The Summer of Love!

Hi everyone,

It’s been so long since I’d written the last blog post, with the Shakespearean loving still very much alive – there’s been so many shows (including a special QI version) and radio programs celebrating the universal, timeless and worldwide appeal that the bard still has in our hearts today! However, Shakespeare is not the only one to undergo the literary spotlight this year – the British Library has unveiled the Writing Britain exhibit, featuring manuscripts, videos, images and recordings of some of the most loved works of literature that still permeate the hearts of today! I’ll put up a review as I’m planning to see it soon!

I’m also resident of my new personal blog, which is depicting the journey I’m undergoing as a prospective PhD students (don’t worry, Enigma will still run strong!) at http://skittykittyphd.wordpress.com/. I do love wordpress, seriously! I have also put up reviews of the BFI Scifi London Festival that I attended earlier this year.

Also, for those of you would like to read and write some more current literature – then get ready to send your work to us! We’re opening up again for submissions until the 23rd of July! I’ll add the details soon. Speak soon and enjoy your weekend!

Susan

 

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

Shakespeare celebrated his 448th birthday on the 23rd April this week (although the actual date itself is often disputed), opening the world’s biggest festival to celebrate his work. Now the great bard himself does not need any introduction, having helped shaped our language and culture to a huge extent. I had a poster that’s probably in my family home that has all his coined phrases, some of which absolutely astounded me. It’s scary to see how much of his language we use in everyday conversation, yet his work is often seen to be hard work to decipher.

As a wonderful tribute to the bard, Mark Ravenhill, a playwright and writer in residence of the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) wrote and performed a sonnet (true Shakespeare stylee), which you can see in the link below:

http://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/updates/mark-ravenhill-sonnet.aspx

Another amazing feature is the technological tribute and “digital footprint” that Shakespeare has left in his beautiful literary legacy – the myShakespeare, which does sound very odd yet fascinating. You can share art and writing in the gallery as well as even tracking his digital footprint, the app of which is named after the ghost Banquo in Hamlet. You can find this at http://myshakespeare.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk/. Be sure to get involved!

Susan

Issue 8 is here!

With the chopping and changing weather in London, it’s nice to be sure of something certain – the next issue of Enigma! We’ve really pushed the boat out for the first issue of 2012, set with interviews, features and of course poetry and prose – all on the theme of love!

Enjoy, readers!

Susan

Happy World Poetry Day!

Just a day after Word Storytelling Day, we are treated again to another literary celebration!

World Poetry Day is celebrated every year on March 21st by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) since 1999. This day celebrates and recognises the social and cultural impact of poetry on the world, promoting the production, performance and the teaching of this great medium?

What have been your greatest memories regarding poetry? Mine would definitely have to be reading and performing poetry – spoken word being the phenomenon I recently discovered a couple of years ago. From years of learning from the page at school and university to hearing it resonate amongst an audience, it felt amazing to discover a new dimension to a form I thought I had known so well.

Here is the main link to World Poetry Day at UNESCO: http://www.un.org/en/events/poetryday/

I also found this resource for teaching poetry: a collaboration with the Samaritans, which is called DEAL (developing emotional awareness and learning) at http://teachers.guardian.co.uk/teacher-resources/6756/Samaritans-DEAL-with-poetry. I’ve always found poetry enriching and a therapy all its own, so it’s great to see initiatives like this!

Happy World Storytelling Day!

The annual tradition of celebration continues with the next installment of World Storytelling Day – a day that focuses on a different theme to explore each year. In 2011, we touched on the theme of all things hydrated on the topic of Water and this year heralded the theme of trees, which is often associated with the original setting for a storytelling session (bar the all-famous campfire, which are of course just trees in a different form!).

As we also celebrate World Poetry Day tomorrow, why not combine these? Why only celebrate on these days? We have put up our display at http://enigmamag.wordpress.com/word-storytelling-day-display/, which you can also find on the right side menu.

Come and share your Tree poems and short stories by emailing them to mag.enigma@googlemail.com. We also have had some recordings sent in, and we would love to hear more of these!

If you want to record a line, we’re hoping to do a large audio poem this year. There’s lots to do at Enigma, so get cracking!

Susan

 

Spring is here…

…Or at least in Canterbury!

This weekend is a very special one for me as it marks the first writing retreat that I’ve been on. The skies are clear and blue, the birds regale us non-stop with music. I’m enjoying good company, good writing and a wonderful place to recharge the creative batteries.

Having always lived in London has made the country such a luxury to spend time in – not to mention the fresh air!

This reminds me that it is nearly World Storytelling Day! Send us your tree stories, poems, recordings and videos of storytelling under trees! With my limited knowledge of cameras and using my blackberry, I’ll try to cobble something together too!

Hope you have a great weekend wherever you are!
Susan

Happy World Book Day!

Happy World Book Day! Image courtesy of www.worldbookday.com

 

 

The celebration of reading, illustrations and authors have reached its 15th year – where children all over come together to delight in the art of reading. This takes place in the form of book tokens, special readings, events, and World Book Day resource packs for Nursery, Pre-primary, Primary and Secondary schools. See their main site for more details about this special day!

http://www.worldbookday.com