Writer · Performer · Meta-Poet
Shakes · we / us · The Port Poet
I’m Shakes, the Port Poet. Playful poems, funny moments and performances that invite the whole room in. Rooted in Ellesmere Port; made for communities, families and curious people.
From the performance catalogue
Some poems begin with a poet.
This one opens out into the room.
Recent performance · Mayer Hall
Exhibition Launch · Events 471
Mayer Hall, Bebington
Shakes performed at Mayer Hall with Untamed Words—their second piece for Mayer Hall and Events 471, following The Tide Writes Cursive.
An opening night of poetry and entertainment, organised by 471 Routes CIC.
Past event detailsParticipation in Untamed Words is always an invitation. Watching silently is equally welcome.
Performance poetry · Improvisation · Audience co-creation
Shakes combines performance poetry, improvisation and spontaneous storytelling. The audience helps shape what happens next.
The Greatest Poetry of All Time (G-POAT) explores an idea: the making of the poem is the poem.
Watch Shakes on YouTubeButton image: portrait of Shakes.
A work-in-progress performance, approximately 13 minutes.
Watch on YouTubeUse YouTube’s caption controls where captions are available. A verified transcript is not yet available.
UNSPOKEN WORD · A performance series
USPKN-0001(signed and spoken)
A short participatory performance by Shakes, responding to Untamed: Freedom.
Shakes performs largely or entirely without speaking. Cue cards and gesture invite the audience to become the voice of the poem.
Words do not have to obey the poet.
Blank cards let audience words and ideas enter the developing poem. It begins with Shakes, then gradually belongs to the room—with gratitude, solidarity, equality, inclusion and playfulness at its heart.
Participation is always an invitation. Watching silently is equally welcome. If the room stays quiet, the poem can continue without anyone being put on the spot.
A cue-card assistant holds the stack, reveals one card at a time when Shakes indicates, then places each used card in the prop basket. Shakes directs; another person physically releases the words into the room.
A chair on stage makes a seated performance possible while keeping Shakes visible.
A simple non-visual participation route is being developed with the event team. Shakes does not claim BSL fluency.
A piece to take away
USPKN-0001-A01A neon-yellow paper/Tyvek band: a free souvenir, a catalogue artefact, and space for a word or mark of your own. Wearing it is entirely optional.
Artwork shown; the finished print may vary slightly. The QR opens Shakes’ Instagram. The barcode records the artefact code.
Film · Games · Experimental theatre
Selected earlier work · credited as Steve Jackson
Play official trailerFeature-film debut · 1993
Sheriff Adams
Credited as Sheriff of Lake City
Shakes’ debut feature-film appearance, credited under the name Steve Jackson, in Trey Parker’s first feature with Matt Stone—before South Park. Shakes also sings in the film.
Filmed in 1993; released by Troma in 1996. The soundtrack is listed under Trey Parker. Check current UK streaming options.
Live-action game performance · 1995
NSA Man
Gremlin Interactive · PC CD-ROM version
Shakes performs in the filmed cutscenes for the PC CD-ROM edition of Jungle Strike, the sequel to Desert Strike. The cast credit names Steve Jackson as NSA Man.
Part of the 1990s wave of games that brought live actors into the story through full-motion video.
The intro includes other performers; a reel of Shakes’ scenes is still being prepared. This credit relates to the filmed PC scenes. PC CD-ROM edition in the Computing History collection.
Experimental theatre · 1994
Guest performer
Forced Entertainment · Manchester Central Library
Shakes was a guest performer in Dreams’ Winter, Forced Entertainment’s first major site-specific performance. Directed by Tim Etchells, the work unfolded among the books and readers’ tables of Manchester Central Library.
The company’s archive lists Steve Jackson among the guest performers.
Contact
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