful mornings spent sitting at my window in Lamlash, overlooking Holy Isle. I did my morning pages with a pot of coffee, watching the seals swim in to take up position on the rocks.

Published in News
HAUNT Manchester presents Black Christmas

The Peer Hat,
14-16 Faraday Street,
M1 1BE Manchester

Saturday, 15 December 2018 from 12:00-19:00
Free event

Readings start at 3pm – featuring Rosie Garland at 4pm

Have you been naughty this year? Have you been very, very naughty?
Then you might be the perfect guests to receive the very special gifts in store at HAUNT Manchester’s Black Christmas Party.
Presented as part of Foundations Festival 2018, the HAUNT network bring to you a dark and delicious pile of sticky Christmas treats (for adults only).
Featuring:

• The hosts of The Fallen Christmas Angels, Satanic Santa and his Zombie Elves!
• Spoken word and cabaret from black-hearted Manchester superstars Rosie Garland, Liquorice Black, Lethal Gem, Joshua Hubbard… and more!
• There will also be an art exhibition from Manchester Gothic Arts Group.
Expect gifts, games, décor and surprises galore!
Over 18s only, this is Christmas without the kids please.
Fancy dress encouraged.

https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/blog/read/2018/11/foundations-festival-bringing-grassroots-music-community-action-black-christmas-and-more-to-manchester-b656

Published in Gig List
Friday, 02 November 2018 13:04

12.11.2018 - FLIM NITE presents 'Pan's Labyrinth'

FLIM NITE presents 'Pan's Labyrinth'

The Three Minute Theatre
Afflecks Arcade,
35-39, Oldham Street,
Manchester M1 1JG

What would ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ look like chewed up and spat out by comedians, theatremakers, writers and musicians?

We have created a labyrinthine underworld in order to test the moral strength of our artists and let the creative juices flow! Come and find out what their deepest fears are!

Watch as our acts distort a Spanish language dark fantasy movie into something ridiculous, beautiful or unrecognisable for your viewing pleasure. We have entrusted each one of them with a chunk of the film to re-enact, riff around, mash up or explode. There’s no way of telling what will happen.

FLIM NITE is a monthly experimental performance night based at Three Minute Theatre in Manchester's Northern Quarter. We’re in our fourth year and showing no signs of stopping.

We will not be showing a movie. We will be making a FLIM.

LINE-UP including ROSIE GARLAND, SARAH BENNETTO, JOZ NORRIS,

“The group take a hammer to well-known films and smash them into something completely different – think a smorgasbord of musical interludes, a dab of poetry and an added bit of standup comedy. Trust us, it’s unlike any other night around!” - The Skinny

"With all the ramshackle pop-anarchism of Never Mind The Buzzcocks and the warmth, variety and bonhomie of a fringe arts night, FLIM NITE is going from strength to strength and is not to be missed." - NARC

FLIM NITE is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and the National Lottery through the Grants for the arts scheme.

The Three Minute Theatre, Manchester
Doors at 7.30pm, acts start at 8pm sharp
£3 suggested donation on the door

Published in Gig List
Sunday, 03 September 2017 10:39

12.10.2017 - Superheroes of Slam, Manchester Final

Superheroes of Slam 2017

Three Minute Theatre
Afflecks Arcade,
35-39, Oldham Street,
M1 1JG Manchester

Tickets £5/£4
Book on 0843 208 0500
19:00–22:00

Hosted by Rosie Garland, aka Rosie Lugosi
The Superheroes of Slam 2017 Final will take place on the 12th of October at Three Minute Theatre. This year finalists from Berlin (Germany), Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Rochdale and Sheffield will be battling it out for the title of Superheroes of Slam Champion 2017.
This year's finalists are...
Charlie Dupré, Kurt Wang, Haamid Sharif, Jodie Hannis, Jack Young, Elise Hadgraft, Shaun Hill, Melanie Branton and Rosie Fleeshman.

Book tickets to see them compete for the title here
http://www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/commonword-superheroes-of-slam-final-37841

Alongside the title, the winner will receive £250 and an Arvon Course of their choice (subject to availability).
Contestants have 3 minutes to rock or shock the mic and are judged by audience responses and guest judges. Previous winners of the slam include: Dominic Berry, Mark Mace Smith, Ben Mellor, Joy France and Paris Kaur.

