Hurricane Boy

Polka Theatre
11 October 

There was a boy,

and within him, a storm

that made him scared
to sleep. He ran to the sound
of raindrops on the roof
and rivulets of water
on the walls.

He lived alone until

one day a girl, a butterfly,
a glimmering of hope ran
through the door, like a moment
of quiet on a busy day,
insects in the meadow,
sunlight shining on a forest floor.


Hurricane Boy is on tour until 1 November 2015

Farinelli and the King

Duke of York's Theatre
3 October

If you asked me I'd go
without a glance,
give up this life of cloves
and oranges laced in a crowd
at dusk, the scent of roses
crushed, perfume
to the world's applause.
I'd stay forever
in this hide of trees,
a songbird singing
to the stars alone.
With the world as my witness,
my voice, your loveliness.

Farinelli and the King runs at the Duke of York's Theatre until 5 December
www.shakespearesglobe.com
 

Mouthful

Trafalgar Studios

11 September

Organica

by Pedro Miguel Rozo

translated by Simon Scardifeld

She put her savings

into earth, and now she fears

what is buried there.

Chocolate

by Bola Agbaje

The cocoa farmer

who does not know what they make

those bitter beans into.

 

Bread on the Table

by Lydia Adetunji

He bought a loaf, too small

to feed them all, but all 

he could afford.

 

Photo: ©Richard Davenport 2015

The Protectors

by Clare Bayley

These are potatoes

growing wild, all but forgotten,

fabled, forbidden.

Try Me

by Poppy Burton-Morgan

and Dominic Gerrard

He would scuttle

if he could

across your tongue,

the smooth-talking

cricket.

Photo: ©Richard Davenport 2015

16 Pounds

by Neil LaBute

Water welling, spilling,

sliding down her gullet,

icy in her gaze.

Turned

by Inua Ellams

A woman, once a wife 
and mother, now alone;
stoical by her stove.

Mouthful, by Metta Theatre, is a collection 

of six short plays and a musical, responding 

to the global food crisis.

Mouthful runs at Trafalgar Studios until 3 October

Theatreland

Exciting news! Theatreland, a collection of some of the best Haiku Review poems, is now at the printers!
 

It's available for pre-order from Indigo Dreams and Amazon. 

 

 

 

The cover image is a beautiful shot of Orlando at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester (photo credit: Jonathan Keenan Photography). It was so hard choosing just one of the shows featured in the book to go on the cover - I love them all! - but this one I think really conjures up something of the magic of theatre. 

One of the loveliest parts of preparing the collection was receiving some amazing testimonials. Here are a few that I particularly treasure...

Having joyfully followed #HaikuReview on Twitter I am delighted to read these thoughtful, witty and incisive poems in a volume. In this unique meeting of poetry and theatre, Sophie Reynolds has brought her brilliant skill and talent to offer intelligent and passionate insights into some of our most thrilling recent theatre productions. 

Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director, Royal Court Theatre

 

Sophie Reynolds captures something of the fleeting experience of watching theatre - crystalizing character or capturing an atmosphere with evocative economy. These poems are miniature celebrations of the magic and mystery of that ephemeral art form ... impressionistic gems that serve as happy reminders of – or introductions to – some of the best plays to grace British stages in recent years. 
Holly Williams, Arts journalist 

This fresh, evocative collection of poems by Sophie Reynolds is a must-buy for every theatre lover, actor and director. It reveals to the reader the plays from the outside looking in, as well as the theatre from the inside looking out.
Lucinda Hawksley, Author

The Encounter

Edinburgh International Conference Centre
10 August

The forest comes in thick;
the light goes quickly
and the trees are suddenly
too close, their breath
hot on your face,
your throat dry and the river
out of sight.
It is a nightmare
that you cannot wake
or flee from; teeth, smoke,
screaming, flames in your head
and words that were not uttered
but you hear them plainly.
This is reality. Weak.
Despairing. Half-dead. Dreaming.
Wake. And take the long walk back
to the beginning.

The Encounter runs at the Edinburgh International Festival until 23 August
http://www.eif.co.uk/2015/encounter#.VdCyTUp4WrV

Against Captain's Orders

National Maritime Museum
9 August

Here's to adventure!
A crew, strong and brave,
and a room full of treasures
recalled from the waves.
And here's to loyalty,
friends fine and true,
who will never desert us
whatever they do.
And lastly to stories,
the old and the new,
the ones we have heard
and the ones we'll live through.


Against Captain's Orders by Punchdrunk Enrichment 
and the National Maritime Museum runs until 31 August

http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/events/against-captains-orders

The Motherf**ker with the Hat

National Theatre
3 August

Downtown,
upstairs,
in bed,
a bullet hole,
a hat.
Crack
on the table
and a web of lies;
a fight,
a baseball bat.


The Motherf**ker with the Hat runs 
at the National Theatre until 20 August

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-motherfker-with-the-hat?play=2