Songs My Enemy Taught Me
Joelle Taylor
Engaging and representing the voices of vulnerable women across the UK
Songs My Enemy Taught Me was a series of participatory workshops led by Joelle Taylor inspired by, and in turn inspiring, the creative process for her poetry collection of the same name.
The sessions worked with groups of vulnerable women across the UK, allowing opportunities for these women to create original poetry, tell their stories and find their voices. The poems they created form part of an online archive of women’s socio-political experiences - from sex work to single motherhood, seeking asylum to surviving rape.
Joelle's collection - reflecting her own experiences, but also inspired by these women's voices - was published in July 2017. It was launched with celebratory events for workshop participants at major spoken word nights across the UK, giving workshop participants a stage alongside headline poets, and celebrating their work.
“These poems of witness are a reckoning, where the poet says - woman I am you, I see you, I feel you.”
Project credits
Poet and workshop facilitator: Joelle Taylor
Producer: Tom MacAndrew
Editor: Sabrina Mahfouz
Commissioning Editor: Anthony Anaxagorou
Songs My Enemy Taught Me Tour
Australia & Singapore, 2018-2019
In August/September 2018 Joelle Taylor took Songs My Enemy Taught Me on tour, visiting Australia and Singapore. During the trip Joelle ran workshops engaging women’s groups and marginalised communities; as well as performing at Queensland Poetry Festival, Horizon Festival and at local slams and events.
This project was delivered in collaboration with Australian producers Writers Republic, and made possible with support from the Arts Council and British Council.
Australia, 2019
In early 2019 Joelle returns for gigs at Adelaide Writers Week, and in Sydney, Sunshine Coast and Canberra. For more details or to book Joelle for an event, please get in touch.
Joelle talks to Myf Warhust about the tour on ABC radio
Tour Schedule 2018
August
22 - Ruckus Slam, The Zoo, Brisbane, with Hollie McNish
23 - Queensland Poetry Festival, Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane
26 - Horizon Festival workshop, Solbar, Maroochydore
28 - Bankstown Poetry Slam, Bankstown Arts Centre, Bankstown
29 - Word Travels, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
30 - Alternator Poetry , The Dust Temple, Gold Coast
September
1 - Horizon Festival, The Bunker, Eumundi
5 - Sing Lit Station workshop, Jalan Kubor, Singapore
6 - Spoke & Bird, Circular Road, Singapore