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The National Theatre Live screening of the new play 'Prima Facie' by Suzie Miller in Woodbridge's Riverside Cinema last week was extraordinary.

Sold out weeks ahead, the audience was wrapt throughout the two hour, one woman performance and broke into applause at its conclusion.

Jodie Comer played the part of a criminal defence barrister who is forced to see proceedings from a different perspective as events unfold.

She was phenomenal, barely drawing breath throughout the performance. She ran the gamut of emotions, moved the furniture, ate, drank and changed her clothes on stage, and endured a rain storm. And we were completely gripped by all that she was and all that she said.

Beyond the personal drama, there was a strong message behind the play which has been written by a former barrister. It sought to highlight the failings of the legal system in tackling sexual assault in particular, but spelt out a salutary message that in any trial, there is no real pursuit of 'truth'. Ultimately the jury is swayed by the most persuasive storyteller, whether that is for the defence or the prosecution. 

We all have stories to tell - to others and to ourselves - and this is explored in the memoir by Tanya Shadrick 'The Cure for Sleep' (scroll down for more details). I was fascinated by her roles as writer in residence at a swimming pool, but also a hospice. Here people, when confronted by the end of life, displayed an urgency in sharing their stories and, once done, were very much at peace.

We draw on our life experience in all sorts of stories and our book group discussion tomorrow evening will explore how Elspeth Barker's childhood informed her novel 'O Caledonia'. If you'd like to come along to the meeting, please let me know by replying to this email and I'll send you the details. 

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Thank you to everyone who came along to hear Sarah Langford speak about 'Rooted' the other day. I understand some of you are well into your second reading of the book! I hope that you're enjoying some good conversations as a result. There's plenty in it to set us all thinking and talking.

So I was interested to read a blog by the American author, marketeer and businessman, Seth Godin a few days ago who commented about the value of books in encouraging debate.

"Books used to be a solitary endeavour," he says. "Ironically, it took...the noise of the web to flip that idea upside down.

"Now a book is a totem, a chance to share, an item to be discussed, a physical instantiation of an idea that can be drawn on, exchanged or simply sit on your desk.

"Because the book is complete, coherent and represents a moment in time. Because a book can create a conversation and an event." 

We'll be taking part in another conversation in a week's time when it's our monthly book group meeting, the last one of the summer. We'll be discussing 'O Caledonia' by Elspeth Barker on Monday 25th July. If you'd like to come along, please let me know by replying to this email and I'll send you the details. 

Thank you for reading.

This week we've witnessed the first steps in a change of leadership of the government: it looks unlikely to be a quick or easy process. But there has been a quieter and more straightforward succession in the world of literature in the past few days, as the latest children's laureate has been announced.

Taking the post for the next two years is Joseph Coelho, a performance poet, playwright and author of picture books and verse novels for children aged three to 13. He is the 12th author to take on the role.

Past laureates include, most recently, Cressida Cowell who has championed school libraries during her tenure. Others were Michael Morpurgo, Quentin Blake, Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson, and many more familiar names.

For Coelho, he hopes to use his profile to promote the power of poetry and "build the nation's library membership".

Prior to lockdown, in a Library Marathon, he joined 140 libraries out of 209 authorities. Now he says he has 70 left to do and on each visit he performs poems and stories, talks with staff and borrows books. The events seek to encourage local people who haven't joined to do so, and those who've already joined to borrow more books. 

He also wants to encourage children to see themselves as writers, poets, illustrators, and storytellers. 

And, in getting the nation writing and performing poems, he hopes to reclaim the term poet. "So often poetry has been 'done' to us," he says, "we've taken on poetry's baggage ... the notion that a poem has a right and a wrong way to be read, to be analysed, to be written. How could that ever be the case when poetry translates the soul." Exciting times!

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This weekend has been dominated, one way and another, by coverage of the Glastonbury Festival, taking place after a three year hiatus. With enthusiastic crowds and headline acts, it's been declared a great success and an indication that things are finally back to normal.

Yet other smaller and newer festivals have had to be cancelled due to lack of support, and others have had attendances lower than in previous years.

While many people are eager to do all the things they used to do, there's no doubt that others are more hesitant and, with the cost of living and covid cases both on the rise, there are practical reasons why some people are unable to participate in social events as much as they may like. 

Though the arts, theatre, performance, music and entertainment may seem peripheral to life when times are becoming harder for more of us, we mustn't forget how much they contribute to our sense of joy and wellbeing. And if we don't support the people putting on these enterprises now, they may not be there for us when things become more straightforward again.

The coming weeks see many local events taking place which boost our communities, reduce the need for travel and are often very competitively priced. I hope you will consider supporting them and book your tickets in good time so that the organisers are confident of going ahead with their plans. 

We can be informed, entertained and inspired by Sarah Langford on 8 July (see below), find out more about the writing of Rupert Thomson, whom we discussed in book group this year when he visits Suffolk Book League in Ipswich on 14 September, and delight in a great programme at the Lavenham Literary Festival in November. There are riches in store!

And tomorrow it's book group! So let me know by replying to this email if you are planning on coming along and I'll make sure the coffee's on and the chairs are out, and we can enjoy sharing our ideas about 'The Blue Book of Nebo'. I look forward to seeing you soon! 

Thank you for reading.

There's been plenty of talk about food this week - the obesity crisis, the cost of living crisis, the supply crisis, the food poverty crisis. And the White Paper which was supposed to have provided a plan for these issues has been condemned by the government's lead policy adviser Henry Dimbleby. Good news all round then. 

So I'm pleased to say that Sarah Langford's own investigation into food and farming, 'Rooted', does offer insight, vision and hope. As she embarks on publicity for the release of the book, speaking at festivals all over the country this summer, she will be joining other pioneers and ambassadors for change and perhaps offering direction and leadership that isn't being seen elsewhere.

She engages a fascinating and energising debate and I hope you'll join me in meeting her when she visits us in Woodbridge at the start of her publicity tour on Friday 8 July. More details below. 

And while you have your diaries out, don't forget that it's the Felixstowe Book Festival next weekend on 25-26 June where, in the packed programme, you can hear from novelists Carol Drinkwater and Stella Rimington, learn about the memoir of 'Today' presenter Justin Webb, and hear an account of the extraordinary yachtsmen volunteers of World War II with Julia Jones. 

Then on Monday 27 June at 8pm we have our monthly book group meeting. It has come round very quickly! If you'd like to join in the discussion of 'The Blue Book of Nebo'. please let me know by replying to this email. I look forward to seeing you soon! 

Thank you for reading.