One of the most well known figures in the island’s poetry scene is getting together a group of his closest friends for a night of tall tales and verse in a Douglas pub.

Pullyman, who may be better known to some as Michael Cowin, has been entertaining the masses for many years, either week after week through his regular slots on Manx Radio or right here, in the Manx Independent, or during his many appearances in some of the poetry open mic nights around the Manx pubs.

Once in a while, he collects some of his favourite poets together for a special night of performance, under the name ’Pullyman and Friends.

This time, after scaling the dizzy heights of performing to a sold-out Gaiety Theatre, he will be bringing his show to the smaller confines of the Embassy Room, above the British hotel, on North Quay, Douglas.

Michael, along with the show producer Hazel Teare, will bring together eighteen local poets under the one roof to read a selection of original material in an event to be held on Sunday, September 30, from 7.30pm, which is part of the forthcoming Manx Litfest.

There will also be, what Michael described as ’a bevvy of Bards’, featuring all three Manx Bards, Stacy Astill, John ’Dog’ Callister and the latest Bard Sara Goodwins.

Special guests Phil Gawne and Annie Kissack will take turns in reading out selected pieces from the first Manx Bard, T.E.Brown.

Also featuring are Georgia Lisette, Bill Strutt, Kevin Rooney, Jeff Garland and Carole Ellis, who performs as ’Mrs Yorkshire, The Baking Bard’ and Bill Quine.

’In the past, Pullyman and friends have been very humorous,’ said Hazel, who is also going read some of her own works.

’However, this one will be quite eclectic because, as we are part of the Manx Litfest, we have tried to mix the content up a bit.

’We asked people to bring their more artistic material along.

’There will be humour too, but with a better mix of the serious and thoughtful thrown in too.’

’It’s to show the depth of quality and variety of poetry there is in the Isle of Man,’ added Michael.

Tickets for Pullyman and Friends cost £5 each, and are available from the Villa Marina box office. Proceeds will go to the Parkinson’s Disease Society Isle of Man and to the Alzheimer’s Society Isle Of Man.

by Mike Wade

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