Published in Gig List

Saturday 22nd February

Time: 7.30 till late

Venue: Todmorden Town Hall
Bridge Street
Todmorden
West Yorkshire, OL14 5AQ
International Women's Event

Tickets on the door, sliding scale

Evening entertainment with DJ Lady Heidi, Tasha Rocks and Rosie Lugosi!

Click to go to Facebook event page

Published in Gig List
Loose Muse Women's Poetry Anthology Launch
Thomas's Bar & Restaurant,
49-51 Thomas Street,
Manchester M4 1NA
Entrance £3.00

Doors open 7.30pm

Performances start 8pm

Featuring 5 Manchester poets (including Rosie Garland, Steph Pike, Rebecca Audra Smith and others)

and 2 London Poets.

Plus Open Mic

(The open mic is women only but men are very welcome to attend and listen to some amazing women's poetry)

http://loose-muse.com/

Published in Gig List
Sunday, 10 February 2013 14:28

14.3.13 Bang Said The Gun, London

Date: Thursday 14th March

Start: 8.00pm

Tickets: £7 / £5

Where: THE ROEBUCK, 50 GREAT DOVER STREET, SE1

Weblink: www.bangsaidthegun.com

I'm guesting at BANG SAID THE GUN

EVERY Thursday – Stand up poetry for people who don't necessarily like poetry.A full on verbal romp including Top Acts + the World Famous RAW MEAT STEW Open Mic Spot – read a poem, tell a joke, juggle a pigeon, dance a jig and win your own slot at the next Bang Said The Gun night.

What they say about it:

"...an amazing night at The Roebuck. Like all the best things in life, it's done with commitment, belief and passion. If you haven't been, you get the joy of discovering it for yourself every Thursday."

Phil Jupitus

"Bang Said the Gun is one of the best poetry nights in the country; the combination of excitement, enthusiasm and deep, deep concentration on the poems is a wonder to behold! Long may it continue!"

Ian McMillan

Published in Gig List

News and Events

  • Royal Society of Literature - Fellowship
    Royal Society of Literature - Fellowship
    Royal Society of Literature Fellowship

     

    On 12th July 2023 I was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature! It was something I never imagined in a hundred years.

    It's a tremendous honour, & a testament to the quality of my writing. To say I am thrilled is a huge misunderstatement.

    https://rsliterature.org/fellows/rosie-garland/

    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jul/12/royal-society-of-literature-aims-to-broaden-representation-as-it-announces-62-new-fellows

    Written on Monday, 21 August 2023 09:12
  • Manchester City of Literature - Festival of Libraries 2023
    Manchester City of Literature - Festival of Libraries 2023

    Delighted to get the opportunity to talk to Manchester Festival of Libraries about the importance of libraries in my life!

    https://youtu.be/18VPl5qXvkM

    And there are many more –
    Watch all the short films featuring four accomplished Manchester creative practitioners who have worked closely with libraries over the course of their careers.

    Hear how libraries can support artists, writers, dancers, musicians and more to create original work, access valuable resources, gain practical support and inspire creativity.
    These films aim to highlight the rich creative diversity of our libraries, and pave the way for emerging artists to head to their local library for ideas and insight for their next big project.

    You can view all the films below.
    https://www.manchestercityofliterature.com/event/creatives-in-libraries/

    Written on Thursday, 22 June 2023 09:40
  • 'Because goddess is never enough' - a new film-poem!
    'Because goddess is never enough' - a new film-poem!
    ‘Because goddess is never enough’ – revealing the new film poem, made in collaboration with filmmaker Jane Glennie.

    Absolutely thrilled to announce this new film poem – created over 2021 in collaboration with amazing filmaker Jane Glennie. Inspired by the life of dancer and choreographer Tilly Losch, the film explores notions of erasure, strategies for persistence and the centrality of creative expression for the life of a woman in perpetual motion.

    We are delighted with the reception the film is receiving! A list of film festivals is below.
    AND there’s a ‘Book of the Film’!

