This one sounds really can’t be missed. On Monday, the works of Chaucer will be given a “hip-hop style remix” in a youth project which hopes to “bring medieval poetry into the 21st century”.
Throughout November and December, Chaucer FFWD has been transforming a group of London’s inner city teenagers into modern day wordsmiths as they embark on the challenge of writing a creative piece inspired by Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
And now the new stories – based on the Wife of Bath, the Prioress, the Pardoner and the Miller – will be presented on December 16th in a televised broadcast at The British Library, home to the original manuscripts of Chaucer’s classic text.
Established spoken word artist Charlie Dark and performance poet Patience Agbabi are – as we write – leading workshops to help the 16-24 year olds develop performance and presentation skills and give the tales a contemporary twist. Participants will come from youth groups around the capital including Southwark, which is of course a fitting nod to the starting and ending points of the pilgrims’ travels.
Other spoken word artists taking part include Malika Booker, Deanna Rodger, Rosie Knight and Nick Makoha – who have also been running sessions in the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Camden and Hackney.
So go down and support an event that reminds us another – the Hip Hop Shakespeare project by local boy (and Ms Dynamite’s bro) Akala.
