A literary soirée with a wild side, this is your chance to see a sampling of many of the artists in the festival. Feast your ears on an all-you-can-handle buffet of words!
The 19th annual Van Slam Finals Night features Vancouver's top eight slam poets competing for a spot on this year’s Van Slam team.
Youth poets (aged 12–20) are asked to break one of the classic poetry slam rules. Includes a feature performance by youth presenting work inspired by Zaccheus Jackson.
The 19th annual Van Slam Finals Night features Vancouver's top eight slam poets competing for a spot on this year’s Van Slam team.
Youth poets (aged 12–20) are asked to break one of the classic poetry slam rules. Wear a costume, use props, perform a cover poem, perform a group piece, play a musical instrument or combine all those together. Whatever you do though you must break one of the slam rules. Open sign-up. Be creative, have fun! In addition to the slam, this show will feature youth performing original work inspired by, in response to, and in honour of Zaccheus Jackson Nyce.
The 19th annual Van Slam Finals Night features Vancouver’s top eight slam poets competing for a spot on this year’s Van Slam team. Poets have been gaining points by ranking in the top four at Van Slam throughout the year to qualify for this playoff event. The Van Slam team will represent Van Slam at major tournaments and festivals across North America.
Youth poets (aged 12–20) are asked to break one of the classic poetry slam rules. Includes a feature performance by youth presenting work inspired by Zaccheus Jackson.
This workshop will explore intersectionality and the realities we experience living multiple identities at the same time. Inspired by Gloria Anzaldua’s La Fronteras/Borderlands, we will discuss the relationships various races, genders, sexualities, and languages have with each other and how we find a space to define ourselves within a world that often asks us to choose.
This workshop will explore intersectionality and the realities we experience living multiple identities at the same time. Inspired by Gloria Anzaldua’s La Fronteras/Borderlands, we will discuss the relationships various races, genders, sexualities, and languages have with each other and how we find a space to define ourselves within a world … Continued
A whirlwind of words occurs as Robert Priest, Tanya Evanson, David McGimpsey, Barbara Adler, and Ian Ferrier blur the line between stage and page.
A whirlwind of words occurs as Robert Priest, Tanya Evanson, David McGimpsey, Barbara Adler, and Ian Ferrier blur the line between stage and page.
Thursdays Writing Collective is comprised of 150 activists, academics, slam poets, novelists and storytellers who explore issues of self-determination through creative writing. The Collective holds free, drop-in writing sessions in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside at Carnegie Community Centre. Founded in 2008 by Elee Kraljii Gardiner, the Collective has published six chapbooks.
A journey through poetic language and experience, story and song, with a powerhouse line-up of all-star performers; including Kinnie Starr, Mutya Macatumpag, and Women of the World Poetry Slam champions, Denice Frohman and Dominique Christina.
Poets participating in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam are required to attend this orientation.
Poets participating in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam perform in a sneak preview of what is to come in the following days.
Tomboy Survival Guide is part anthem, part campfire story, and part instructions for the dismantling of the gender stories we tell ourselves and each other. Writer and storyteller Ivan Coyote and an all-tomboy band perform with special guests.
What Is Real Vancouver Writers' Series, Alex? Four fantastic poets reading new work. But after the poetry comes Jeopardy. CanLit Jeopardy, featuring silly and serious answers about our national literature, to be put into questions by these very same poets.
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This facilitator-guided conversation engages artists and community members in anti-oppression dialogue. Solutions will be crowd sourced. Come, be challenged, and share your experiences.
This workshop explores the importance of both silence and sound in the creation of spoken word – from meditation, to magical editing, to the many possibilities of the vocal body in performance.
Canada's best slam poets sling metaphors and match wits in four minute and one minute rounds.
Plus, late night show Haiku Deathmatch with 16 poets – or haikusters – will battle it out in a head-to-head competition judged by the audience.
More of Canada's best slam poets sling metaphors and match wits in four minute and one minute rounds. Tickets for these bouts include admission to Haiku Deathmatch.
This community-driven, facilitator-mediated conversation asks artists to participate in anti-oppression dialogue. Bring your ideas and your notepads!
Calling all poets of the nerd-like persuasion. This is your time to explain to the world your love of isotopes or Star Trek or comic books or grammar or anything you feel nerdy and obsessive about.
Ivan Coyote leads a workshop designed to help you transform your nervous energy into a memorable reading. Learn how to select material, prepare your work for performance, memorize it (or not), and make your body language work for you.
Canada’s best slam poets show us their two and three minute poems.
Plus, in this edition of Mashed Poetics, the 1983 self-titled album by Violent Femmes will be performed live with poets presented new works inspired by the music between each song.
Day two will see some poets flinging caution aside as they try to move up in the rankings, while other poets will be under pressure to maintain their position.
Witness a spoken word offering by brilliant performers who have transformed trauma using the power of their art, with a hope of bringing us out whole on the other side. This show, featuring Sheri-D Wilson, Lishai Peel, and others, is a celebration of the strength and bravery within our community, and an honouring of performer and audience alike.
A multi-genre presentation in American Sign Language, showcasing performative verse through complex perspectives. This event will be hosted by Alex Lu and Maggie Harkins, and will feature the support of ASL/English language interpreters.
The top 12 poets from prelims advance to this bout. Who will claim the title of 2015 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion?
This closing gala includes a feature presentation by Vancouver Poet Laureate, Rachel Rose.
In 2014, The Rio was completely sold out for this event. Buy your tickets early if you want to see this showcase of the very best poetry slammers from across Canada.
Chicken Session: a house concert, poetry and story performance , potluck, party, and some Louisiana hospitality. Chicken Session #14 is a Sunday afternoon backyard brunch with poet Robert Lashley, and musicians Chicken-like Birds, as well as debut work by others in 12 open mic spots beforehand. Bring food to share!