Your Poem is Lasagna, Layered. Join 2010 World Poetry Slam champion Ian Keteku as he explores the layers beneath a poem and performance. Many times performance poets unintentionally come across as preachy, ranting, angry. How do we get our "message" to be effectively communicated? How do we intentionally dig beneath the … Continued
Improvisers have a lot to learn from poets, and poets have a lot to learn from improvisers. Former Victoria Slam Champion and world renowned improviser Dave Morris will show you how to infuse your poetry with some spontaneity! Let the audiences reaction influence your performance, be present in the moment, … Continued
The land of poetry spreads out far and vast. There’s a lot of territory to cover. You could spend a whole day just traveling from metaphor to extended metaphor. Then there’s rhyme and alliteration. Poets have spent years investigating the nooks and crannies of those areas. What about the magical … Continued
“Williams has been breaking ground since his debut album, Amethyst Rock Star, was released in 2001. After gaining global fame for his poetry and writings at the turn of the century, Williams has performed in over 30 countries and read in over 300 universities, with invitations that have spanned from … Continued
Shhh… Before you speak a single word in the festival, trained stage actor and performance poet, Johnny Trinh, nourishes our understanding of breath and body, expanding our skills of projection and protecting what is for vocal performers, our most valuable instrument. Lengthen the lifespan and strengthen the health of your … Continued
On the heels of their groundbreaking, tender, illuminating show Mel Malarkey Gets The Bum Rush, Charlie Petch breathes new life into old vaudevillian form. Learn the versatility and depth of long form cabaret-style storytelling, as Petch teaches us how to transform performance poetry into mesmerizing theatre that gives both audience … Continued
Moving beyond reacting to the systems that oppress us, and into future-building for the world/s we want to manifest, we will create work in our voices and perspectives that the universe urgently needs to hear. Youth can sign up to work with two deeply thoughtful and experienced mentors/community activists and … Continued
You can purchase your Verses Festival pass for $75 here. Pass-holders must arrive at events early. All events are general admission. A portion of event capacity has been held specifically for passholders. 15 minutes before show time, spots unclaimed by passholders are released to be sold at the door. This means that … Continued
![[ID: Poets sit in a circle around Dana ID Mathews in the middle sitting with his legs stretched out. Some are on chairs, most are on the floor. They are either writing, reading, or listening. There are piles of coats on the floor and on the stacked chairs in the background/end ID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/Adventures-360x360-1.jpg "Adventures-360×360")
The land of poetry spreads far and wide: you could spend days traveling from Metaphor to Extended Metaphor. And that’s before you even reach Rhyme and Alliteration! Poets have spent years investigating the nooks and crannies of these regions and beyond. Have you been to the magical land of improvisation? Or explored … Continued
![[ID: Moe Clark is crouched in front of a stone wall painted turquoise. Her right hand is on a large hand drum. She is smiling, her face turned to the right. She is wearing a dark grey cardigan and red pants. /endID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/Moe-Clark-reduced-360x360-1.jpg)
"Spoken word performance and looping pedal workshop exploring body and voice as landscape. Add new dimension to your spoken word poetry and written works. Combine your poetry with sounds, songs, and performance tools to create works that are stage-worthy and audience approved. Moe Clark will take you on a journey … Continued
![[ID: Group photo of 11 members of Thursdays Writing Collective on stage together. They are all smiling. Two members are crouched at the front of the group for the photo. A red Verses banner is in the background. /endID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/Thursdays-Writing-Collective.jpg "Thursdays Writing Collective")
Thursdays Writing Collective has been writing together at the Carnegie Centre at Main and Hastings for 10 years. Over that last decade, TWC members have met to share the acts and products of writing, improve their writing skills and make connections within Vancouver’s literary community. "TWC includes writers identifying as Indigenous, … Continued
![[ID: JB the First Lady stands with the seashore, water, a bridge, and Vancouver skyline behind her. She wears a light pink shirt. Her right hand is touching the back of her head behind her right ear. Her hair is braided. /endID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/received_10155987269191368-e1522111500408.jpg "received_10155987269191368")
Utilizing a unique creative writing process developed by the writer, hip hop artist, activist, and performer, JB leads workshop participants through activity and writing, exploring themes of remembering and belonging. Working together over an hour and a half long session, participants will create a community poem and in creating a … Continued
