Past Events › Verses 2018
April 2018
Full Festival Program Page 1
It’s here! Below is a web version of page 1 of our #VSFestival18 program. Click on it so that you can move around in it. Navigation ease may vary according to your device. Print versions of this program will be available as soon as Monday, April 16 at Van Poetry Slam at Cafe Deux Soleils, and other locations following.
Find out more »Full Festival Program Page 2
It’s here! Below is a web version of page 2 of our #VSFestival18 program. Click on it so that you can move around in it. Navigation ease may vary according to your device. Print versions of this program will be available as soon as Monday, April 16 at Van Poetry Slam at Cafe Deux Soleils, and other locations following.
Find out more »Andrea Gibson Q + A with Molly Billows at Massy Books
“Do you want to hear the best story you’ve ever heard in your life?” Andrea Gibson asks into the microphone. The audience leans forward in silent anticipation. “So I met this woman and I went home to her house with her.” They pause, “already a great story.” The audience erupts with laughter, a happy juxtaposition after being so quietly captivated. Smirking into the spotlight, Andrea continues, “…So we’re about to kiss for the very first time. And right before our…
Find out more »See you April 19 – 29 for Verses Festival of Words 2018!
![[ID: a blue- and green-hued poster, trees and water and sky in the background; across the top reads “spoken word / storeytelling / music”; below that reads “8th annual Verses Festival of Words / April 19-29, 2018”; below that are many deep reddish-brown salmon, most of which have names across their bodies - Molly Billows Deirdre Lee Edzi’u Ronnie Dean Harris JB The First Lady Mitcholos Touchie Moe Clark Janet Rogers Kitty Stryker Joshua Whitehead Chimwemwe Undi Andre Prefontaine Buffy Sainte-Marie Billy-Ray Belcourt Christopher Michael Virago Nation Zoe Pricelys Roy Q The Fugitives + more /end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Spring-One-Month-Away-with-Artists-and-border-version-360x275.jpg)
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 if a show says “Sold Out” online, as a pass-holder, you can get in as long as you are there more than 30 minutes before the show starts. The audience…
Find out more »Spoken Word Jamboree feat. Molly Billows
![[ID: RC Weslowski and Johnny Macrae stand on stage wearing VS. shirts. Audience members are visible on either side of them. They are standing in front of the Hullabaloo banner/end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Hullabaloon-360x360-360x275.jpg)
The Spoken Word Jamboree kicks off not only Hullabaloo, but also Verses Festival of Words! All teams will be invited to perform a one-minute intro poem to tell us more about themselves and their school, and Molly Billows will rock the house as the night’s feature. Alice MacKay Room (downstairs from the main concourse). Doors at 6:00 PM. Show starts at 6:30 PM. The Jamboree provides all participating poets a chance to meet each other outside of a competition setting. It’s…
Find out more »Hullabaloo All Star Slam Showcase #1
![[ID: Zoey Roy stands with one arm gesturing towards the camera, while looking directly at it with a slight smile/end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Zoey-300x300-300x275.jpg)
“Awesome day! My students were so pumped and spoke about it for days afterwards.” – Lorisse Humphries, Chilliwack Middle School The always popular Hullabaloo All Star Slam at the Rio Theatre returns this year, featuring a battle between Canadian spoken word all stars! The 2018 edition of the All Star Slam sees Vancouver’s Molly Billows, Calgary’s Erin Dingle, and Saskatoon’s Zoey Pricelys Roy compete in a three-round poetry slam hosted by the inimitable Johnny Trinh – with students judging! Once the dust has settled, and the winner has…
Find out more »Hullabaloo All Star Slam Showcase #2 – SOLD OUT
![[ID: Johnny Trinh is holding a microphone in one hand and a clipboard in the other. He stands in front of The Rio’s red theatre curtain/end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Trinh-Hosts-360x360-360x275.jpg)
“Awesome day! My students were so pumped and spoke about it for days afterwards.” – Lorisse Humphries, Chilliwack Middle School The always popular Hullabaloo All Star Slam at the Rio Theatre returns this year, featuring a battle between Canadian spoken word all stars! The 2018 edition of the All Star Slam sees Vancouver’s Molly Billows, Calgary’s Erin Dingle, and Saskatoon’s Zoey Pricelys Roy compete in a three-round poetry slam – with students judging! Once the dust has settled, and the winner has been declared, there’s time for a Q&A…
Find out more »Hullabaloo Slams: Round 1!
