A celebration of Spoken Word poetry will be held this weekend on the canal at Hawkesbury Junction in Longford as part of Coventry City of Culture.
Co-created with nine Coventry Spoken Word artists, audiences will be able to discover Spoken Word poetry in performance and see first-hand how it can be a loudspeaker for silenced voices. It is the first festival in the city to focus exclusively on Spoken Word poetry.
The event on Saturday 30 April runs from 12 noon to 8pm and is free with no advance booking required, with refreshments and facilities available at The Greyhound Inn at the canal on Sutton Stop.
The packed day of Spoken Word poetry includes ‘Presence Poets’, a showcase of newly commissioned work from nine distinct voices from around the city. ‘The Gig’ is an open mic slot with guest sets from Jasmine Gardosi and Vanessa Kisuule. Throughout the afternoon there will also be writing workshops where budding poets can draft or edit new poems and work out their next steps, with expert guidance from facilitator Raymond Antrobus, writer Jasmine Gardosi, and from poet, producer and mentor Owen Craven-Griffiths.
And from 6pm the grand finale will see three fantastic guest poets and one band of master improvisers congregate for an amazing poetry showcase of nine distinct voices - a cross-section of homegrown talent.
City of Culture Producer Navkiran Mann said: “Coventry is brimming with talent and the Presence Festival provides opportunities for poets, storytellers and performers who need to be heard, to connect and to grow.
“Our aim is to make it easier for both emerging and experienced poets to take the next step creatively and professionally. Audiences will be able to experience poetry as the varied, engaging, open art form it can be. Presence will focus on diverse communities and on amplifying less heard voices, so it’s a chance to hear lots of different stories celebrated on a big stage.
“As part of the preparation for this great event, local poets have enjoyed a bespoke mentoring and development programme with award-winning poet and educator Roger Robinson, offering individual feedback on their writing and on wider creative plans, fostering a sense of shared purpose and community among the group.”
The event is 18+ only. For more information visit https://coventry2021.co.uk/what-s-on/presence-poetry-festival/