TIME TO READ

Charlotte Peters Rock

BIOGRAPHY

Born - Birmingham, England - 9th December, 1945.

Followed a number of occupations before beginning to write - and then perform - about 20 years ago.

Computer literate and able to design and update own web sites.

WRITING

Writes and performs poetry, poem-stories and song - based on many divergent subjects and around local and world history from the present to the distant past. Songs mainly based on Old and New English Folk song tradition.

Leading to invitations to:

1. create original writing around chosen historical subjects and places

2. initiate writing by others, of all ages and abilities

3. perform, before children, teachers, mixed-age audiences and international guests

4. teach the art of performance, to both children and adults

5. lead performances before teaching staff, museum staff and managers, Civic Dignitaries, and the press

6. design and exhibit her work in many venues, both as Framed Exhibitions and ’Poetry Explosions’

7. initiate design and display by students, of their own work

8. design and mount displays of her students’ work

9. promote and organise poetry events alone or with colleagues

10. work on Committees which organise literary and music events

11. write on The Art of Poetry in arts magazines

12. perform poetry and songs on local and regional radio

WEBSITE

charlottepetersrock.blogspot.com

GENRE

Poetry - World History - Song

PUBLICATIONS | PERFORMANCE HISTORY

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS OF MY POETRY, AT PUBLIC EVENTS ACROSS VARIOUS TOWNS AND CITIES, AS NAMED BELOW - usually consisting of a range of 6 - 32 different poems - chosen - and sometimes written - especially for public display at each particular festival. By agreement with owners of Public Buildings, prominent Shop Windows, Cafes, Information Centres, Arts Centres etc. my poems were displayed where the general public could read them, for at least one month at a time.

1995

1. October - Exhibited work as ‘The Poetry Explosion’ at 100+ venues all over Manchester City Centre - including libraries, Free Trade Hall etc. - a Manchester Poetry Festival Fringe Event

2. Also at 50+ venues all over Chester - a Chester Literature Festival Fringe Event

3. Also at 18 venues in Newcastle-under-Lyme - a Six Towns Literature Festival Fringe Event

1996

1. October/November - Exhibited work as ‘The Poetry Explosion’, at 100 public venues all over Manchester City Centre

2. Official Display Poet to Manchester Poetry Festival

1997

1. Exhibited work at 65 public venues in Buxton Town Centre, to publicise the festival - Official Display Poet to Buxton Festival Fringe

2. Exhibited work as ‘The Poetry Explosion’, at 50+ public venues all over Lancaster - for Lancaster Library Service

1999

Exhibited work as ‘The Poetry Explosion’, at 100 sites across the Borough of Conwy - Official Display Poet for Llandudno Festival Fringe

SPECIAL EVENTS

1997

Awarded the Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Bursary - in recognition of my poetry writing - and to further my display work, to bring understandable poetry to the general public.

1998 - 1999

1. For Macclesfield Museums Service - wrote and performed poetry and songs, based on The Marianne Brocklehurst Collection of Egyptology, housed in West Park Museum. Initiated writing and performance in children from a series of local schools.

2. Led children's performances before teachers, museum staff and managers, The Mayor and other Civic Dignitaries.

3. Also set-out , printed and published numerous bound copies of their work for presentation and sale.

1998

July - October

1. Creative Arts Partnership in Education Project (CAPE) - working with senior students at Egerton Park High School (now Arts College), Manchester, for CAPE.

2. Prepared 60 Year 10 Humanities students, to investigate and write around a Geography Project, as Resident Poet.

3. Accompanied them to Castleton, in The Peak District, where we studied the geography, history and mythology of the area, and specifically of Peak Cavern, where rope-makers lived and worked for 150 years, in spite of the fact that the whole cavern flooded to the roof, regularly.. The rope was for use in the local lead mines.

4. We wrote songs, poems and stories following the visit.

5. Introduced them to computer-aided design and display techniques and helped them to set out their work in a pleasing manner;

6. Organized and mounted a grand exhibition of all their work in the Amanda Jane Turner Suite.

7.Coached a chosen few in performance techniques, and led them in a performance for school staff and managers and international guests.

1998/1999/2000

1. Mythstories Museum, Shrewsbury - I gave performances of my poem-stories and songs, on various dates, at the museum, to museum staff and managers, and the general public. Poem-stories were taken from three of my poem series - 'Along the Silk Route' - 'Celts, Romans and Vikings' - 'American Time Slip'. .

