Website: http://www.teesonline.org.uk/writers

With an eclectic mix of performance poetry and music, Stockton's Writers' Café is fast becoming one of the best nights out in the North East. LNE spoke to co-founder Paul Williams.

How would you describe the Writers' Café to someone who'd never been there?
I would describe the Writers' Café as an eclectic mix of poetry, performance, music and stand-up. You never quite know what's going to happen next! It's also a platform for up and coming local talent to try their stuff out in front of an audience. It's not just a show though, it's a gathering of like-minded people.

How did it all come about?
The Writers' Café began as an offshoot of the writers' group that I was running. The group contained some very talented people (poets and short story writers) who deserved to be heard. At that time there was nowhere on Teesside for them to go. I approached Arc with the idea for the Café and they went for it straight away. Coincidentally, they had been thinking of running a similar project for a while but they just didn't have time to do it. I had set up a co-operative called Concept to develop creative projects in the area and so the running of the Café was handed over to Concept. When my original business partner pulled out shortly before our first show it was suggested that I should bring in an older hand to steady the ship and Trevor Teasdel was one of the names mentioned. I had worked with Trevor in the old Outlet days, I liked him, trusted him, and knew that he had a wealth of experience. I got in touch with him and the rest is history!

How long has the Writers' Café been running now?
The Writers Café is now into its ninth month. It was a struggle initially - we haven't received any funding, but Arc have supported us as much as they can and now audience numbers are growing to supplement our core group, and the word is spreading.

What have the highlights been so far?
Highlights for me have been attracting the likes of Kate Fox, Keith Armstrong, and Karl Thompson to Teesside. But the most satisfying aspect is when a first-time performer comes off stage and says, `I've always wanted to do that.'

The Tees Valley seem to be somewhat of a creative hotspot these days. What would you attribute that to?
The Tees Valley has, I agree, become something of a creative and cultural hotspot these days. We have more writers' groups, performance nights and open-mic sessions than ever before. I think people's perceptions are slowly starting to change. The creative people have always been there, they just didn't have an outlet. That's one of the reasons I started the Café. I was working with talented people every day, who had no platform on which to perform. The Café helps them do that.

Are you going to keep running over the summer?
The Café will be open right throughout the summer with no break! We have been given dates right up until the week before the Christmas, so the future looks good. Next month will see spoken word performances from Michael Edwards, Katie Metcalfe, Alex Williams and Nick Toczek. There will also be music, and comedy.

How are you planning to develop the Writers' Café?
Future plans for the Café include developing workshops and taking spoken word performance into schools and colleges and a Writers' Café showcase which would tour other venues. A Café CD and anthology are also planned.

Dates for your diary: Writers' Café schedule 2005
13 July 2005
10 August 2005
14 September 2005
12 October 2005
9 November 2005
14 December 2005

First Floor Bar
Arc
Dovecot Street
Stockton on Tees
TS18 1LL
Tel/box office: 01642 525199