Featured Reader Jane Metcalfe + Open-Mic on Zoom

Joins us for our regular monthly Poetry + Spoken Word Open-Mic on Zoom. Each month we have a Featured Reader who presents a selection of their work for around 20-25 minutes, followed by an Open-Mic where all attendees are welcome to read a piece of their own writing: a poem, a selection of prose such as a short story, a play, monologue or novel etc.

In Feb, we are joined by Jane Metcalfe.

Jane began her working life in a variety of jobs, as night-club hostess, antiquarian bookseller and record shop assistant, before discovering she could sing. After studying at the Royal College of Music, Jane pursued a successful career as an Opera singer, notably as a principal singer with the D’Oyly Carte Opera and major opera houses in the UK. Following a brush with cancer she changed direction for a few years, working as an advocate for holistic approaches to cancer. She taught singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for 30 years, working with students of acting, music therapy and performance and communication skills.

As writer and community workshop leader in East Sussex Jane has facilitated numerous creative reminiscence projects, written plays and monologues and led writing workshops. She is co-founder of The ParkinSongsters, a choir for people with Parkinson’s. From an early age she has had an abiding interest in all matters pertaining to consciousness and has helped teachers in this field from America and England to present their work in the UK and Ireland. Jane has an MA in Creative Writing from Sussex University. She has one son and lives opposite the sea in St Leonards on Sea where she teaches singing and writes.