©COPYRIGHT CATHY GRINDROD // ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015
Please see below for details of my poetry collections, plays and memoir.
I am an experienced speaker, and am available for readings and talks about my writing life.
These can include:
+ Reading from my poetry collections and talking about the background to the poems
+ Talks about my playwriting and extracts from the plays
+ Talks about the experience of writing the libretto for More Glass than Wall, with musical excerpts
+ Talks about the role of Derbyshire Poet Laureate with poems about Derbyshire
+ Saying Yes: a talk about facing challenges, and the rewards of leaving your comfort zone, with excerpts of my writing
I have delivered talks and readings in many contexts, including theatres, writing groups, reading groups, community groups of all kinds, after-dinner gatherings, WI, Wellbeing Groups, Women’s Groups and many others, and am happy to tailor events to your own requirements.
MY WRITING
POETRY
COLLECTIONS
Click the book covers for sample poems
Something the Heart
Can't Hold
Poems about, among other things, love, elocution, the amaryllis, a local murder, loss and ducks. + REVIEWS
+POETRY NOTTINGHAM
PUBLICATIONS (2003)
Still Breathing
A sequence of poems about the life, death and loss of a father. + REVIEWS
+FIVE LEAVES (2006)
Fighting Talk
+HEADLINE (2005)
Laureate Lines
A collection of all the poems written as Derbyshire Poet Laureate. + REVIEWS
+DERBY COUNTY COUNCIL
(2007)
The Sky, Head On
Poems about a range of subjects, including school, Wordsworth, Byron, buses, cappuccino and shaving off beards. + REVIEWS
+SHOE STRING PRESS (2009)
COMMISSIONED POEMS
I have written a number of commissioned poems for organisations including Derby Quad, Derbyshire County Council, Sheffield Bank Street Arts, CILIP, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Arts Development Group, Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and Belper Poetry Trail.
A selection of commissioned poems
Cathy Grindrod's poem 'Vital Valley' has been added to the railings in Calder's Corner at Bridgfoot
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Click the poem title to view
Vital Valley – poem for Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and Beth’s Poetry Trail, Belper
On Tibshelf Mobile Library – poem for World Mental Health Day and National Poetry Day
Today – Poem for World Mental Health Day
Home – Comissioned by President CILIP
Editor's Prayer – Comissioned by Derbyshire County Council
Paper Caper – Comissioned by Derbyshire County Council
While - Commissioned by Derbyshire Arts Development Group to celebrate the breadth and diversity of the arts in Derbyshire
+CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Many thanks for your fantastic poetry. I know that we all enjoyed listening to you and were very pleased to have your support at our event. -GG, DCC-
PLAYS
PLAYWRITING
Always in the Afternoon
Originally produced as a prizewinning monologue by New Perspectives, and performed at Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham and at Aslockton – later developed, and an extract showcased at Curve, Leicester, with the fully developed play performed script in hand at Derby Guildhall Theatre in 2011, directed by Tilly Branson.
Swing
Performed at Create Theatre, Mansfield in April 2015, dir Chris Neil, produced by Palace Theatre Mansfield/Write Track.+ REVIEW
Just Cuckoos
Produced by New Perspectives, directed by Theresa Keogh, performed at The Old LIbrary Theatre, Mansfield, and at Gotham Memorial Hall, in July 2016.
Short Plays
Witness
Runner up in the New Perspectives Playwriting Competition, performed as part of an ensemble in various venues in the East Midlands in June 2012.
Taking It Like A Woman
Toured three venues as part of the Played In initiative (Write Track/First Art) in September 2016.
Libretto
In collaboration with composer, James Redwood, I wrote the libretto for the oratorio, More Glass Than Wall, about the life of Bess of Hardwick. It was performed at Hardwick Hall, Derby Assembly Rooms and Buxton Festival.
I also worked with six Derbyshire schools, with pupils who contributed songs for the final performance and creative writing for the book and DVD, More Glass Than Wall. The piece was nominated for a BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Year Award.
OTHER WRITING
+WRITING WITH DERBYSHIRE SCHOOL
CHILDREN
+HARDWICK HALL PERFORMANCE
Click to listen to audio from
More Glass Than Wall
My Memoir
I am currently in the process of writing a memoir, having received an Arts Council England Time to Write Award in 2015.
An interview about my writing this was featured in The Daily Mail in November 2014.
