Ongoing

The mini series of poet interviews, conducted by Mike O'Brien and myself has finished, but you can still listen (podcast) at: https://alexanderderyecroft.substack.com/

Rehearsals remain ongoing for the pan-arts project, which I can now name as "ZAGDEGRA".

I have been very lucky to have various people accept their invitations to join the Zagdegra project. Mike O'Brien (60 Odd Poets) has taken the rôle of narrator, Chivonne Barrington Head reads the part of Jane Nettleton. Once our show is finished, guests will be welcome to perform acoustic (preferably original) music or read their poetry (original again please). Just one caveat - nothing miserable please!!!

For the performance of the live and recorded versions of the instrumental music, we have:

Chivonne Barrington head on flute,

Gary Wells on Bass Guitars,

Alan Jackson on Keys, Acoustic Guitar and special effects

Myself on electric and classical guitars.

The show will comprise the opening ceremony for the exhibition. The recorded version will be available to pre-order some time in 2026. We will extend invitations to book a slot at the open mic, and orders for recordings and booklets should hopefully be hosted on this website.

Chivonne and Mike read thier poetry around South Yorkshire venues, with Mike hosting his excellent 60 Odd events at Mexborough Business centre. Gary Wells plays rock MOR covers regularly with Steretonin around South Yorkshire pubs/clubs. Alan Jackson has his own youtube channel and recently prepared this: https://youtu.be/tKgrSVbfOHk?si=Y9jEavPxiNyZTRhA

So to my collection of poetry: I've struggled with what to call it, trying to be professional and avoid contention. Of course we cannot do that, and if I go back to an early source, including Aristotle, we cannot but agree that it is free verse.

I've had some work accepted for online publication with 60Odd Poets and The Starbeck Orion for 2026

I've had an Honourable Mention from Dark Poetry on Wharncliffe Chase

I'm sort of enjoying substack but like all social media, it feels like a political comment-ridden race to get the most likes (and I'm not winning - but I realise my own self-effacement isn't a great promo tool). 

I'm trying Allpoetry but it's  still just poets reading poets and one wonders - who the hell else reads poetry anyway? Well, I got another hhonourable mention there too and some of the feedback is useful.

The Artist Profile has been filmed and edited by students from Sheffield Hallam University. It is available on vimeo, which I found difficult  to access but I got there. It's in this link: 

vimeo.com/1188418734?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci 

As I prepared the script for Zagdegra, I found a renewed interest in submitting to publishers. This is encouraged by my inclusion in the Figtree Anthology, 2024, Old Crooked Spire Press run by Timothy Fellows. He has been busy with this new venture and the Coal Mining Anthology is doing well. I should at this point mention that Mike O'Brien's 60 Odd Poets also has an array of publications vaunting poets from the UK and US

Should anyone have a query of some sort, by all means let me know via captaincatschat@gmail.com

Meanwhile if you crave regular reading of prose and poetry, I regularly publish articles on a variety of subjects on substack - follow this link:

https://alexanderderyecroft.substack.com/

Thank you for being here,

Alex Oliver, July 2026