Poet David Eggleton inaugurated as New Zealand Poet Laureate at Matahiwi Marae near Clive, Hawke's Bay. Photo / Paul Taylor
Poet David Eggleton inaugurated as New Zealand Poet Laureate at Matahiwi Marae near Clive, Hawke's Bay. Photo / Paul Taylor
A poet laureate, a storyteller and a musician "Say it with Flowers" on a tour across Aotearoa this November, brought to you by Arts on Tour New Zealand.
Backstage Pass is bringing the tour to Waipā - the show at the Cambridge Town Hall is on Thursday, November 19 at 8pm and the Te Awamutu show at The Woolshed Theatre on Saturday, November 21 at 8pm.
In this travelling poetry and song cabaret show, David Eggleton, the official Poet Laureate of Aotearoa, presents his own wry, comic take on Kiwiana, alongside stand-up storyteller and former Bard of Christchurch, Steve Thomas. These two veterans of the performance poetry scene in New Zealand are accompanied by master musician Richard Wallis.
Say it with Flowers is a title inspired by the English artist Banksy's famous wall image of a youthful masked flower thrower, flinging - not a Molotov cocktail, but a colourful bouquet of flowers, representing our common hopes for the peaceful resolution to the global issues of our time.
On this tour, the performers will throw words, sometimes barbed, and often beautiful, or beautifully barbed, with a similar aim of emphasising our common humanity.
There is a rumour (fake news?) that this internationally recognised graffiti artist might join the entourage, but as no one knows who he is, it may be hard to identify him in the crowd.
David Eggleton is well-known as a poetry performer since the 1980s.
He first gained attention as part of the punk rock scene, performing alongside New Wave bands on the pub and cafe circuit.
A South Auckland pathfinder, his Pasifika heritage and passion for performance has led to poems that are dramatic, lively and featuring a strong oral and rhythmic quality.
Poetry reviewer Alan Loney wrote in New Zealand Books: David Eggleton is unique in New Zealand in his chosen mode. And he is to be valued for that.
David now lives in Dunedin/Ōtepoti. A writer and critic and winner of many national awards, he is the former editor of Landfall magazine.
The New Zealand Poet Laureate is a poet appointed by the National Library of New Zealand to represent New Zealand's community of poets and to advocate for poetry in the community as a public good during their tenure as Laureate.
The Laureate receives a tokotoko, a Māori ceremonial walking stick, carved by the Hawke's Bay master carver Jacob Scott, upon their appointment.
The tokotoko is paired with the matua, or guardian tokotoko which is retained and displayed by the National Library to signify their joint guardianship of the award with the Ngāti Kahungunu.
Based on the tradition of the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom receiving a "butt of sack", the New Zealand Poet Laureate also receives a stipend of wine from Te Mata Estate.
Steve Thomas was raised in Cardiff in Wales, downwind from a brewery and a pickle factory and the legend of Dylan Thomas.
Steve Thomas "The Bard" in a scene from "The Good the Bard and the Bubbly."
Educated at Brunel University in London, he performed on the same stage as the Moody Blues and Fairport Convention.
He later performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
"A lively display of versatility delivered with style... Steve does some brilliant send ups," said The Scotsman reviewer.
In New Zealand in the 1980s, he presented the poetry cabaret shows Pink Bits and Over the Wall and Out at rock festivals and on TVNZ.
More recently, he has been the promoter and general manager for Arts on Tour, providing a wide range of theatre and music acts across New Zealand, as well as regularly appearing as a performance poet and raconteur.
Richard C Wallis is a Dunedin-based musician and classical guitarist.
Musician Richard C Wallis.
He has a background in punk, pop and rock, but began studying classical guitar at Otago University in the 90s and says it has given him the freedom to play a number of styles to suit mood and audience.
Richard has released his own music, as well as collaborating with a number of artists - including with David Eggleton on the 1993 album Poetry Demon.
