Ceri May @ Y Tuesday, Three Kings, 22/03/11

This interview was conducted by myself on behalf of the organisation, Little Episodes

“I see your breakfast

Nervously, I kiss my lips

Now, I cannot eat.”

A haiku about egg and soldiers.

“What I think Little Episodes has created is a very dynamic community, where creative spirit can really thrive in a safe and supportive space. In terms of me as a poet with a slightly turbulent past, the opportunity to be part of an organisation like this is both uplifting and inspiring.”

Ceri May is the Doc Martens wearing, soup making, zine writing philanthropist who will talk to you about feltographs until she goes blue in the face under her bouncing red hair.

Well known throughout London for her invigorating poetic performances delivered with a Durham twang, Ceri started her literary career at a young age, “I wrote my first story aged 3, it goes as follows: "Pop little girl pop. I don't care if you pop or not". I illustrated it too. I think it's really quite profound, a sense of Henry Miller-esque excess but also a kind of joyful nihilism, no?”

A small note of interest, if it wasn’t for Ceri, I wouldn’t have discovered Little Episodes. It was at one of Ceri’s gigs at The Camden School of Enlightenment, where I was first told about Little Episodes.

Ceri carries her passion for mental health and creativity throughout both her professional and personal life, “I do a lot of work around raising awareness of mental health issues and trying to diminish stigma associated with these issues; throughout this work I've come across so many positive examples of people using creative expression as a way of understanding and nurturing themselves.”

Ceri added, “Also, I really feel very strongly that creativity is salient to life, that the process of making things keeps us well.”

Ceri has worked on many established poetry nights throughout Greater London such as ‘Y Tuesday’ in Clerkenwell and ‘Catweazel’ in Kilburn, whilst also performing at many more. Her dynamic performances and ability to wax lyrical about most subjects under the sun mean that she is sought after. The process of creating and performing has helped her battle her own demons.

“Creative life has been a vital part of maintaining/fixing/mixing up my own mental health. I have a lot of respect for Little Episodes. Both creativity and mental health are real passions of mine.”

She cried the first time she saw the painting, Around Her, by Chagall. Her favourite poem is April Fool Birthday Poem for Grandpa by Diane di Prima, which ends with the line: "we do it for the stars over the Bronx/that they might look on earth and not be ashamed".

She writes, she inspires other people to act positively and she works with children. All round good girl, maybe, intelligent, thoughtful and a writer of great skill, definitely but in her own words…

“Mostly I like to make a mess.”