![[ID: A scoreboard reading 9.9 sits on the lap of a judge/ end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Judgie-Wudgie-360x360-360x275.jpg)
The preliminary rounds erupt, with all 16 teams competing in four heats of four! Location: Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye rooms (downstairs from the main concourse). Doors: 6:00 PM Start: Bouts 1 & 2 6:30 PM Bouts 3 & 4 8:30 PM End: 10:00 PM 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…
Find out more »Adventures in Poetryland Workshops
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Adventures-360x360-360x275.jpg)
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 the dark arts of banter? Have you crafted spellbinding chapbooks? Or trained in the martial discipline of mic technique? There’s a lot to discover and if you’re a young, aspiring poet,…
Find out more »Hullabaloo Slams: Round 2!
![[ID: A person raises a scorecard with an 8.4 score. In the background are other audience members and a person holding a 9.1/end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Jedgie-Wedgie-360x360-360x275.jpg)
The second slate of prelims kicks off, with all 16 teams competing for the second time in less than 24 hours! Following Round 1 of preliminary competitions on Friday night, some teams are still in it to win it and some teams are going out with a bang, so Round 2 is bound to be mind-blowing! Location: Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye rooms (downstairs from the main concourse). Doors: 1:00 PM Start Bouts 5 & 6: 1:30 PM Bouts 7 & 8: 3:30 PM…
Find out more »Hullabaloo Finals feat. Moe Clark
![[ID: Moe Clark sits laughing into the camera. She is wearing a camisole style top and a cameo necklace/end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/6MoeClark_NoraNathoo2_IMG_88081-360x275.jpg)
The 8th annual HULLABALOO FINALS NIGHT will determine which school has the best poetic chops in all of British Columbia. Moe Clark will start the evening with a feature set of her award-winning spoken word poetry. Then the top four teams from the preliminary bouts will face off against each other with the 2018 Hullabaloo team championship (and the Billy Sharkspeare Trophy) at stake! Alice MacKay Room. Doors: 7:00 PM Start: 8:00 PM End: 10:30 PM About the feature: Métis multidisciplinary artist Moe…
Find out more »Jangle & Shout: HullaVerses Remixer
A literary afternoon delight! Music and words from many of the artists performing throughout the festival, including a selection of Hullabaloo performers featured from our youth events. Bear witness to festival highlights as we celebrate their creative minds in one shared space, where participating artists and organizers, established and up-and-coming, meet, mingle and make merry. This is an All Ages Event. Featured performers (in no particular order) include: Moe Clark Ronnie Dean Harris Jillian Christmas Fernando Raguero Pamela Bentley Johnny…
Find out more »Buffy Sainte-Marie and Special Guests
![[ID: Buffy Sainte-Marie sings into a microphone on a stand in front of her. Her eyes are closed. Her right hand is raised. She is wearing a breastplate with an unbuttoned black vintage brass-buttoned jacket. She has a turquoise ring on each finger of her left hand. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/BSMphoto1-360x275.jpg)
Call resistance an act of love, name activism as belief in restoration, trust as resilience, music as medicine; there is alchemy in the work of Buffy Sainte-Marie. Utilizing a generous body of work spanning half a century, Buffy Sainte-Marie reminds us that the truest wealth we can accumulate is in community, story, connection and truth. Through word and song she moves us to look our own reflections in the eye and raise our voices to meet this mission. Bending her…
Find out more »Moe Clark – Masterclass: “Looping Landscapes”
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Moe-Clark-reduced-360x275.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 through her process of transforming a simple page poem into a full-spectrum spoken word performance poem with layers, loops, and creative vocal dimensions. Everyone is invited to bring a poem…
Find out more »Thursdays Writing Collective Discussion and Workshop
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Thursdays-Writing-Collective-360x275.jpg)
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, People of Colour, mixed race and white, trans and queer folks, survivors, and many other intersectional identities from different backgrounds. Our youngest writer is 18, our oldest is 87. “Collectively,…
Find out more »Van Slam Team Finals featuring Christopher Michael
![[ID: Christopher Michael is standing on stage speaking into a microphone on a stand in front of him. He is bearded. His eyes are closed behind glasses and his eyebrows are raised. His left arm is stretched toward audience palm up at a 45 degree angle with his right hand indicating the inside of his left elbow. He is wearing a black t-shirt with a black vest over it and jeans. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Christopher-Michael-360x275.jpg)
