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Brand New Ancients

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Brand New Ancients

By: Kae Tempest
Narrated by: Kae Tempest
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Kate Tempest is one of the most exciting and innovative performers to have emerged in spoken-word poetry in many years; her dramatic poem Brand New Ancients won the prestigious Ted Hughes Prize for innovation in poetry. Tempest’s wholly unique blend of street poetry, rap and storytelling – combined with the spellbinding delivery of an open-air revivalist – has won her legions of followers all over the UK. Her remarkable stage presence is wholly audible in this poem, a spoken story written to be told with live music.

Brand New Ancients is the tale of two families and their intertwining lives, set against the background of the city and braided with classical myth. Here, Tempest shows how the old myths still live on in our everyday acts of violence, bravery, sacrifice and love – and that our lives make tales no less dramatic and powerful than those of the old gods.

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Critic reviews

breathe[s] new life into old classic forms . . . a long poem about us and the gods that's all high-kicking verve and long-range understanding. I loved its vision, powerful and merciful. (Ali Smith, Books of the Year)
All stars
Most relevant
Or in the car (without wine).
You'll have a mighty fine time.
My review rhymes.

Listen to this with some wine.

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Blown away by this. Fantastic work by Kate Tempest. Settle down to listen to this is one session, you won't regret it.

Wow, just...wow!

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Kate is fantastic at what she does, if you like poetry with a modern twist this will be right up you street and she tells it so bloody well.

Kate's style is gripping.

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This was a remarkable, humane and raw narrative of anthropology and the human spirit told with precision and grace in abundance.

Soul food of the purest kind

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You can tell when listening to this audiobook (play), how much it is costing Tempest emotionally to perform. As well as telling a story that captivates, the play also holds a mirror up to society and forces us to stare at it in all its beauty and ugliness. The characters are messy and complicated, profound and pathetic; all of which is set up in the preface which labels us all gods. Kae’s mastery of lyrics, combined with skilful delivery, is profound. Their collection of poems ‘Hold Your Own’ shows the level to which they are inspired by Greek mythology, all of which shines through in this work.

My recommendation would be to find the time and space to listen to this the whole way through without interruption. Allow yourself to move with the emotional and lyrical cadence. It will have an impact that will stay with you long after you’ve finished listening.

Powerful performance

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