"...a triumph for literary entertainment"
On July 5th, I joined streams of people at the Market Theatre in Ledbury for "Diversion" with Luke Wright and Chloë Jacquet. This evening was a feast of comedic poetry, absurdity, and vivacity.
Hosted by Diversion's Emma Clowsley and Adrian Mealing, the open mic attracted a variety of artists: hailing from Birmingham to as far as Thame! The performers varied in energy, age, and theme, but all delivered brazen and outspoken pieces that were well-received by the audience.
Chloë Jacquet, a high-energy, multi-slam and award-winning performance poet, scored belly laughs and solidarity as she whisked us away on a whistle-stop tour of her electrifying portfolio. Her pieces ranged from political satire and feminist truisms to eccentric workplace antics and her turbulent journey through breast cancer treatment and recovery. Jacquet does it all with astute observations, humorous delivery, and fantastic style.
Luke Wright’s stand-up poetry show, "JOY," will be touring nationwide over the next year, and rightfully so! Wright’s one-man production seamlessly synthesizes sophisticated poetic forms with quick quips and theatrical wordplay.
With references to literary history and philosophy dispersed within his storytelling, "JOY" delivers high-brow entertainment without pretentiousness. Wright’s comedic genius is accessible and relatable, offering a whimsical take on the tedious realities of 21st-century life. His wistful and heartfelt poems, interlaced with humorous commentary, create a highly effective juxtaposition.
As Wright examines the concept of joy, he also explores familiar themes of family life, the innocence of childhood, parenting guilt, nostalgia, and the reality of "growing up." The audience and I thoroughly enjoyed this, laughing, cheering, and applauding each twist and turn of Wright’s self-referential and poignant performance.
After a full bill of outrageously fun poetry and satisfying callbacks, newly established fans lined up to meet Wright and Jacquet and purchase their books. I was among them, much to the delight of my housemates, who basked in these rays of literary brilliance over breakfast the following morning!
Books Mentioned:
- "Take It by the Line" by Chloë Jacquet (2020)
- "Are Murmurations Worth It?" by Luke Wright (2024)
- "The Feel Good Movie of the Year" by Luke Wright (2021)
"Diversion" is a routine poetic open mic night at Ledbury Poetry House, and while always a treat, Friday’s lineup for the Ledbury Poetry Festival was a triumph for literary entertainment and LGBTQ+ excellence alike.
About the reviewer
Freddie Barker
Freddie is a student at the University of Worcester and has recently been appointed as the 2024-2025 Worcestershire Poet Laureate- the youngest person to hold this role! Freddie is passionate about poetry, performing arts, visual arts, workshops and event planning- Freddie has recently hosted a new poetry festival, Speak Volumes!, in the heart of Worcester.
