“Be careful, it’s contagious” a Civil Servant “Enigmatic, enlightening, a bit of sparkle juice for your day”. a Graphic Designer “I found it worked particularly well with St John of the Cross” a Hermit “If you believe you have no interest in poetry whatsoever…then I challenge you to one evening with Ms de Nordwall. Sarah’s poetry is not one-sided, it is a conversation evoking a response from the audience/listener in a way that will leave you laughing, thinking and wondering to yourself…could I? a Direct Payment Support Adviser and artist “Hilarious and thought provoking observations on life, relationships and the universe…” a Marketing Manager at the London Stock Exchange The day I met a hermit who said, that one of the highest forms of contemplation was spinning round your room listening to your favourite music, was the day I’d found a spirituality I could relate to. But he, like many of the lighter winged creatures, could flutter his way over the abyss with a deceptive ease. He taught me, though, that ‘ease’ was permissible and a marvelous place to begin. And that is where the writing of poems comes in. Like parachutes for the soul, they let you down more gently than perfect freefall, but have an innate and mischievous way of depositing you in some challenging crevices or dangerously near the edge of precipitous overhangs… But there, of course, is where all the fun begins… Sarah a bard with a bard school

Sun 27 th & Mon 28th August 2006 Artist Biography At New Forms Café Sun at 6pm , Mon at 5pm The Bardic Calling If you would like workshop details for: Businesses Schools and Colleges Creative work in the Community Churches and Interfaith settings Please email us at the bardschool on info@bardschool.co.uk

..

Once upon a time the Bard or court poet was worth the King's ransom. His commission was to speak truth without fear, and to entertain everyone from the peasant to the King. To make this task easier, in 8th Century Ireland, they had Bard Schools – to teach the poets to be as astute as they were spiritual, to be improvisers as well as "living libraries of cultural knowledge" and to have “the virtues of all classes and the vices of none”!.

12 years ago I began to wonder how one could become such a bard, and whether it would be possible to found such a bard school. “

A few years working (and performing poems) at the BBC taught me that bards were still required to turn the tables and awaken some fresh creative energy.

These days, as well as performances of my shows, in delightfully varied venues from rehab units to the civil service, I also offer bespoke creative writing workshops for individuals, groups and teams.

Parties and celebrations from 100th birthdays to weddings can have a unique poem commissioned and performed. Charities have used my poems for lobbying parliament and raising awareness of their cause.

Clients have included

• 4 Open House parties for an Architectural firm in Central London, when they opened a new office
• the Teaching Development Agency for a Learning at Work week,
• financial advisors who wanted to bring creativity and more personal reflection into the environment,
• 2 Carmelite monasteries who love a good party,
• 1 rehab unit for ex-prisoners and ex-addicts, where an immense amount of talent was just waiting to be released,
• 2 hen parties, 3 weddings, a 40th a 60th and a 100th Birthday party
• 2 International Conferences on Arts and Social Change - one in Switzerland and the other in Pakistan,
• Several gigs supporting signed bands, dozens of schools, support units, youth clubs, front rooms, radio shows, offices parties, faith events
• and creative collaborations with academics, singers, visual artists and fellow poets, who were all a great and varied joy to work with.

All creative collaborations are welcomed and considered! If you would like a performance, a commissioned poem or workshop then do mail me at sarah@bardschool.co.uk and I look forward very much to meeting you.

There is also a regular Bard School for creative artists who wish to train as Bards in the Roman Catholic tradition at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, The Grotto Club, 24 Golden Square, London. Nearest tube Piccadilly Circus - enquiries for workshop subjects for the present Season to sarah@bardschool.co.uk.

Tel: 07849 641 899
sarah@bardschool.co.uk