Past Events › Verses 2019 › | Vancouver Poetry House

All Star Slam #1 & #2

Annual General Meeting on May 25th

The All Star Slam is an all-out battle of poetic verve and wit, pitting El Jones, Francis Arevalo and Ann-Bernice Thomas against each other in a fun-filled showcase of slam at its finest! This showcase demonstrates the power and possibilities of spoken word poetry at its highest level. Hosted by … Continued

$4

All Star Slam

Annual General Meeting on May 25th

The All Star Slam is an all-out battle of poetic verve and wit, pitting El Jones, Francis Arevalo and Ann-Bernice Thomas against each other in a fun-filled showcase of slam at its finest! This showcase demonstrates the power and possibilities of spoken word poetry at its highest level. Hosted by … Continued

$4

Hullabaloo Poetry Slam Round 1!

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams! Early Bouts: 6 PM Late Bouts: 8 PM VPL Central Branch: Alice MacKay & Peter Kaye-Alma VanDusen Rooms / Free   … Continued

Free

Hullabaloo Poetry Slam Round 1!

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

Every team in Hullabaloo will perform in one bout this evening, either the first or second slate of prelims. All teams and audience members are encouraged to attend the entire evening. The poems will be judged by five random members of the audience who are not directly affiliated with any … Continued

Free

Adventures in Poetryland

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

Youth poets take up to two workshops designed to help expand their poetic horizons and learn about the breadth of spoken word from professional poets. Participants select workshops on offer by Ruby Singh, El Jones, Francis Arevalo and Ann-Bernice Thomas. Full workshop descriptions below - or just REGISTER NOW! 10 … Continued

Free

Adventures in Poetryland

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

Youth poets take up to two workshops designed to help expand their poetic horizons and learn about the breadth of spoken word from professional poets. Participants select workshops on offer by Ruby Singh, El Jones, Francis Arevalo and Ann-Bernice Thomas.  FREE FOR YOUTH AGED 13 to 18! Advanced registration required! To … Continued

Free

Hullabaloo Poetry Slam Round 2!

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams! Early Bouts: 1 PM Late Bouts: 3 PM VPL Central Branch: Alice MacKay & Peter Kaye-Alma VanDusen Rooms / Free   … Continued

Free

Hullabaloo Poetry Slam Round 2!

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

Every team in Hullabaloo will perform in one bout this afternoon, either the first or second slate of prelims. All teams and audience members are encouraged to attend the entire evening. The poems will be judged by five random members of the audience who are not directly affiliated with any … Continued

Free

Hullabaloo Team Finals featuring Ruby Singh

What’s Happening at Vancouver Poetry House

Four Hullabaloo Finalists compete for the Billy Sharkespeare Trophy! Feature performance by multidisciplinary artist Ruby Singh. Doors: 7:30 PM / Start: 8:00 PM / VPL Central Branch: Alice MacKay Room / Free   This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be … Continued

Free

Cultivate: A Showcase of 2 Spirit, Queer and Trans Artists

"Cultivate: Artist Support Circles for Indigi- and other Queers" springs from Shane Sable's attempt to disrupt art-in-isolation mythologies. The talking circles meet monthly at the Queer Art Festival's SUM Gallery to connect, collaborate, and offer support to queer artists across disciplines. This showcase spotlights Cultivate artists Shane Sable, Tawahum, Raven … Continued

$10

Sounds Like Fire: Vivek Shraya’s Death Threat Book Launch

Agendas & Minutes

Artists: Vivek Shraya, Christie Lee Charles, Tawahum & Youth All Stars A showcase of resistance, resilience and empowerment - and the Vancouver launch of Vivek Shraya and Ness Lee’s new book! Death Threat perfectly expresses the feeling of being exposed to the hurtful and threatening presumptions of strangers, transforming a … Continued

$18

Van Slam and Youth Slam Showcase

A display of some of the best local veteran and emerging slam poets! Members of the newly minted 2019 Vancouver Poetry Slam and Youth Slam teams showcase the work that pushed them to the top. Doors 3:30 PM / Start 4:00 PM / WISE Hall / $5-$10 Suggested Donation purchase … Continued

$10

Write Bloody North Launch

Artists: Ian Keteku, Titilope Sonuga, Brandon Wint & Lucia Misch What do you do when you see a group of brilliant poets wandering in the northern wild? Publish their work, of course! Canada’s hottest, new publisher, Write Bloody North, launches its first wave of authors, including World Poetry Slam Champion … Continued

$15

Master Class: To the Bone with Titilope Sonuga

If “the poem does not start until you start to tell the truth,” then a poet’s work is to be relentless in the search for that truth. Globe-trotting poet Titilope Sonuga has you dig into the bone, creating poems from a deeply personal place, while striking a balance between maintaining … Continued

$18

Word Circus

A whirlwind of words occurs as Emily Crocker, Brandon Wint, Chelsea D.E. Johnson & a mystery guest perform acrobatic feats of wordsmithery and music. A round robin format allows the artists to respond to one another in a spontaneous way. See artists performing in a relaxed, informal, yet electric atmosphere … Continued

$10

Interrobang!?