2. By invitation, I gave performances of poetry and song, at various venues around Shrewsbury Town Centre, during the 'West End Words' Literature Festival.

2000

July

1. Stokesay Castle - for Shropshire County Museum Services - designed, wrote and performed my poems, stories and songs at a special event for English Heritage Week-end. This event was staged inside The Great Hall of Stokesay Castle; a fine Medieval Castle with a Jacobean Gatehouse. A mixed range audience was lead through the entire history of the castle, its inhabitants, its area and its relationship to English history of the times, from 1000AD to the present day, by the use of my original songs, poems and stories.

2. As a spin-off this work was extended into local schools, where pupils were also invited to write their own work and understand how medieval history related to the entire panoply of world history and their personal history. Again this was approached using poems, songs and stories, taking in Roman, Greek, Viking, Celtic and other periods.

SINGLE VENUE EXHIBITIONS OF MY POETRY- framed and unframed - mostly for one month at each venue - though some exhibitions were longer. In that case, the poems exhibited were changed each month. Each exhibition consisted of up to 300 poems - depending on the amount of wall space available. Each poem was chosen vary carefully with the consideration that all ages and kinds of people were likely to read it, during the month of the display.

1995/1996/1997

Long term framed exhibitions of my poetry, at various venues; changed every few weeks -

1. Telford's Warehouse, Chester;

2. The Hawk Inn, Haslington;

3. The Newton and Kings Arms, Middlewich;

4. The Frog and Tommy Duck's, Manchester:

5. The Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge;

6. Doctor Brown's, Huddersfield;

7. Oscar's, Macclesfield;

ALL EXHIBITIONS - BELOW - OF MY POETRY, in this section, were for one month. They were in Main Town Libraries, (unless otherwise stated), in Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and North Wales.

1996

(*By Special Request of Barbara West, Library Area Manager)

1. Poynton*; and - to celebrate National Poetry Day -

2. Alderley,

3. Bradford Central,

4.Congleton*

5. The Language and Literature Library of Manchester Central Reference Library.

6. A framed exhibition at The Pump House Museum of People’s History - a Manchester Poetry Festival Fringe Event

1997

This was a very busy year for mounting exhibitions - which I would not like to repeat. Venues included

7. Holmes Chapel*,

8. Wilmslow*,

9. Macclesfield*,

10.Glossop,

11. Wath-on-Dearne, Nr Rotherham

12. Sheffield City Centre,

13. Knutsford,

14. Crewe

15. Macclesfield.

To celebrate the month of National Poetry Day, I mounted 15 exhibitions of my poetry, across Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales, for the month, (up to 300 poems in each). They were at

1. New Mills,

2. Alsager,

3. Chester City Centre,

4. Middlewich.

Also, by request of Gill Entwistle, Lancaster Library Network Area Librarian - exhibitions at all 10 libraries in the Network, at 1. Lancaster Central,

2. Morecambe Central,

3. Bolton-le-Sands,

4. Carnforth,

5. Heysham,

6. Hest Bank,

7. Caton,

8. Halton,

9. Silverdale

10. Warton.

And at

11. The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno - a Llandudno Festival Fringe Event

During November, by request, I set up a second exhibition at

12. The Language and Literature Library, Manchester Central Reference Library - Manchester Poetry Festival Event (This exhibition was extended, by request of The Arts Librarian, into my third exhibition,

13. for the whole of December; with a complete change of poems).

14. I mounted a second exhibition at The Pump House Museum of People's History - Manchester Poetry Festival Event.

15. And another, which ran for two months at The Heritage Centre, Knutsford

1998

1. By request of Louanne Collins, Director of Macclesfield Museums Trust, and her Education Officer, I wrote poetry based on The Marianne Brocklehurst Collection at West Park Museum, Macclesfield; also it spanned the whole time - and place - of Ancient Egypt. It was exhibited as 'Marianne's Treasure Trove', and linked to performances and workshops, which I ran at West Park Museum.

2. This exhibition was extended for one month, at the same venue, into a new exhibition of my poetry, which was based on world history and archaeology. It was called, 'Out of Egypt and into History'.

I mounted further exhibitions at

3. Llandudno Central Library

4. The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno, as Llandudno Festival Fringe Events- for the month, in celebration of National Poetry Day.

1999

Yet another exhibition at The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno - a Llandudno Festival Fringe Event, (as above).

