From the oral tradition to the Edinburgh Fringe, from Virgil to Biggy Smalls, pioneering literature organisations WORD! and Renaissance One, and leading spoken word artists and collectives including Pete “the Temp” Bearder, Showcase Smoothie and Some-Antics discuss and perform the poetic movements that have shaped our history and made us who we are today.
The evening will include performances from local and regional artists who are enthralling audiences including Sammy Nour, Chris Oliver and Cathi Rae. Spoken word artist Pete the Temp will give a performative talk based on his groundbreaking new book Stage Invasion: Poetry & the Spoken Word Renaissance. Pete brings to life some of the most iconic moments in the history of performance poetry, from ballad singers and Beat poets, to the icons of dub, punk and hip hop.
Pete shows how rappers and spoken word poets are connected to West Africa praise poets, medieval bards and even tribal shaman.
The day time spoken word salon will include local, regional and national artists and activists exploring the ways that spoken word can foster community, activism and change. Book your place for the salon here.
The event is supported by Arts Council England and LCB and is a partnership between WORD! and Renaissance One. Co-curated by Melanie Abrahams and Lydia Towsey.
Please get in touch with us on hq@renaissanceone.co.uk if you have any access needs.
Bio
Pete the Temp performing Homer to Hip Hop: a former National Poetry Slam Champion, he has appeared on BBC Radio 4, The World Service, and Newsnight and performed around the world with organisations such as The British Council. Pete brings to life some of the most iconic moments in the history of performance poetry, from ballad singers and Beat poets, to the icons of dub, punk and hip hop. www.petethetemp.co.uk @PeteTheTemp
Chris Oliver shares his wisdom and outlook on life using Spoken Word, and has performed around the UK. His insights are thought provoking and heart felt, drawing on his personal experiences growing up in Nottingham.
Showcase Smoothie is an award winning literature and music project, focused on black men exploring mental health issues. Led by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust in collaboration with BrightSparks Arts & WORD!; Showcase Smoothie was previously championed and facilitated by WORD! and project Patron, Dr Jean Binta Breeze MBE.
Cathi Rae is a poet, educator and accidental academic, currently working on a poetry PhD. Her work seeks to tell the stories of people who don't expect to have poetry written about them. Her debut collection "Your cleaner hates you and other poems" was published in 2019...her second collection "Writing elegies for dead men I didn't meet" will be published in 2024. Her work has been published in all sorts of places and in several anthologies.
Sammy Nour is a performance and page poet hailing from Leicester. His material ranges from everyday observations to perspectives on political and societal issues, as well as exploring the identity of his Irish-Palestinian heritage.
He is the co-founder of Some-Antics Spoken Word, an event and writers’ collective dedicated to free expression and providing opportunities for performance and artistic development.