East Quay Poetry Slam
TIME & DATE: 6pm, Saturday 18th July
LOCATION: East Quay Courtyard
COST: FREE - just come along!

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About the Event

East Quay is excited to present its first-ever Poetry Slam, a lively competition to find the best spoken word artist in Watchet and across the South West!

Twelve poets will battle it out across three rounds of friendly but fierce competition. The event will feature special sets from our three acclaimed guest judges, which will be announced soon.

The winner of the Slam will receive a £150 cash prize plus a stay in one of East Quay’s unique accommodation pods!

The event is open to everyone and is family-friendly.

The East Quay Kitchen will be open throughout the event, serving food and drink.

If you would like to attend the Slam as an audience member, there is no need to book. The event is free and unticketed, so just come along!

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About the Host

The event will be hosted by spoken word poet and artist, Elaoise Benson.

Elaoise’s writing explores the complexity of belonging: within friendships, relationships, places, spaces and identities. Her writing navigates the experience of losing a parent in your 20s, with its deep pain and unexpected beauty. And in doing so, she looks for pockets of joy amongst the hardest moments in life. Her poetry often bleeds into her art practice, in the form of dance-poetry performances, installations, and films. Elaoise is the host of East Quay's Spoken Word night, and she performs in Hatch Somerset Fashion Shows, blending wearable art and poetry. Elaoise has performed across London, Bristol, Bath, and the South West, and is a member of The Quantocks Poetry Group. She is currently completing a Master's degree in History of Art at the University of Bristol. 

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Sign Up to Slam!

Want to compete? We are looking for twelve dynamic performers to take the stage.

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How to Enter‍

- Please purchase a free slot via the link below
- Complete the registration form sent to your email by 5pm on Friday, 19th of June

Please note, booking a performers’ slot and submitting this form does not guarantee a place in the competition. Slammers will be selected at random.

Entry Criteria and Slam Rules
- You must be aged 16 or over and based in the South West of England
- You must prepare three original poems - one ready for each round. The winner of each heat will continue to the next round
- Maximum of 3 minutes per poem, including your introduction. Going over time may result in a points deduction
- This is a family-friendly, free public event. Poems requiring trigger warnings are welcome, but no swearing, please.

A judging panel consisting of Laurie Bolger, Anthony Joseph, and Lucy English, will score performances based on Writing Quality; Strength of Theme; Vocal Fluency & Emotion; Stage Presence

Key Dates:
- 5pm, Friday, 19th of June: Applications for East Quay Poetry Slam close
- Monday, 22nd of June: Slammers randomly selected and notified via email
- Monday, 6th of July: Deadline for slammers to email three finished poems to East Quay
- Friday, 10th of July: Slammers announced on East Quay's socials and website
- 6pm, Saturday, 18th of July: East Quay Poetry Slam

If you have any questions about the Poetry Slam, please contact Miriam Higgs at miriam@onioncollective.co.uk.