Being Human

Okay so it's called 'Being Human' has a cast of three, two men, one woman, all young and charismatic,  and, yes, most of the action takes place around a kitchen table, but a closer look reveals that neither of the male leads is a Vampire, nor indeed a Werewolf, and though the female lead does at one point find herself wrapped in a white sheet, and has indeed a beautiful haunting quality about her, she is certainly not a ghost, and this is not a theatrical version of that wonderful TV show, but an altogether different creature.

The title in this case comes from the final volume in a trilogy of books, each a collection of poems edited by Neil Astley, and published by BloodAxe Books. These anthologies have caused a revolution in poetry, showing that the much maligned literary form could be as accessible, entertaining and as relevant as its more popular counterparts. If there were still those who thought poetry to be, stuffy and incomprehensible, and best read allowed in the well modulated tones of a 1950's BBC newscaster, their numbers were dwindling fast in the wake of these books.

This powerful piece of theater, is the latest step in bringing these poems, and poetry in general, to a wider audience: It's cast: Benedict Hastings, Elinor Middleton and Barrett Robertson, have real chemistry, and bring the poems to life wonderfully. Everything from the direction, set design, sound design and lighting serve the work perfectly, nothing overwhelms the spoken word, only compliments and enhances.

We are taken on a journey from birth to death, and everything in between, vividly, with humour, drama, and lots of soul. Being Human is a great piece of theater with a big heart, and an even bigger mission, one that it seems to be succeeding in. I can't recommend it more highly.

Tour information can be found here: www.livepoetry.org

Creative Team

Being Human – Poetry in Performance is produced 
by Midland Creative Projects (Jonathan Davidson) 
and Bloodaxe Books in association with 
The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, with funding support 
from Arts Council England.

Being Human is directed by Steve Byrne (Interplay, Leeds) 
with sound, lighting, video and design from Derek Nesbit, 
Janet Vaughan and Arnim Friess (Talking Birds) and 
technical/tour management by Alison Willcox.
Performers are Benedict Hastings, Elinor Middleton 
and Barrett Robertson.  

Benedict Hastings

Elinor Middleton

Barrett Robertson

The Assistant Producer is Antonia Beck. Tour Booking and 
Marketing is handled by Sharon Foster.

The performance text uses poems from Bloodaxe Books 
anthology, Being Human(March 2011). The poems
have been selected with the support of their Editor,Neil Astley 
and the performance concept has been developed with support 
from their Executive Chairman, Simon Thirsk.

This is the third poetry performance produced by Midland Creative 
Projects using poems from anthologies published by Bloodaxe Books
(the previous ones were Staying Alive, 2003; Being Alive, 2005 and 
Changing Lives, 2008/9).

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