text size
Spoken word events in London
London has a strong record of spoken word events. Increasingly, there are more opportunities to perform with artists establishing their own shows. Due to the passion and commitment of artists and promoters, we now have spoken word in venues such as The Soho Theatre, Rich Mix and BAC. Below are opportunities to perform and see both established and emerging artists;
Jawdance – Popular open mic night with guest artist slots and poetry film shorts.
When: Monthly every fourth Wednesday
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
Cost: Free
Booking: Open mic contact russell@applesandsnakes.org, for poetry films email nina@applesandsnakes.org
Tongue Fu –Improv jazz, spoken word, cabaret night hosted by Ventriloquist.
When: Monthly
Time: 8pm
Where: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
Cost: £7, £5 concs
Booking: 020 7613 7498, tonguefupoetry@gmail.com
Facebook page
Farrago Poetry Slam – Monthly poetry slams and open mic.
When: Monthly
Time: 7.30pm
Where: RADA foyer bar, Malet Street, London WC1
Cost: £6 / £5
Booking: farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk / 07905 078376
OneTaste – Music, spoken word events, workshops and festivals.
When:varies
Where: The Bedford Arms, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD
Cost: Varies, from £6
Booking: info@onetaste.co.uk
http://onetaste.co.uk/
Bookslam – Literary nightclub
When: Varies
Where: The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11 2AY
Booking: info@bookslam.com
http://www.bookslam.com/
Utter – Spoken word, poetry, comedy, workshops, festivals.
When/Where: Varies
www.utterspokenword.com
Facebook
Touch Me I’m Sick – Free Music and poetry night.
When: Monthly
Time: 8pm
Where: The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1HD
Cost: Free
Booking: N/A
Jazz Verse Jukebox – Open mic and featured guest slots.
When: Second Sunday of every month
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Ronnie Scott’s Club, 47 Frith Street, London W1D 4H7
Cost: £7
Booking: 0207 439 0747
http://www.jumokefashola.com
Bang Said the Gun – Skewed stand up poetry/ comedy.
When: Weekly, every Thursday
Time: 8pm
Where: The Roebuck, 50 Great Dover Street, London SE1
Cost: £5
Booking: info@bangsaidthegun.com
Facebook
Express Excess – Bi Weekly poetry, comedy and storytelling night, hosted by Paul Lyalls.
When: Bi Weekly
Time: 8.30pm
Where: The Enterprise, 2 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BL
Cost: £5
Booking: 0207 485 2659 / paul_lyalls@hotmail.com, gretchenmladish@googlemail.com
Facebook
The Albany – Performing arts centre that programmes theatre, spoken word and comedy.
When: Varies
Time: Varies
Where: Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG
Cost: Varies
Booking: 020 8692 4446
http://www.thealbany.org.uk/
The Southbank Centre – Strong literature and spoken word programme, usually established artists.
When: Varies see programme
Time: Varies
Where: Belvedere Road, SE1, 8XX
Cost: Varies
Booking: 0207 960 4200
http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/
The Roundhouse – Poetry workshops, events. Usually work with a core group of emerging young writers.
When: January onwards
Time: Varies
Where: Chalk Farm Road, London
Cost: Varies
Booking: 0844 482 8008
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/
Renaissance One – TILT, Creative Salon
Events, spoken word and literature tours.
When: See website
Time: varies
Booking: 0207 272 8386
www.renaissanceone.co.uk
The Poetry Cafe – Regular readings most evenings except Sunday.
EVENTS
Where: 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9BX
WEBSITE
Booking: 0207 420 9887
Poejazzi – Spoken word and music night.
ONiT! PR Various events
WEBSITE
Speechmotion – Art, literature, spoken word, live art performance.
When: Every last Tuesday of the month
Time: 7:30pm
Where: The Horse and Groom, Curtain Road, Shoreditch
Cost: £5/ £4
Booking: 0207 503 9421/ lennie@makingtheatrework.com
Kid I wrote Back - Open mic.
When: Monthly
Time: 7pm
Where: Bar Kick, 127 Shoreditch High Street
Cost: £3
Booking: kidiwroteback@instorage.org.uk
Facebook
Bingo Master’s Breakout – Karaoke / poetry night.
