A Lovely Word Poetry at Liverpool Everyman
Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
A Lovely Word is a regular on the Liverpool live lit scene, bringing poetry and spoken word to the Everyman stage for nearly a decade. A Lovely Word combines curated performers and open mic opportunities to offer a warm and inclusive atmosphere, nurturing local talent and drawing poets and crowds from all over the North West.
Long-time host Alex Ferguson also organises outdoor one-offs, week-long festivals, featuring the likes of Hollie McNish and Lemn Sissay, Toria Garbutt and Louise Fazackerley, regular slams at partner venues including the new Shakespeare North Playhouse, when performance poets go head to head to win fame, fortune and even cold hard cash prizes, and mini tours – the latest across the water to Birkenhead Arts Palace with Gerry Clarkson headlining on 4 January.
In February, however, A Lovely Word is back in the Everyman Bistro, and programmed through to June (always first Thursday of each month), “bringing you a variety of delightful poets across the months, plus our wonderful open mic poets”.
February’s featured poet is Kayla Feldman, a freelance director and writer for the page, stage and screen. As Kayla Martell Feldman, she has performed poetry across London and elsewhere, and co-hosts the Process spoken word open mic night with Tyrone Lewis. Her work has been widely published across the UK and North America, and been featured on the Dead Darlings and Artists That Work podcasts. In 2022, she won second place in the Crossing the Tees short story competition. She is a three-time Genesis Poetry Slam Winner and has had work commissioned by JW3, Canada Water Theatre, Watch Your Mouth, Vashti Media, and The Narcissist Cookbook. In 2020, she took part in the invite-only Roundhouse Poetry Weekender led by Bridget Minamore and Cecilia Knapp. In 2021, she self-published her debut poetry collection, Tikva, and her second collection is out now from Verve Poetry Press.
Taking place at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre since 2014 – apart from, you know, when it was online and outdoors, A Lovely Word celebrates the wonderful creative community of Liverpool and Liverpool as a poetry city, uniting, inspiring and galvanising the spoken word scene with its poetry events showcasing local talent alongside headliners from around the country.
And open micers are welcomed! Whether you are a new poet performing for the first time or a seasoned poet who wants to try out some new material, you are invited to sign up to read on the open mic. Alex says: “Getting into poetry can be really transformative for people’s sense of self. It’s really positive to see people getting involved with the workshops we’ve had so far and I’d encourage anyone who is interested to give it a go.”
Fancy giving it a go? Got a notebook full of poetry? Email alovelywordpodcast@gmail.com with your full name, mobile number and a confirmation that you sign up to the principles of the open mic: performers are allowed a maximum of four minutes, no hateful language is tolerated. “Show your love and appreciation for all other poets,” says ALW, which aims to support both emerging and working performance poets through artist development and advice (keep an eye out for their workshop programme). “A Lovely Word is an open, nurturing space for poets to perform, grow and express themselves.”
Find out more about spoken word goings-on in our updated guide to Literary places in Liverpool.