2000

And one more exhibition, called 'Inns, Chandlers and Undertakers', - with Alan Collinson - at The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno - a Llandudno Festival Fringe Event, (as above)

2001

Mounted a special exhibition of my poetry and songs at The English Centre, Saratov University, Volga Region, Russia. Called Poetry Explosion The Whole World Over, it ran for 6 weeks, from the 13th May.

2002

Exhibited at the National Association of Teachers of English Conference, Saratov Univessity, Volga Region, Russia, during January/February 2002.

OTHER EVENTS WHICH I ORGANIZED - AND SOME AT WHICH I PERFORMED

1995

1. Founder member of The Salt Town Poets

2. October - - organised and MC'd British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Stoke Poetry Evening at Shraleybrook - also performed

3. Organized and performed with two other North-West Poets at Dukes 92, (First Fringe Performance Event of Manchester Poetry Festival )

4. Performed at Selwyn's Poetry Fringe, Manchester - Poetry Festival Fringe Event

1996

1. Organized and performed at The Last Hour, Withington, Manchester - June/October - with our new group of Over the Road Poets

2. Performed my poetry and songs, at The Wilbraham Arms, Nantwich - a Nantwich Folk Festival Event

3. Organized Chester Writers and The Salt Town Poets into a public poetry performance, in The Grosvenor Centre, Chester. Also performed my own work. - a National Poetry Day Event

4. Ran a Poetry Workshop and Performance Event at Telford's Warehouse, Arts Centre Chester - a National Poetry Day Event

5. Performed for Chester Writers, at The Stafford Hotel, Chester - a Chester Literature Festival Event

6. A Winner of "Out Loud" A Performance Poetry Event, organised by Bradford Public Libraries - Judge, Ian McMillan

7. Performed my poetry at The Platform, Central Library, Bradford

8. Organized and ran a 12 hour Poetry Marathon, Parrs Wood, Manchester - for charity - with Manchester Poets and other poets of all ages. Publicised and ran the event, as well as performing - a Manchester Poetry Festival Event

9. Organized, and ran the event, ‘John Lyons and Local Poets in Performance’, at The Victoria, Manchester, as well as performing several times at - a Manchester Poetry Festival Event.

1997

1. Performed several times at Telford's Warehouse, Chester (Arts venue).

2. Performed at The Everyman Theatre Bar, Liverpool (Poetry venue),at The Irish Centre, Liverpool (Poetry venue),

3. Performed at The Bluecoat Gallery with Liverpool Poets

4. Performed with Puzzle Hall Poets at The Puzzle Hall, (Poetry venue), Sowerby Bridge,

5. Performed at Buxton Museum with The Milton’s Head Poets- for Buxton Fringe Festival

6. Organised (and performed my poetry and song),with Chester Writers and The Salt Town Poets, at The River Band Stand, Chester, as a summertime public performance

7. Studied poetry writing at Ty Newydd, Taliesin Trust, North Wales - with Kevin Crossley-Holland and John Lyons;

8. Ran poetry writing and performing workshops at The Cornerhouse (Arts Centre), Manchester.

9. Ran poetry writing and performing workshops around the costume displays at Platt Hall Museum Costume History, Manchester.

10. Organized and ran Manchester Children's Charity Poetry Marathon, Manchester, over 6 hours, at The Arndale Centre, Manchester. Centre, as a charity event - audience over 10,000.

11. MC'd (with help) and performed at little at this event. Other performers were Manchester children, whom I had encouraged by running free writing and performing events, at libraries across the area, in conjunction with Manchester City Library Services. They performed their own poems. Other performers were our special guests, Councillor and Mrs Carroll, The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Manchester, who each arrived with a poem to perform; Professor Cary Cooper of Manchester University of Science and Technology, who performed a selection of poems which were enhanced with visual aids; Mr Walter Kershaw, the renowned mural artist, who performed and stayed to draw other performers; Antigua Joe, poet and calypso singer, who sang and performed and was an indefatigable MC; Bernard Aaron, composer of classical music, who played for us; Michele McKay and Fran Devine, Education Librarians, who performed children's poetry and promoted the Manchester Library Services, to the general public, Peter Hood and Linda Edwards, folk singers; singers; Clive Hopwood, Storyteller; Levi Tafari, rap poet; and others. - a Manchester Poetry Festival Event

12. By invitation, ran poetry writing, performance and display workshops for local school children, at Buxton Library, Derbyshire, leading to a performance at the library and a schools display for National Poetry Day.