Facebook
Chill Pill – Laid back spoken word and music night hosted by Ray Antrobus, Mister Gee, Deanna Rodgers, Adam Kammerling and Simon Mole.
When: Regular events at the Albany and Soho Theatre, see Facebook page for details
Facebook
Keats House Poets Present... A chilled out Sunday afternoon of (FREE) poetry and spoken word hosted by Simon Mole and Raymond Antrobus at Keats House Museum. Performances from Keats House Poets, monthly headliner, and open mic session.
When: One sunday a month, see wordpress for details
khpoets.wordpress.com
Come Rhyme with Me – Poetry evening presented as a dining experience with a set menu of performers.
When: The last Friday of each month
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Cottons Caribbean Restaurant, 70 Exmouth Market, London EC1
Cost: £5 admission, £10 with food
Booking: Pay on the door
Facebook page
Coffee House Poetry – Poetry readings.
When: Fortnightly, Mondays
Time: 8pm
Where: Troubadour Coffee House, 263 – 267 Old Brompton Road, London SW5
Cost: £7 / £6
Booking: info@coffeehousepoetry.org
Torriano Poets – Poetry readings.
When: Weekly on Sundays
Time: 7:30pm
Where: Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torrianao Avenue, London NW5 2RX
Cost: £5 / £3
Booking: 0207 267 2751
Y Tuesday Poetry Club – Open mic spot, poetry and music.
When: Every first and third Tuesday
Time: 8pm
Where: Three Kings Pub, Clerkenwell Close, London EC1
Cost: Free
Booking: N/A
Needle and Thread – Acoustic and open mic.
When: Every Tuesday
Time: 8pm
Where: The Half Moon, 10 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, London SE24 8HU
Cost: Free
Booking: 020 7274 2733
Word 4 Word – Hosted by Kat Francois, open mic slots available.
When: Monthly
Time: 8pm
Where: Theatre Royal Bar, Theatre Royal Stratford East,
Cost: Free
Booking: 07961 313 557
Facebook page
The Word House - with host Dan Simpson, DJ Able and open mic
When: quarterly
Time: 7.30pm
Where: The Blueberry Bar, 2-4 Paul Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4JH
Cost: £4
Booking: The Word House on Facebook
DODO MODERN POETS letting fly with words
When: Monthly
Where:The Poetry Café
22 Betterton Street, WC2H 9BX
Cost: £6/5
0208 687 1930 07769 777022
patric.poet@zen.co.uk
Website
Dulwich Books, regular events/ book launches
6 Croxted Road, Dulwich, SE21 8SW
contact Dave: 020 8670 1920
www.dulwichbooks.co.uk
dulwichbooks@yahoo.co.uk
Velvet Tongue - a Literary Soiree dedicated to erotic writing and performance
When: Last Monday of the month every 3 months.
Where: Bar Kick, 127 Shoreditch High Street, London. E1 6JE
Cost: £3 / FREE to participants
hosted by Ernesto Sarezale, with guest authors and open mic slots.
Booking: ernesto@sarezale.com
A SPOONFUL OF POISON - special guest + open-mic anarchy
When: Forthnightly, every other MONDAY
Where: THE STAG’S HEAD, 55 Orsman Road, Hoxton, London, N1 5RA
www.aspoonfulofpoison.com
spoon@visthespoon.com
Girlfriend In A Comma -Open mic with special guests, hosted by Fran Isherwood
When: Monthly last Tuesday of every month.
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Full Stop Bar, 202, Brick Lane, London E1 6SA
Cost: Free / voluntary collection
Facebook page
www.franisherwood.co.uk/
Rhymes with Orange
When: 1st Wednesday of the month
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Star of Kings, 126 York Way, London N1 0ZX
Cost: £6
Facebook Page
Speak Your Mind - open mic for all kinds of spoken word & writing
When: Thursdays, every 3 months as we set up
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Harrow HA5 4EA
Cost: £3/ free for performers
Booking: 0208 416 8989 www.harrowarts.com