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Artists: Regie Cabico, Lady Vanessa Cardona, Ms.PANIK Description: In the guts of artists everywhere is a driving force, a question that begs for answer, churning engine of the inquisitive mind. Interrobang?! pays homage to those making their statements known, loud and clear, while asking the complicated, nuanced, and too often … Continued

$18

“Our Voice, Our Poems” with Lady Vanessa Cardona

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

People have been sharing stories on this land for thousands and thousands of years! Stories and myths ground us, provide perspective, lessons and hope. 2018 CIPS champion Lady Vanessa Cardona comes from a family of storytellers and uses storytelling in her poetry. Mixing writing games and theatre games inspired by … Continued

$15

Master Class: Go In, Poet! with Regie Cabico

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Regie Cabico offers a master class in performing your original compositions, with an especial focus on performing work for youth audiences. Be prepared to move. vocalize and unleash your emotional chakras from the page and onto the spotlight. Doors 3:30 / Start 4:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $20 Adv … Continued

$20

Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship Round 1!

Contact

Canada’s best slam poets show us their strongest 4- and 1-minute poems in the first stage of a competition destined to crown 2019’s national slam champion! Bout 1: Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / Cafe Deux Soleils / $10 Door (or PWYC) Bout 2: Doors 7:00 PM / … Continued

$10

Spoken Nerd feat. Julia Gaskill and Stephen Meads

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Time to proudly proclaim your love for whatever turns on your nerdy nature! Costumes are welcomed in the audience or for performers for this late night battle of the nerds Featuring supernerd poets Julia Gaskill and Stephen Meads. Doors 10:00 PM / Start 10:30 PM / Storm Crow Tavern / … Continued

$5

Talk the Talk: Decolonizing the Arts

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Guided by two qualified facilitators, this community dialogue asks artists, organizers and audiences to participate in anti-oppression dialogue around the topic of “Decolonizing the Arts.” Come prepared with questions, thoughts and a respectful voice. Doors 12:30 PM / Start 1:00 PM / Havana Theatre / FREE   Accessibility for the … Continued

Free

Master Class: Spoken Word for a Living with Miles Merrill

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Word Travels founder Miles Merrill invites you to the business-side of being an artist. This workshop looks at the website, contacts, contracts, grants, collaboration, newsletters, international touring, impact and the whole apparatus required for you to take the next, big step. Doors 3:30 PM / Start 4:00 PM / Havana … Continued

$20

Word Travels Showcase and Mashed Poetics Double-header!

A spoken word double-header!! Miles Merrill, Melanie Mununggurr-Williams, and Emily Crocker join us from Australia to perform a showcase of words from down under. Then it’s Mashed Poetics: Come On Over by Shania Twain, with poets from across Canada performing new works responding to Shania Twain classics, with a live … Continued

$12

Live Loops 101 with Ms.PANIK

We are hiring a Volunteer Coordinator

Join loop poet Ms.PANIK and her Boss-300 loop station for a crash course in the basics of vocal work, improvised sounds and looping for live performance, composition & songwriting. Doors 12:30 PM / Start 1:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $15 Adv / $20 Door / Limited Space! Havana Box … Continued

$15

Surrey Muse Showcase and Open Mic

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Surrey Muse Arts Society presents a showcase, discussion and open mic event. Following performances from multi-talented featured artists Sana Janjua, Fauzia Rafique, and Mariam Zohra, an open stage gives you the opportunity to share work of your own with the Verses audience! Doors 3:30 PM / Start 4:00 PM / … Continued

$10

Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship Round 2!

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Canada’s best slam poets show us their strongest 2- and 3-minute poems in the second stage of a competition destined to crown 2019’s national slam champion! Bout 1: Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / Cafe Deux Soleils / $10 Door (or PWYC) Bout 2: Doors 7:00 PM / … Continued

$10

Wouldn’t Be Nothing

Contact

Artists: Old Soul Rebel & Christie Lee Charles Old Soul Rebel and Vancouver Poet Laureate Christie Lee Charles get you moving to the midnight hour! A rock, hip hop and soul jam featuring some of the most dynamic songwriting talents around. Doors 10:00 PM / Start 10:30 PM / Cafe … Continued

$10

Talk the Talk: Climate Crisis

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Guided by two qualified facilitators, this community dialogue engages a topic that challenges, advances and re-forms our collective ideas the role of the arts in addressing the climate crisis. Come prepared with questions, thoughts and a respectful voice. Doors 11:30 AM / Start 12:00 PM / Havana Theatre / FREE … Continued

Free

Vines Arts Festival Showcase

Havana Theatre 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Meet the incredible artists of Vines Art Festival, Vancouver's interdisciplinary environmentalist art festival. Vines features fearless cutting-edge and discipline-bending artists on the forefront of their fields. Come out and enjoy the dazzling multi-sensory experience the Vines artists have to offer! Doors 2:30 PM / Start 3:00 PM / Havana Theatre … Continued

$10

Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship FINALS

Agendas & Minutes

The top 12 poets from preliminaries advance to a final competition! Who will claim the title of 2019 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion? Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 / York Theatre / $12 Adv / $15 Door purchase tickets Accessibility information for the York Theatre coming soon.

$12