Celebrate the 22nd annual Van Slam Finals Night with visiting feature Christopher Michael. Vancouver’s top nine slam poets of the season compete for a spot on this years team to represent Van Slam at major tournaments and festivals across North America. Poets gain points by ranking in the top four at Van Slam throughout the year to qualify for this playoff event. This is an All Ages show. General seating. Doors at 7; Slam at 8. Box office and Will…
Find out more »Community Poetry Workshop with JB the First Lady
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/received_10155987269191368-e1522111500408-360x275.jpg)
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 poem together, hopefully, tap into the rich community surrounding them. Doors 10 a.m. / Workshop 10:30-12:00 / Wise Hall / $20 Advance / $25 At Door / Financial access options…
Find out more »Ableism 101 Workshop with Q
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/29425970_2040557059499602_2120453163948441600_o-e1522114254147-360x275.jpg)
“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, and there is little left untouched by the insidious affects of ableism. Awareness is the first step in creating change. In this workshop, learn to recognize ableism in your…
Find out more »The Witching Hour
![[ID: Image of a partial moon face. The bottom of the moon is reflected at the bottom of the image. The moon is set against an off white background. The words "The Witching Hour" "Verses Festival of Words" " Joelle Barron // Ellie Sawatzky // Alessandra Naccarato" and " w/ special guests, tarot readings and ask baba yaga" overlaid on the moon image in black and blue font. /end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/29746763_10155924694531140_605647739_o-1-2-e1522352152926-360x275.png)
Triple book launch with Joelle Barron, Ellie Sawatzky, Alessandra Naccarato & special guests. Join us for the launch of three new poetry collections that blur the line between the magic and the mundane: Highly Sensitive Femme by Alessandra Naccarato (Frog Hollow Press), Rhinocerotic by Ellie Sawatzky (Frog Hollow Press), and Ritual Lights by Joelle Barron (Ice House Press). Come for the poetry and stay for the tarot readings; rumour has it Baba Yaga will be in attendance. 6 pm Doors / 6:30…
Find out more »Sounds Like Fire: Edzi’u, Joshua Whitehead, and Janet Rogers
![[ID: Many people in audience of Sounds Like Fire 2017, smiling and laughing. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/sounds-like-fire-360x275.jpg)
Rich with voices of the past, present, and future, a powerhouse lineup of literary and lyrical titans guide us on a journey through poetic language, experience, story, and song including songwriter and composer Edzi’u, storyteller, poet, and academic Joshua Whitehead, and innovative multimedia artist Janet Rogers. Doors 8:15 pm / Showcase 8:30 – 10 pm / $15 Advance / $20 At Door General Seating with some standing room at back of Hall. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time on Brown…
Find out more »CIPS 2018 Poet Orientation
![[ID: A row of paper bags with Verses logo screenprinted in pink are lined up along a table. The corner of a stack of red tshirts is on the table at the left bottom edge of the photo. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Masse-Mensch-Material-360x275.jpg)
CIPS Orientation will take place on Wednesday, April 25th, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Wise Hall. (Bouts will run on Thursday, April 26th and Friday, April 27th at Cafe Deux Soleils and Havana Theatre.) THIS EVENT IS FOR MEMBERS OF THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE AND COMPETING CIPS POETS ONLY ATTENDANCE AT ORIENTATION IS MANDATORY! If you do not attend orientation you will receive a 2-point deduction on your score in the 1-minute round. Exceptions will only be made in…
Find out more »Spoken Nerd featuring Kitty Stryker
![[ID: Kitty Stryker sits on a round orange and yellow ottoman chair. Her feet are tucked to one side. The image is at a tilt and is washed in yellow. Kitty wears a dark plaid skirt, black stockings, Mary-Jane shoes, and a yellow v-necked button up cardigan over a flowered shirt. Her hair is orange. She wears glasses. Her mouth is pursed. Her head is tilted and her eyes are looking to one side. To her right there is an orange gumball machine. Above her on a shelf on the yellow wall behind her, there is a bag of gumballs. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/apekitty-6467-360x275.jpg)
What better place to proclaim your love for whatever turns on your nerdy nature than at the Storm Crow Tavern, the geekiest gathering place in Vancouver? Costumes are welcomed in the audience or for performers. Go on, dress up, and step up to the mic. You will be in raucous good company! Hosted by the inimitable Erin Dingle. Featuring a set by self-described nerd Kitty Stryker. 2:30 Doors / 3:00 Show / By Donation https://www.stormcrowtavern.com/ The Storm Crow remains…
Find out more »Vancouver Story Slam Invitational Verses 2018 Edition
