Radio Wildfire, 3 September 2012
Radio Wildfire is a wonderful radio station, especially for lovers of
the spoken word. Its monthly shows feature a pot-pourri of interviews, comments, poetry-readings, extracts from fictional
works and drama, performed by a variety of artists from all over Britain and elsewhere. Although based in Birmingham, its
scope is potentially limitless. The whole mix is linked by Dave Reeves, a presenter whose enthusiasm communicates itself
throughout the whole two-hour long programme.
This month's edition featured readings from Kenton Field, Gail Ashton, Bryant O'Hara
and Madison Shadwell (amongst others), a short play from the Bunbury Banter Theatre Company entitled Happiness
by Jack Williams, plus an interview with poet Simon Fletcher, who had been to the Oslo Festival in the wake of the Anders
Behring Breivik tragedy. The interview offered a fascinating insight into Breivik's mind, as well as offering the kind
of first-hand reminiscence of how a city adjusts to a tragedy of such magnitude that is often painfully absent from most news
reports.
I really liked the short play Happiness - set in a dystopian world of the
London suburbs, it contrasted a government-sponsored campaign to spread Happiness throughout the country with the immediate
feelings of a male protagonist trying to make sense of a difficult relationship. Although only twelve minutes long, it packed
an emotional punch often absent from many lengthier works.
re: Lit has something for just about everyone interested in the spoken word.
I recommend listening to it - the next episode is broadcast in the first week of October 2012.
