Group Activities 

Haiku is unusual in creative writing, in that its roots are in a group activity. The Japanese form renga was a long poem created by a group of participants, writing alternate verses, as a form of evening entertainment. These renga parties go back hundreds of years in Japan, even before the term haiku (meaning "amusing verse") was created. In fact, the little poem we know as haiku derived from the hokku, which was the starter verse of the longer renga poem.

Today, renga as an activity is an excellent framework for groups of varying needs and aspirations, working across health, literary and corporate settings. Renga is historically a round-the-table activity, but translates perfectly to video conferencing too, with the added opportunity of bringing together national and international participants.

PROCESSES

• Intense but enjoyable creativity

• Group co-operation

• Developing decisive and "editorial" thinking

• Developing concision and precision

• Valuing individual contribution

• Valuing group achievement

OUTCOMES

• Creative achievement

• Teamwork and social interaction development

• Communication skills

• Individual and group confidence in self-expression

FORMAT

Renga is flexible (ranging from a dozen, to thousands of verses!) but a single renga is ideal for a group of 6 to 12 people.

A minimum of 90 minutes is suggested, which can be doubled to a three-hour session with a break, for a more in-depth session.

Traditionally, a renga is led by a. . Call of the Page's lead tutor, Alan Summers, is the leading UK provider of instruction for Japanese literature forms in the English language, and has professionally led renga for the following organisations:

Bath Libraries

Hull ...

NHS

Quaker retreat..

He has been a speaker at:

Practicing Alan Summers, lead tutor at Call of the Page, has led 

Alan Summers is a recipient of the Japan Times Award for Renga., has held positions including general secretary of the British Haiku Society, and