Virginia Betts is a tutor, writer poet and actor from Suffolk. An eternal optimist and mid-life-creative advocate, she’d like to point out that it’s never too late to live the dream. And with this month’s blog, some ink to inspire and ignite your creative fire.
March was such a busy month, and it looks like April and May are also shaping up to be another couple of months of creative colour. I have just come to the end of the first run of Pat and Ron: Writers in Crime which was about the relationship of Suffolk writer Ronald Blythe and Patricia Highsmith, who famously wrote The Talented Mr Ripley. As Pat, my part was a hefty one; I was onstage for the entire play, recorded a voiceover and did a little mime/song routine. But as I always say, all acting is teamwork, and we are all cogs in a well-oiled wheel. I have been doing this sort of thing since I was 11, but I had quite a long time away from performing when I was a young mum, apart from a a couple of singing performances. I have been coming in at 10.30pm, eating one meal a day, not really seeing anyone, not able to read any books because I absorb words too easily and can’t get distracted, and basically not really shedding the persona for the whole rehearsal period; I think it can be quite an incompatible line of work when you have a young family. Luckily, I have a grown-up son and a very understanding husband who runs through lines with me and is very tolerant for the period of schizophrenic intensity that takes over whilst I am in role. That’s just the way I like to work, and I hope that doesn’t sound pretentious, because I thoroughly dislike drama queens! I really enjoyed it all and hopefully it will go on tour in the autumn.
So now it’s back to my books for a while. I’m determined to complete my Punk novel by the end of the summer, and of course I have a second poetry book out in May called That Little Voice. Here’s a preview of the cover, and it will be illustrated inside:
That Little Voice by Virginia Betts: Art by Lynn Stuart; Publisher: Anxiety Press. (released date TBC for May).
But I can’t keep away from the theatre entirely, and I have co-written and directed a one act play which will be produced at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester on 12th May. The project is called 5th August 1986, and each writer has written a scene based on a song in the charts that day. How they interpreted the song is up to them, and the play is tied together by a family in the present. It promises to be a great 80’s theme night and could almost be called an ‘event’ or ‘happening’ in that there is a play, but also music and the chance to wear 80’s style and enjoy the decade. You can book tickets here.
Further to this, you will have a chance to hear some of my poetry at a ‘3 Poets’ evening at the Two Sisters Arts Centre, on June 28th as part of the Felixstowe Book Festival and you have a chance to meet me there with my books. I was one of the winners of the short story competition in 2023 and this festival is a really interesting event with lots to offer, including writing workshop, and talks by authors and agents.
There are a few other literary events coming up that might interest you too:
Poets of East Anglia promises to be a great event if you are into poetry and interested in writers from Suffolk. Amy Wragg has another Words and Verses event coming up on the 2nd May, there’s a An Evening of Words and Music event at the Two Sisters Arts Centre 22nd May, and Justine de Mierre’s Lady J’s Summertime Marvels returns to the Two Sisters Arts Centre June 21st. There are so many talented artistes springing from Suffolk in the past and present – it really is a vibrant creative epicentre.
And also in May (10th and 11th) the Suffolk Poetry Society is holding its annual festival. I’m a member and trustee of this society, and I caught up with Festival Director, Colin Whyles, to explain a bit more about the festival, what the Suffolk Poetry Society is, and who it is for.
Colin, can you tell us a bit about the Suffolk Poetry Society?
It started twice in a way! It began as the Suffolk Poetry Club in 1928 and then broke for the war and re-started as Suffolk Poetry Society (SPS) in 1952. We can claim to be probably the oldest poetry society continuously running in England, possibly in Britain. In 1954 we started the George Crabbe Poetry Competition, and this year is its 70th anniversary. We have a twice-yearly magazine called Twelve Rivers which has a wide circulation, including to all members, all Suffolk libraries and the British Library. It is quite prestigious and known to be one of the best poetry magazines in circulation – if your work appears in it you are definitely a published poet. Ripples is the online magazine which was introduced during the pandemic. We have always had a winter workshop, I know you, Virginia did one on poetry in performance last year, and it was at my suggestion that we started our own poetry festival 10 years ago, which is located at the John Peel Centre (in Stowmarket) every year. We are proud we still held it online during the pandemic and there is still a popular online day. We have currently reached the first issue of volume 15 of the Twelve Rivers Magazine which goes to print before the festival. If you decide to join the SPS you will receive your copy and you can read my article on the poetry of Music Hall!
