Some of the UK’s most cutting-edge poets and spoken word artists will be performing at libraries across Bath and North East Somerset in May.
The Word in the West festival, which runs from May 26 – 30, is being organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council, in partnership with North Somerset and arts organisation BoomSatsuma, funded by Arts Council England.
Three libraries in Bath and North East Somerset are involved: Keynsham, Paulton and Midsomer Norton.
During the week they will be running free workshops and performances for children, young people and more established writers. They’ll also be working with the community to create a free-form poem on a wall of words in each library.
There will be:
Breakbeat sessions for 9-13-year-olds to create new pieces using beat boxing, words and music.
Use Your Word sessions for 14-18 year olds to create an original new piece of poetry or spoken word that could be entered in the national youth slam championships.
Sessions called The Surgery, for local writers and poets to work with the resident poets and share their work.
Finally on Saturday May 30, all the spoken word artists and poets will take to the streets to perform in bus queues, cafes and public spaces.
“The aim of the festival is to inspire a new generation of poets and spoken word artists, whilst offering support to more established local writers,” said Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Libraries Development Manager Julia Burton. “This is a tremendous opportunity not only to see outstanding modern poets perform, but also for young people to create new, original and inspiring works.”
Word in the West will be curated by Joelle Taylor (founder and Artistic Director of SLAMbassadors) and features nationally renowned poets Rebecca Tantony, Hussain Manawer and Vanessa Kisuule, Sally Jenkinson and Lucy Lepchani.
Events will run as follows:
Keynsham Library
Poet in residence, Vanessa Kisuule
Tuesday May 26
10.30am – 12 noon – Break Beat
Wednesday May 27
10am – 12 noon – The Surgery
2 – 4pm – Use Your Words
Thursday May 28
10.30am – 12noon – Break Beat
Friday May 29
1 – 2pm – Stand up lunch
A performance by the resident poets with a free lunch
7 – 9pm Performance by Burning Eye Books poets (14 to adult)
Paulton Library
Poet in residence, Lucy Lepchani
Tuesday May 26
10.30am – 12 noon – Break Beat
Wednesday May 27
2 – 4pm – Use Your Words
Thursday May 28
10.30am – 12 noon- Break Beat
Friday May 29
1 – 2pm – Stand up performance by resident poets
Midsomer Norton Library
Poet in residence, Rebecca Tantony
Tuesday May 26
7 – 9pm- Performance by Burning Eye Books poets (14 to adult)
Wednesday May 27
10.30am -12 noon – Break Beat
2 – 4pm – Use Your Words
Thursday May 28
2 – 5pm – The Surgery
Friday May 29
10.30am – 12 noon- storytelling for families with Somerset storyteller Michael Loader. (**This session needs to be booked at Midsomer Norton Library, or by contacting Council Connect on 01225 394041 / councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk)
cid:image001.gif@01D072B1.6BE3BF503 – 4pm – Stand up performance by resident poets
You can find out more at http://www.wordinthewest.com, on Facebook (wordinthewest) and Twitter @wordinthewest
Ends
Notes to editors:
In North Somerset the sessions are running at The For All Healthy Living Centre in Weston Super Mare, and Yatton and Portishead libraries.
