Last night was the second run in of our new night at the Arena Theatre. Arena Nights is a PAYF event focused on learning performance pieces, showcasing new work, and is rounded off with the performance of a full fringe show, with all money collected on the night going to the headline artist.
After several poets dug into their noggin to recall and recite their work – including an excellent piece about a River Monster in the Tyne – we then had a 10-minute extract from Daron Carey’s play, “Last Orders.” This was a fantastic piece full of rich language and inventive metaphors. If you get a chance to see Daron’s work in full then remember, you only need one kidney. You can sell the other one.
After the interval, the main performance was John Biddulph’s show, Gallimaufry. The title reflects the content, which was a collection of poems and stories gathered throughout his professional life as a musician and psychologist. Highlights of the show, delivered with poise and warmth, included a poem that was both written and performed in Middle English, and a separate piece focused on the experience of tinnitus.
Next week we’re back at the Arena for the last PASTA of 2025. The dates for Arena Nights and PASTA in 2026 will be released shortly. So sign up to our newsletter to find those out. In the meantime, get some ten-minute sections of your new show ready, memorise a few poems, and maybe even polish off that script for the Fringe performance you’ve always promised yourself you’ll do, and we’ll see you in 2026.