Who can join the Suffolk Poetry Society and who is it for?
Anyone can join – not just Suffolk residents – we have members worldwide. It has never been specifically aimed at writers but it sems to attract writers and many members are published authors. However if you appreciate poetry in any way it is for you. It is a way for writers to meet other writers and share ideas and learn from each other as well as share their work. There is no age criteria to join the society and it is beginning to attract a variety of younger members of late; everyone brings their own unique take on poetry and an eclectic palette of poetry to the table. Our current Patron is Luke Wright who is well known for his poetic performances
What happens at the festival?
The festival this year marks its 10th anniversary. The online day is on zoom and there are three events: a workshop with Sue Burge, Poetry on the Wing about all ‘winged things’ in poetry; Under the influence is reading your own poetry which is influenced by famous poets and discussed, followed by an open mic event where you can share your own words. On Saturday, live at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket, we have two invited headline poets, Annie Freud and NW Bewick, who will run workshops and close the day with readings. The rest of the day is given to SPS poets. Roger White and Sheila Lockhart support the headline poets this year and the society president, George Szirtes, is doing a close reading of a poem, and I am doing a presentation on AI and creative writing, which may be surprising!
Where can people get tickets to the event and where can they follow the Suffolk Poetry Society on social media?
Buy Tickets here.
Follow us: INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK
Full programme of Society events can be found here.
Books to read in April:
Poetry: Ten Poets showcases poetry from ten Suffolk and Essex writers and is compiled by Sudbury Poet, James Domestic. Earth Island Books and Amazon. It includes many local performance poets such as Amy Wragg.
Young Adult Novel: (and also for adults who like to stay young!) Angels, by Rachel Churcher, is an LGTBQ coming of age novel and Rachel is celebrating its place in the finals of the Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
Hide and Seek: Julia Blake. Part six of the Blackwood Family Saga from this local author! This one is about a war photographer who becomes a target, and I want to read them all!
The Odd Wolf: L.L. Graham It’s a werewolf tale with a twist!
The Talented Mr Ripley: Patricia Highsmith. If you have never read her work, start here. Bang on trend with the new series, Ripley, on Netflix too featuring the amazing Andrew Scott as Ripley the psychopathic social misfit you can’t help loving.
Strange Fascination; Bowie, the definitive story, by Daniel Buckley. The clue is in the title. And it’s a fascinating read.
Coming in April, our mini-interview will feature Alexandra Carey on her book, The Light That Bends Round Corners and I will let you know how I got on with my theatre project, and whether my novel is finished, plus more insight on local talent and events, with cracking ideas to get you going on your own projects.
If you have always had an ambition to write, there’s no time like the present to get scribbling. I have written stories from a very young age, three or four in fact, and I have talked about my first ‘book’, sellotaped together, many times. I was delighted to have recently discovered it! My parents have kept literally everything I ever did, and it has revealed several gems from childhood, as well as many vintage toys and items of clothing, old concert tickets and such like. To me, my old written work is priceless, and it made me realise I was always destined to be someone who created with words. I didn’t even think about publishing my work until many decades later, because I always assumed it would take years and that the doors would be closed to me, but as a late bloomer, I most certainly urge you to re-visit your youthful dreams and ideas and if there is something you always wanted to do, well, just get on with it! In the words of my recent characterisation on stage, ‘You just gotta keep at it’.
Love,
Virginia.
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Virginia has written numerous articles and fiction, as well as two books, The Camera Obscure and Tourist to the Sun, with a third and fourth coming soon.
Feel free to contact Virginia if you have a great creative suggestion, venue or activity!