Mark Sheeky Artworks

About this event

Previously entitled 'Cirque du ArtSwarm', ArtSwarm Live events are live, open-mic performances of poetry, music, or anything else on a certain theme. Acts are typically 10 minutes long and are open to any local performers. A first series of bi-monthly performances ran from Feb 2019 to Feb 2020, at which point the Covid-19 pandemic prevented live events. ArtSwarm Live tentatively restarted two years later, starting with this experimental, invitation-only event.

The theme was Fifty to correspond with Mark's recent birthday, and Mark Sheeky & Deborah Edgeley opened the evening with a rendition of Pink Floyd's 'Money', spoken in the voice of King Charles III before a video of a spinning 50p coin featuring his profile. Helen Kay read 'The Ballad of Mark Sheeky', written for the evening. John Lindley read 'Born to be Airborne' from his Love and Crossbones collection, and Jane Harland read a poem entitled 'Not Lost in Translation' about Hungarian painter Janos Thorma.

Paul Sheeky read 'Fifty Word Poem', which was written that morning specially for the event, followed by the break. The second half began with Fall in Green's version of 'Mr Tambourine Man'. Actor Christopher Gilmore read three poems, and finally Nicholas Ferenczy sang three songs at the piano.