Fra Beecher and The Warden work together on creative workshops. To give you an idea of what they are like, here is the blurb from our recent event, Drawn … to Spring.

‘A new session, for a new season. Blending life drawing, live music and poetry, ‘Drawn to… Spring’ will reflect on the end of Winter, and celebrate the beginning of Spring.

Words, music and poses will respond to the shift in season, attendees will be invited to participate by drawing, sharing a piece of writing or by simply enjoying the performance. No previous writing or drawing experience is necessary. You may feel inspired to create works during the session, but there is no requirement to produce anything.

How it unfolded

At the start of the session we invited participants to write down words and phrases and put them in a bowl (I would create an improvised song with these fragments during the interval).

Every attendee received a handmade zine containing spring-themed poems selected by myself and Fra. The session alternated between readings of the poems, movement poses and still poses, which I accompanied with improvised music.

After the interval I performed the brand new song to the room. It was fun to watch people’s reactions to the lines as their words and ideas were reflected back to them. More poses, drawing and writing followed, then I closed the session with a few of my original songs which drew on nature, spring and memory.