    'Because Goddess is Never Enough (Peculiarity Press, 2022)
    Available from Blackwell’s (Waterstones, Amazon, etc)
    https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Because-Goddess-Is-Never-Enough-by-Rosie-Garland-Jane-Glennie/9781912384167

    Flick through the book here –
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/zzDN5KKbUccqPZsQ7

    Film festivals & events 2022 that have selected & featured 'Because Goddess is Never Enough'

    Moving Poems May 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected as one of ‘the best poetry films on the web’
    https://movingpoems.com/2022/05/because-goddess-is-never-enough-by-rosie-garland/

    Fringe Arts Bath Festival 27 May - 12 June 2022
    Bath’s annual free festival of visual arts
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected for WORDPLAY programme
    https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/festival-2022
    https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/wordplay

    Tranås at the Fringe International Arts Festival 2-9 July in Tranås, Sweden
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected for the LIVING FEMININITY programme.
    https://www.atthefringe.org/film-program-2022

    Women X Film Festival 2-4 September in Darlington, UK.
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' - Honourable Mention
    https://riannepictures.com/womenx

    Women Over 50 Film Festival
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – nominated for Best Experimental film, selected for the AT MY CORE programme
    https://wofff22.eventive.org/films/62e15892943cb70054a692d9
    https://wofff.co.uk/2022/08/wofff22-films-announced-find-out-more-about-our-fantastic-official-selections/

    Athens 10th International Video Poetry Festival 28 September - 1 October 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – screened 29th September within 'Feminist Struggles' programme
    https://theinstitute.info/?p=5226

    HOME Manchester, Filmed Up 28th September 2022
    ‘Because Goddess is Never Enough’ selected for Filmed Up programme.

    https://homemcr.org/event/filmed-up-sep-2022/

    The Feminist Film Festival, Bucharest, 13-16 October 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – Official Selection
    https://filmfreeway.com/TheFeministFilmFestival

    Sunderland Shorts Film Festival October 17th, 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – selected for the Art & Experimental Films programme
    https://filmfreeway.com/SunderlandShorts

    Zebra Poetry Film Festival, Berlin 3-6 November 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough'.
    We are very proud to be selected for Zebra, the oldest and largest international festival of poetry films.
    https://filmfreeway.com/ZEBRAPoetryFilmFestival
    https://www.haus-fuer-poesie.org/en/zebra-poetry-film-festival/home-zebra-poetry-film-festival/

    Still Voices Film Festival, Ireland 9-13 November 2022
    'Because Goddess is Never Enough' – Official selection Experimental
    https://stillvoicesfilmfestival.com/

    Written on Thursday, 29 September 2022 09:41
  • Sept 2022 - The March Violets announce 5 CD boxset release!
    Sept 2022 - The March Violets announce 5 CD boxset release!
    Announcing the Novemeber 18th 2022 release of 'The Palace of Infinite Darkness'

    It's 40 years since The March Violets released our 1st 7" EP (seriously, FORTY).
    So it’s a great time to announce that this tasty 5 CD Box Set is now up for pre order from Jungle Records!
    The Palace of Infinite Darkness - In addition to all the singles plus all the extended versions, the box has six excellent BBC sessions, 23 tracks with 9 unreleased songs (also reissued as Big Soul Kiss 2LP yellow vinyl after a sold-out RSD release). Then there are two whole discs of unreleased demo sessions – one from the early period 1982-84 and another from 1985-87. Founder-member Rosie Garland recounts the band’s story in a 44-page booklet.
    Check out the link:
    https://smarturl.it/MV5CDbox

    Written on Thursday, 22 September 2022 12:19
  • June 2022 - Queer Poetry for The Arvon Foundation
    June 2022 - Queer Poetry for The Arvon Foundation
    Residential Writing Week: Queer Poetry

    A wonderful experience – for the first time, I co-tutored a residential writing week for the prestigious Arvon Foundation! It was such a thrill to work alongside inspiring co-tutor Keith Jarrett and electrifying guest reader Jay Bernard.
    A very special week. I won’t forget it.

    Monday June 27th - Saturday July 2nd 2022
    Totleigh Barton, Sheepwash, Beaworthy Devon
    https://www.arvon.org/writing-courses/courses-retreats/residential-writing-week-queer-poetry/

    Written on Wednesday, 21 September 2022 15:16