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Take five poets, give them a brief, send them to a retreat and see what they can produce. This was the idea behind a project organised by r:evolve and Apples and Snakes.

Five artists were chosen after going through a competitive application process and commissioned to write in response to 'things that can't be said'.

The five chosen to take part are drugs counsellor and lecturer Cheri Gillings (who's a poet, painter and songwriter by night) Vincent Gould a teaching assistant and youth group leader, Mich茅le A.L. Barzey a library assistant and Anglican preacher, Shaun Welch a spoken word artist and workshop facilitator and published poet Marcia Calame.

An inspirational retreat

The group were taken to a retreat where they could meet each other and focus on the project.

At the retreat

Shabina Aslam, a director of spoken word, theatre and radio drama, is directing the production that will be shown at four theatres across the region.

The artists will perform an ensemble of stories using music, movement and sound, creating a visual tapestry of love, life and relationships. Each event will be introduced by a local guest poet.

Marcia Calm told us about her involvement with the project.

Marcia's journey

"I applied, with a slice of chance, went through the audition and was later told I have been selected along with four others.

"I felt nothing at first - the excitement didn't even seep through. Then I began to realise that I was on the road with those who would guide me and show me how to shine.

Marcia Calame

"We were five strangers shaking hands with each other and saying hello. From that moment on, I realised that I was about to embark on a brand new journey.

"We were taken to a relaxed rural retreat. We were given a choice of rooms, a choice of food and a choice of minds.

"We had a number of intense exercises. As the days went by my strength of thinking and style of writing began to change and I was able to find this inner ability to be more disciplined.

"I was able to develop timescales, thoughts and ideas in a systematic way as well as making it more enjoyable which is the main thing.

"In the peaceful surrealness of the retreat, I was hooked on writing. At times I couldn't stop until I had to. That was the beauty of the retreat though, the free flow of my mind.

At the retreat

"At this point my outer shell of my performance piece took shape.

"The next journey took us to the Master Classes. We were given a set of exercises and thought provoking sessions and at the same time got a closer relationship with writing and each of the poets.

"During these sessions, I felt I could do so much more with my writing, especially towards my performance piece. I then had to plan my piece and write the significance of my version of 'Things That Can't be Said' to shape the body of the plot.

"It didn't always run smoothly, in fact it drove me through every emotion possible. Though writing is a joy, it does have it's off day just like anything in life. I felt each character involved in my story, set the scene and made every step a reason. This is especially important for me when I deliver this on stage.

Vincent at a r:evolve event. Pic: Paul Tristram

"Believe me, this was such an emotional yet exciting experience more to the point, I feel much stronger.

"Now my version for 'Things That Can't be Said' is complete. Let my inner show begin."

Things That Can't Be Said premieres at mac on Friday 1st February. It then tours to Norden Farm 2nd Feb., Arena Theatre 6th Feb. and The Glasshouse on 7th Feb '08.

R:evolve and Apples & Snakes

r:evolve is led by the Arena Theatre, mac and Black Country Touring. It is a theatre development programme for Asian, Black, Chinese and more recent immigrant communities and refugee status artists resident in the West Midlands.

Apples & Snakes produce new work with emerging artists. Education is at it's core, working extensively with schools, prisons, libraries as well as with more traditional arts venues.

See more about r:evolve and Apples & Snakes from their own websites.