CREATIVE TEAM
BackABOUT MICHAEL PEDERSEN
Born in Leith, Scotland - Poet, script editor.
Michael Pedersen is a 26 year old writer of Scottish stock, having grown up in Edinburgh, between Leith and Portobello.
Works and Warbles
His inaugural chapbook Part-Truths (Koo Press) was listed by the Poetry Book Society and was a 2010 Callum Macdonald Memorial Award finalist. His sequel chapbook The Basic Algebra of Buttering Bread (Windfall Books), takes the reader on a journey from Caledonia to Cambodia embracing the sinister, the sanguine, the spiritual and the surreal. It has already started to gather award nominations. His first full-length (part-illustrated) collection has been commissioned by Red Squirrel Press, with Kevin Cadwallender as editor, and is due for release later this year. The poems touch on myriad themes including folklore, fairytales, fantastical reveries, nuances in nature, societal befuddlement and altruism.
He is also widely published in magazines, journals, e-zines and anthologies, including: Popshot; nth position; Markings; Northwords Now; Cadaverine; Pomegranate and Square.
Michael has galvanised an electric reputation on the live circuit - collaborating with musicians, filmmakers and artists. Inter Alia, he produced his own show The Word Trumpet at the Edinburgh Festival; and has performed at the Edinburgh Word Festival; Hidden Door Festival; The Golden Hour; Forge of the Wordsmiths and Poetry at the GRV. Allied to this, he delivers spoken word alongside hit Celtic folk band Emelle and London- based singer-songwriter Billy Page.
History
Michael completed University in Durham and Nottingham and then spent some time working in London (most notably for the Wellcome Trust). For a year following that he was self-exiled in Cambodia - teaching English and Creative Writing, learning Khmer and assembling script.
Since returning he has been working for Theatre Workshop Scotland (under revered Director Robert Rae) and launched (along with co-captain Kevin Williamson) Neu! Reekie! collaborative arts night. Neu! Reekie! has quickly become one of Scotland's most formidable arts events - showcasing an avant-garde ensemble of poetry, music, film and performance - in a cabaret-esque fashion. The night has earned a reputation for ruffling feathers and tingle-toes in the same big glittering gesture and will be touring around the UK throughout 2011/2012.
He has recently completed a series of short plays he is hoping to take to stage later this year - more on this soon.
The Future
Michael notes: that meeting Bréon and bringing this production to fruition will no doubt be the acme of my artistic career to date - the auspicious forces that brought myself and Bréon together is one of my best kept secrets and one I'm not likely to give-up without ferocious probing. The magical mantra and colourful crescendos that this project proffers has the power to cause tectonic shifts in music; theatre; film and most importantly the human psyche. I'm thrilled to bits to be part of the troupe - Bréon is every man's luxury soap swiped from a posh hotel.