5th member of a string quartet - out with the Mavrons.

A gala concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on Saturday. Here is the outside of the theatre in the foyer, which I always think looks a little like the bridge of a spaceship.

The concert was organised by Live Music Now, a fantastic organisation who put talented young musicians together with audiences who don't usually have access to live music, and the concert was a showcase of some of these performers.

I was there with the Mavron Quartet, who were playing a piece by Peter Reynolds called footsteps quiet in the shadows. The title came from a poem of mine, and I read the poem before the quartet played, and after Peter introduced the piece.

Here we are in the very posh dressing room before the performance.

I saw this photo a moment or two after it was taken, and wasn't concerned about being so old (the quartet are very young and energetic), but wasn't too sure about my great big head. So when I found myself alone in the dressing room, I took one photo to make me look as though I am tall and my head is the right size, and another to remind myself that, if nothing else, I have character.

The Mavron quartet played brilliantly, and the whole evening was hugely enjoyable.
www.mavronquartet.co.uk
www.livemusicnow.org.uk/wales

Poetry. Richard Booth's Bookshop, Hay on Wye

I have some poetry seed packets for sale in the renowned Richard Booth's bookshop in Hay on Wye!

It's an impressive venue.

My poetry seed packets are upstairs in the beautiful room that looks like a film set.

You'll need to look for them as they are very discreetly displayed, near the till.

On Wednesday 10th December there is a concert at the bookshop given by the Mavron Quartet. One of the pieces on the programme is a new piece by Peter Reynolds which takes its title from a line in one of my poems in the Mythical Beasts collection, footsteps quiet in the shadows. I am going to read the poem before the Mavrons play the piece. After the concert I am hoping that some of the discreetly placed poetry seed packets will leave to take root in other homes!

Richard Both's Bookshop, telephone 01497 820 322
www.mavronquartet.co.uk
http://petereynoldscomposer.blogspot.co.uk/