13. By arrangement with Chester City Council, I organized and ran a public performance event at The Town Hall Square and The Old Crosses, Chester, with other poets from Liverpool Poets, for National Poetry Day

1998

1. By request of The Chief Librarian, Lynne Jones, I ran a Creative Writing and Performance Workshop at Llandudno Public Library, North Wales - under Academi Cymraeg (the Welsh Arts Board) - a Llandudno Festival Fringe Event

2. Performed my poetry and songs at The Ocean - Lounge, North Wales Theatre, Llandudno; and at The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno, 3. Performed and ran parties for other performers.

4. Performed at two cafes and at The Belmont . Hotel, (for blind and partially-sighted people), in Llandudno - Festival Fringe Events

5. Organized and performed - with others - in a public poetry performance event on The Moor, in Sheffield; also entertained The Mayor and Mayoress of Sheffield - an Off The Shelf Festival Event

6. Organised and performed - with others - a public poetry performance event in Market Square, Lancaster - a Lancaster Lit-Fest Fringe Event

1999

1. By request, I performed my poetry and songs at The Victorian Extravaganza, Llandudno

2. Organised two Folk and Poetry Events - by request - at Nantwich Canal Boat Festival - Nantwich Boat Festival Events

3. Performed at The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno; and at a Le Café in Craig-y-Don; at The Library and The Belmont Hotel; in all giving 9 separate performances, two of which were large parties for performers, to celebrate the start and end of The Fringe - Llandudno Festival Fringe Events

2000

1. Invited back to perform at The Victorian Extravaganza, Llandudno.

2. Performed at a prestigious new literature festival in Knutsford, alongside authors such as P D James, Nina Bawden, Joanna Trollope, Margaret Drabble, etc - Knutsford Literature Festival Event

2. Performed at The Cottage Loaf, Llandudno, and organized two large parties to celebrate the start and end of The Fringe; also performed again at The Belmont Hotel - Llandudno Festival Fringe Events

2001

1. 8th - 22nd May - Saratov, Volga Region, Russian Federation

Invited to Saratov University, to conduct Seminars on English Folk Festivals, traditions of English Folk Song and dialect; and to perform and discuss my own Folk Songs and Poetry.

2. Conducted 32 hours of Seminars during one week.

Invited back to work with National Association of Teachers of English, at their Conference which will be held during January/February 2002.

3. 29th August - 5th September - Feldkirch, Austria

Invited to Speak on the British Foot & Mouth disaster and perform my song Foot & Mouth - Pie in the Sky at Mut zur Ethik Conference, held at Feldkirch in Austria. Wrote and sang 'Sweet Water' (about mis-use of the world's water resources) and 'Building Norilsk', (about slave labour used to build this Arctic City). Song, 'Foot & Mouth - Pie in the Sky' distributed freely to secondary schools throughout Austria and Germany, by Mut zur Ethik

4. August - Cottage Loaf, Llandudno - Performance

5. Market Drayton Folk Festival - Guest Performer

6. Zurich, Switzerland and Feldkirch, Austria

Mut zur Ethik Conference

7. October - Knutsford Literature Festival - organisation, publicity/ web site and performance. Worked with poet, Vernon Scannell, performing his poetry

8. Cottage Loaf, Llandudno - Performance

9. November - Wil, Switzerland

Invited to Mut zur Ethik Conference in and Germany,to speak on the situation of refugees - in particular in respect of Afghans - and to sing two songs about this, 'Afghans' and 'Don't Kill the Starving'

10. Ran Northwich Folk Club event

11. December - Cottage Loaf, Llandudno - Special Christmas Performance - by invitation.

2002

1. January - Saratov University, Volga Region Russian Federation

Invited to speak and perform my songs and poems and to discuss English dialect,for the National Association of Teachers of English (in the Russian Federation) Conference, at The English Centre, Saratov University, Volga Region.

2. Mounted display of poetry and song 'The Whole World Over', for the Conference .

3. By invitation, performed at several Saratov Schools and private lessons.

4. Performed Russian-history-based songs for the Gala Dinner on the Volga

05-09 February

4. Invited to speak to "Conference: Sharing New Information Technology for Museums "

5. Invited to set up a representative exhibition of my history-based poetry and songs for the Conference.

6. October - Knutsford Literature Festival - organisation, publicity/ web site and performance

2003

1. Victorian Extravaganza, Llandudno - Performance