Congratulations to Owen Atkinson who was inaugurated as the Seventh Manx Bard on Sunday 29th August. We caught up with Owen for a Q+A to hear more from the new Bard.
"A very worthy winner with so much talent! We are very excited and wish owen all the very best during his tenure!"
Bridge Carter
Q. Tell us about yourself, what is your background in the arts?
My background in the arts comes from so many different angles ー if we take it back to childhood, for example, I took drama lessons at Broadway Theatre Company, practised ballroom dancing with Killey Dance Academy, and played clarinet and saxophone in the Manx Youth Orchestra. There are so many organisations that help kids to get involved in the arts on the island, but not as many for young adults. I’m 24 now, and since returning to the island after university 18 months ago, I’ve had to create my own opportunities.
Over the past year and a half, most of my creative energy has been channelled into drag: as Fenella Beach, I combine all my different creative passions and pursuits. I’ve always enjoyed mixing artistic mediums, and, in my performance, I mix lip sync and dance with spoken word and poetry. I curate and headline a regular drag show at The Bridge where I perform with a different guest every week, and I get involved with other shows and venues when I can.
I’ve been slowly getting involved in the island’s poetry scene, and I’m excited that, as the Manx Bard, I will now have the platform to help expand it.
Q. How did you first get into poetry?
My mum writes a lot of poetry, so it’s always been in my blood. She’s always been a huge inspiration to me, and she even helped me edit one of my poems which made it into my application.
I wrote a little when I was at university in Bristol ー I actually started writing my first proper poem sitting in bed after the breakdown of a very short relationship (I’m not sure he would have even called it a relationship, but that’s a story for another day…) I debuted that poem at an open mic night in Bristol and caught the poetry bug.
Q. What does the medium of poetry and spoken word mean to you?
Poetry is a way of getting out my feelings; nothing more, nothing less. If someone else gets something out of it, that’s almost secondary ー I write and I perform for me. I think that’s how everyone should create.
Q. What inspires your writing?
Anything and everything that influences my emotions: a view across a valley, the smell of rain, the look in someone’s eye… It might be a bit of a cliche for an island-based poet, but since moving back here 18 months ago, I’ve been frequently inspired by nature. Generally, I’ll note down a line, a mood, a feeling or a few words in the moment. That’s usually enough to (hopefully) be able to create a poem out of later.
Q. Why do you think having a Manx Bard is important?
Historically, a bard was respected as the keeper of stories. Centuries ago, when literacy wasn’t as wide spread, this in reality meant the keeper of history. Today, the role has evolved, and I am sharing a legacy ー as well as, of course, a passion for the written word.
Ultimately, I see the Manx Bard as being about the promotion of the poetry and the arts to a wider audience. Poetry can be loved, appreciated (and written!) by everyone, and it’s my job as the Manx Bard to show that.
Q. What inspired you to enter the competition?
I’m generally not one for forward-planning or complex consideration with this kind of thing; quite simply, I saw the advert, thought it looked like something I’d want to do, and went for it. My friend and fellow poet Jackie Morrey-Grace also helped convince me to apply. I did, and here we are!
Q. How did you feel when you won?
I genuinely didn’t expect it: the panel during the audition (mostly made up of previous Bards) did well to keep their poker faces! I was overwhelmed mostly, and am still sitting in that emotion. It’s slowly sinking in.
Q. What’s next? What do you hope to do with your role as Manx Bard over the coming year?
I’m still getting to grips with it, so I’m not announcing any specific projects yet ー not until I have time to digest it and fully understand my remit. Of course, I’ll keep up some great traditions already established: attending events around the island, and writing a regular column in the Manx Independent (second Sunday of every month, first one out Thursday 9th September.)
I think poetry mixes so well with other forms of art and performance, and I’m excited to continue to blend the boundaries. Everything I do over the next year will involve pushing poetry into as many formats and spaces as possible ー including (and especially) those which you wouldn’t necessarily expect.
Q. Where can we follow along your Manx Bard journey?
Everything is on the Manx Bard Facebook page, which shares all the official events I’ll be attending and projects I’ll be undertaking.