![[ID: Q in black lipstick, a grey crop top, and underwear seated in their manual wheelchair, holding their knees to their chest as they look out a window; a bicycle wheel tattoo is partially visible on their shoulder blade, and a hand of fate holding a dandelion puff as the seeds disperse tattoo is on their thigh /end ID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/29425970_2040557059499602_2120453163948441600_o-e1522114254147-scaled.jpg "29425970_2040557059499602_2120453163948441600_o")
"Lame, crippling, retard/ed, gimp, moron, spaz, handicap/ped, handicapable, differently abled, diffability, special needs, deaf/blind to, hearing impaired, invalid, wheelchair bound - From slurs to euphemisms to the way we describe our experiences, ableist language is in the very roots of our speech. Language translates to beliefs, beliefs translate to actions, … Continued
![[ID: Cedar strips woven to create a square in the middle framing the Reframing Relations logo. The logo is a purple and turquoise design. The words Reframing Relations are below the image. /endID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/Reframing-Relations-Images_Page_1-scaled.jpg "Reframing Relations Images_Page_1")
Reframing Relations brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists together ... to facilitate dialogue about reconciliation in Canada. Participants work together on collaborative, arts-based ‘Statements of Understanding’ to discover where their awareness of Indigenous issues is located today, where they have gaps in their knowledge, and what concrete actions can be taken … Continued
![[ID: There is the back of a person with red hair standing in a circle with other people. The person wears a grey hoodie with a jean jacket over it. The jean jacket has a large black rectangular patch that says "Don't Touch Me." A person wearing an orange hoodie and brown pants stands to their left. Another person wearing a yellow shirt is to their right. A person with a pink shirt and jeans is across the circle of people. /endID]](https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/media/18209346_1323109567743026_6284841095387137108_o.jpg "18209346_1323109567743026_6284841095387137108_o")
Please note the update to this event that it is now by donation or pay what you can. Kitty Stryker, consultant to Juggalos and Sex Educators alike, presents a talk on how to have thoughtful conversations about sexual assault when it impacts someone you love, mixed with Q&A for attendees … Continued
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
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
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
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
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
Online Registration In-Person Registration by emailing Johnny Trinh artisticdirector@vancouverpoetryhouse.com Award winning theatre artist and performance poet, Charlie Petch wants to help you improve your onstage game. As a former slam coach for Toronto Poetry Slam, and theatre director, I know I can help you not only form a poem that … Continued
REGISTER Cognitive diversity, also known as diversity of thought can simply be defined as inclusion of people who have different information processing styles or problem-solving skills and who can offer unique perspectives because they think differently. Boards that are diverse are creative, innovative and they encourage greater consideration of alternatives … Continued
TICKETS Spoken Word organizations across Turtle Island have needed to discover what survival, resilience, and community means during these unprecedented times. Truth Is and Beth Anne Ellipsis are the leaders of Guelph Poetry Slam, and have exemplified what an organization can look like. With core values grounded in decolonization, anti-oppression, … Continued
TICKETS A festival favourite, great for anyone who ever uses a microphone. After the poem is finished, words rehearsed, the only thing left is to hit the stage. Come learn from one of Canada’s most beloved poet, Charlie Petch, with decades of experience working professionally in theatre and production. Learn … Continued
TICKETS Featuring: Leo DE Johnson, Adrian Neblett, Jaymee Mak, Kathleen Nisbet, Janice Jo Lee and Krystal Kiran Hosted by: Johnny D Trinh Stage to Page produces public masterclasses/workshops led by a panel of industry professionals featuring poets, producers, theatre makers, and more. Vancouver Poetry House is partnering with Stage to … Continued
Date and time: Thursday, June 1, 2023, 7 - 9:30pm PDT Location: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue Vancouver TICKETS This workshop is a great opportunity for writers of all genres to improve their public reading and performance skills. Johnny will offer all participants a range of tools, exercises, and … Continued
Hullabaloo's All Star poets offer up four 50-minute "mini masterclass" workshops for youth aged 13 to 18! Participating youth can sign up for two out of four mini master classes (50-minute workshops) offered by King Kimbit, Spin El Poeta, Jozy & TBC. Sat, April 12 at The Post at 750 … Continued
Stage to Page returns for a public workshop where poets will explore ways to collaborate with music and other disciplines. Industry experts from across artistic disciplines and sectors offer tips and feedback to poets on their works, culminating in a musical jam session. Fri, April 18 at Chill X Studio … Continued
A rare opportunity to learn from the incredible Beau Sia! Verses Festival of Words poet of honour and legendary Spoken Word poet Beau Sia offers a masterclass that offers coaching, tips, and feedback to poets interested in performance and writing compelling work. Sat, April 19 at Chill X Studio (2270 … Continued
