The Disparate Housewives

Stella Mandella andJackie Saphra - poetry duo - performing as The Disparate Housewives, have performed all over the Uk and at Write Angle, most recently in the Poetry Cafe, London, and at the Glastonbury Festival 2008.

Stella Mandella is the performing name of Elaine Crinnion, BA (hons) in English and creative arts, founded wordclub - poetry workshops for kids - in 2005; MCs, and also publishes children's poetry booklets. (CRB certified.)

Liz Bentley

Liz Bentley began performing on stage as a Brownie Guide in Ralph Reader Gang Shows in and around Southend-on-Sea in Essex. She left the world of performing to play in psychedelic bands and to travel and work at Gumbi Records.

After training and working as a therapist for some years and starting a family, Liz took up novel writing. After rejection upon rejection, a literary agent suggested her book would work better as short stories. Her partner suggested she take a story and read it at an open-mic event. That week, she found such an event in Deptford, read out a story and people laughed — a lot. Liz was booked for a paid gig two weeks later and so on.

Five years on, she has performed with rave reviews at the Ledbury Poetry Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2004 with Rachel Pantechnicon and 2007 solo show "I've Only Got Myself to Blame"), Birmingham, Reading and Brighton comedy festivals .... to name but a few. She has become a favourite at cabaret events such as Finger in the Pie at Madame Jo Jo's and has been commissioned by Sundown Poets, Southend-on-Sea to write and perform at events sponsored by the Arts Council. She has programmed and co-produced events for Steam Control and Steam Pressed Poetry at RADA and Peckham library.

Using her work experience and personal history of mental health and having multiple sclerosis, Liz has had the pleasure of tailoring sets and performing at Bonkersfest, Mad Pride, Liberty disability festival and BBC Ouch podcast. She has also performed at therapy conferences e.g. Association of University and College Counsellors and Southwark Mind.

Liz is now working on her new book and 2008 Edinburgh show.

Awards include Short Fuse's Poetry Idol and she is the only ever winner of Poetry Idol - The Rivals.

"Bentley is beguiling.... Such an exhilarating experience" Chortle

“Like a female Ivor Cutler” The Scotsman

“Definitely one of my Fringe highlights” Three Weeks *****

For more information, visit Liz Bentley's website.

Singer, dancer and musician, Hannah has been touring with world-music choirs Village Harmony and Northern Harmony since she was 10, in England, USA, Caucasus Georgia, Africa, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy and Austria.

Hannah. 22, works professionally as an accordionist, flautist, singer and performance poet (gets a kick out of playing harp, guitar, recorder, percussion, baroque flute, double bass, ‘pots n pans’ and most anything she can get her hands on). Her passions include contact improvisation, belly dance, Chantraine, morris dance, authentic movement, circle dance, Alexander technique, yoga, contemporary dance, various healing arts, and traditional dances from around the world.

Hannah trained in Actor Musicianship at Rose Bruford College, and has done Natural Voice Teacher Training and apprenticeship with Frankie Armstrong. Also, Non Violent/Compassionate Communication, which encourages empathy, connection and harmony. A Natural Voice Practitioner (www.naturalvoice.net), she runs empowering and inclusive group and individual voice workshops.

As a musician, actress, musical director and composer, Hannah has enjoyed wide experience in the theatre world, amateur and professional - at indoor and outdoor performance venues such as Newbury’s Watermill Theatre, Singleton’s Weald and Downland Museum, Chichester Festival and Minerva Theatres, St Cuthman’s School in Midhurst, Brighton’s Komedia Theatre, East Grinstead’s Chequermead Theatre, and schools and village halls across Sussex and Brighton. She has shared her poetry and passions with Tongues and Strings of Chichester, and Tongues and Grooves of Southsea.  

You might also have caught her busking in the streets of Brighton..