G.C. McRae

Readings

G.C.McRae is renowned in the Edmonton literary community as one of the liveliest and most engaging readers of both poetry and fiction ever to stumble onto a stage, chin first. His children’s poetry is addictive, refreshing and hilarious and will keep every child in the room glued to their seat and begging for more. If you are looking for an exemplar of how much fun words can be, G.C. is your man.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to the readings for students to purchase and have autographed.

Workshops

My current workshop is entitled, The Music of Poetry.

When it comes to play, words can be as fun as musical instruments. You don't have to be a virtuoso to explore or make a lot of noise. But apply one small structured element, like rhythm, and all of a sudden you have magic.

I provide a sensory-rich sandbox where kids can discover the shared basic elements of language and music - and join in that often silly game where the two are combined: poetry.

In my workshops, it is my job to make words irresistible. Teaching poetry can be difficult. But when it is presented as a game (especially when it makes an adult like me look ridiculous) it becomes a process of osmosis.

Through role play, the kids take on the musical character of vowels, consonants, rhythmic phrases and rhyming lines. Each element increases play value (like strings on a guitar) and expands the opportunities for exploration and expression.

The act of creation should begin and end with play. And if it somehow involves a grown man in a tutu, so be it.

Special Equipment:

A whiteboard or chalkboard.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to the workshops for students to purchase and have autographed.

Biography

G.C. McRae has been performing his poetry and fiction in schools, libraries and on stages all over Alberta for the last fifteen years. He served on the board of Edmonton’s Stroll of Poets Society for four years and is one of the Founding Fathers of the Raving Poets, an open-stage poetry-with-music event, which just had its 10th anniversary. His first book, The Cannibal Anacaonda, has just been launched in print and e-editions worldwide.