Poetry in the City of Liverpool, UK
Liverpool Peoples Poet – 2009.
Can you write a poem that captures the essence of Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture?
If so you could become the Liverpool Peoples Poet!
There are two categories:
the winner in each category will win a prize of £500
Starting date: Monday 16th March 09
Closing date: Tuesday 7th April 09 @ Midnight
Award Ceremony:
Liverpool Town Hall, Wednesday 29th of April 09
more details here…
LIVERPOOL YOUNG WRITERS PRESENTS: CIPHER 27/3/09
Liverpool Young Writers will be presenting ‘Cipher’; an inspirational evening of words, poetry and music at the Bluecoat Arts Centre, 7:30 on Friday 27th March.
Featuring special guests Young KOF, Yusra Warsama and Ras B; it will showcase work developed by young authors and performers who have been involved in the project.
Writing On The Wall began the project in 2007, and it now comes towards end of its second successful year. Its previous showcase last spring featured the work of young writers performing alongside noted performers Skinnyman and Sway, and was a resounding success. Including young people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, the project has proven that Liverpool maintains its tradition of writing and performing talent for the future.
This March, ‘Cipher’ offers the opportunity for Liverpool Young Writers to showcase poetry and spoken word they have developed in a series of evening workshops over the past few months. The project aims to the hone the writing skills and confidence of its young participants, to develop and present their creative talent to wider audiences. ‘Cipher’ will doubtlessly demonstrate how far they have come, while also indicating possibilities for their future.
Liverpool Young Writers will shortly be recruiting for its third year. Any organisations in Liverpool working with young people – or indeed anyone aged 11 – 19 interested in writing, poetry or performance – can get in touch by emailing us at info@writingonthewall.org.uk or calling 0151 703 0020 for further details.
Tickets for ‘Cipher’ are free, but you can book your tickets in advance from the Bluecoat Arts Centre (details below). Places are limited, so make sure you book a ticket as soon as possible! This event is suitable for all ages.
Writing on the Wall festival, 2009 is a festival of outsiders: writers, musicians and artists well-known for defying convention and corporate attitudes. WoW 2009 dares to be impolite, fearless, even rude and certainly independent.
WoW are proud to announce a very special guest to this years Festival, Mann Booker prize winner Anne Enright (details below). More special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
Thursday, 21st May
Anne Enright – Man Booker Prize Winner 2007
‘A style that dazzles, stories that enchant.’
Anne Enright is one of Ireland’s most remarkable fiction writers, injecting new blood into its lyrical tradition, uniting the strength of the old with the grittiness of the new. Her characters, always passionate, sometimes wayward, are seen with an unblinking eye and glints of surreal wit. Her debut novel, The Wig My Father Wore, was shortlisted for the Irish Times/Aer Lingus Irish Literature Prize; her second, What Are You Like?, won the Encore Award and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Novel Award; and her fourth, The Gathering, won the 2007 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
Continue reading ‘Anne Enright to Guest at Writing on the Wall 2009′
The voice of young Britain takes the stage by storm! Slambassadors Liverpool semi-final
The Great Georges Community Cultural Project was host to feast of literary talent as the SLAMbassadors semi final saw the cream of Liverpool’s young talent battle it out for a place in the London Final. After months of workshops in schools and community groups across Liverpool and Merseyside, 13 semi finalists performed to a riveted audience of the general public.
Local Hip Hop Diva Nikki Blaze hosted with her usual lyrical mastery and there were scintillating performances from spoken word artist, Curtis Watt (aka C Zero) and internationally acclaimed Dub Poet Levi Tafari.
With baited breath we waited for Levi to announce the finalists…and they are… Benedit Sebuyunge, Daniel Sebuyunge, Jaya Bhaynani from Calderstones School and Terrence Whinnet from St Francis Xavier’s College. Levi Tafari will now nurture these young talents to prepare them to go head to head with the London finalists at the Southbank Centre in April.
SLAMbassadors has been run by Writing on the Wall in partnership with The Poetry Society.
“This is the first time that SLAMbassadors has been run outside of London and the whole competition has been a huge success! This is a great achievement for spoken word artistry and young people’s ability to make it come to life.”
Mike Morris, WoW Trustee
Wednesday 4th @ 8pm – DEAD GOOD POETS SOCIETY OPEN FLOOR. 24 spaces of five minutes for you to perform your own poetry. New poets always welcome as are new audience members! Old poets and audience also welcome! In fact, EVERYONE’s welcome. The 3rd Room, Everyman Bistro, Hope Street, Liverpool. Arrive early to book a performance slot. Compered by Peter Crompton £3 / £2
Friday 6th @ 7.30pm – SLAMbassadors poetry slam semi final. Stop, look and listen to the sound of young Great Britain! In a time when perceptions of young people are distorted by relentless bulletins of gun and knife crime, in a climate where young people are questioned about their respect for society and for themselves, SLAMbassadors UK, Britain’s only online slam, gives young people in London and Liverpool the opportunity to have their say – and say it their way. You can see the cream of Liverpool’s young lyrical talent battle it out to reach the London Final and perform alongside spoken word artists Curtis Watt, Nikki Blaze and internationally acclaimed Dub Poet Levi Tafari, who is also judging the contest. The Blackie, Great Georges Community Cultural Project), Great George Street, Liverpool, L1 5EW. Places are FREE but LIMITED so please book a ticket in advance. Call Jess at Writing on the Wall on 0151 703 0020