A Lovely Word Poetry SLAM at Shakespeare North Playhouse & 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, and running outdoor one-offs, week-long festivals – featuring the likes of Hollie McNish and Lemn Sissay, Toria Garbutt and Louise Fazackerley – and regular slams.
The latter see performance poets go head to head to win fame and fortune, with cash prizes, and, this summer, host Alex Ferguson is really going for it, organising not one but two heats. In an exciting new collaboration between Shakespeare North Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, 12 to 14 poets will be competing in A Lovely Word’s Poetry SLAM 2023: the first takes place on 27 June at Shakespeare North Playhouse and the second is on 5 July in ALW’s usual home at the Everyman. Up for grabs is £100, a headline slot at Shakespeare North’s Itch and – perhaps most importantly – the title of SLAM Champion. Performers of all levels have been invited to submit their work, and the participants will be selected by a panel of local poetry producers from North West writing organisations.
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.
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.
Each month’s featured poet performs alongside open micers, and 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 Ferguson, producer and host of A Lovely Word, 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 the ALW team, 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.”
The monthly open mic poetry and spoken word event has been taking place at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre since 2014 – apart from, you know, when it was online and outdoors… When the festival is over, just head to the Everyman Bistro on the second Monday of the month for the free-to-attend event, supported by the Everyman & Playhouse and Arts Council England. 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.
Find out more about spoken word goings-on in our updated guide to Literary places in Liverpool.