![[ID: Photograph of Vancouver Story Slam organizer and host Susan Cormier standing on stage behind a microphone. She holds a clipboard in her right hand with a Vancouver Story Slam label while gesturing with her left hand. She has bright blue and red nail polish. She is wearing a red dress. Her long hair is clipped back at the top. An insert of the Verses Festival of Words poster is at the bottom left with an array of stylized red salmon, arrows and dots moving from right to left across a blue background. It includes the words Eighth Annual Verses Festival of Words April 19 - 29, 2018. /end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Story-Slam-Susan-Verses-smaller-360x275.jpg)
A special invitational edition of the Vancouver Story Slam storytelling show just for Verses Festival of Words! Ten storytellers share original short stories in a competition for cash and prizes. 50 audience members will receive voting ballots to select the night’s winning storytellers. Vancouver Story Slam is Canada’s longest-running live monthly storytelling competition. New participants are always welcome; profits from the monthly show go to the VSS annual writing scholarship. Produced by Susan Cormier and hosted by Bryant Ross. This…
Find out more »Mashed Poetics: Couldn’t Stand the Weather by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble
![[ID: A close-up of a well-worn wooden electric guitar with SRV initials on it being played by a person's hands with large gold circular rings on the ring fingers. Tha person a black embroidered with white shirt. /end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/29497458_1644736835580296_4615277344578433774_n-360x275.jpg)
Mashed Poetics is a night of Spoken Word and Music mash up. Mashed Poetics has been a part of the Verses Festival of Words since its inception and is happy to be a part of the 2018 edition. This year, Mashed Poetics is bringing the blues-rock storm of Couldn’t Stand the Weather by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble. Eight poets write new work based on the songs from the album performed by “The Cold Shots.” Poets will perform in…
Find out more »Talk the Talk: Consent Culture
![[ID: A graphic with the word Talk repeated in different sizes and colours filling the space of the image. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/TalktheTalk1-360x275.jpg)
Guided by two qualified facilitators, Kitty Stryker and Rabbit Richards, this talk is likely to engage with a number of topics that challenge, advance and re-form our collective ideas of consent culture within the arts. Come prepared with questions, thoughts and a respectful voice. Active listeners will be present for community care. Come prepared with questions, suggestions and a respectful voice. This discussion is a free event. Seating cannot be reserved in advance. Doors Noon / 12:30 – 2:30 pm…
Find out more »Reframing Relations Workshop
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Reframing-Relations-Images_Page_1-360x275.jpg)
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 to support meaningful reconciliation. Presented by Community Arts Council of Vancouver facilitators Ronnie Dean Harris and Johnny MacRae. This Workshop is offered in partnership with Community Arts Council of Vancouver. …
Find out more »Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Day 1: Bouts at Havana Theatre
![[ID: Two people in the audience are shown. Both are wearing grey and black Verses t-shirts and glasses. The expression of the person on the right is surprise. Their arms are crossed in front of them. The person on the left has their right arm outstretched and is smiling. They are wearing a red baseball cap backwards. The legs and clapping hands of other audience members are visible behind these two people. /end ID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Havana-Theatre-CIPs-Bouts-Day-1-image-square-360x275.jpg)
Canada’s best slam poets sling metaphors and match wits in four-minute and one-minute rounds. These Day One bouts at Havana Theatre are two of eight preliminary competitions that take place on Thursday and Friday nights here and at Cafe Deux Soleils during Verses Festival. The scores from these eight bouts determine the twelve poets who move on to compete in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship (CIPS) final match on Saturday night. All poetry performances on the stage are judged by volunteer…
Find out more »Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Day 1: Bouts at Cafe Deux Soleils
![[ID: A score card with the number 9.4 is in the bottom right corner. There are many people in the audience at Cafe Deux Soleils. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/CIPS-Bouts-1-and-3-Cafe-Deux-Soleils-360x275.jpg)
Canada’s best slam poets sling metaphors and match wits in four-minute and one-minute rounds. These Day One bouts at Cafe Deux Soleils are two of eight preliminary competitions that take place on Thursday and Friday nights here and at Havana Theatre during Verses Festival. The scores from these eight bouts determine the twelve poets who move on to compete in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship (CIPS) final match on Saturday night. All poetry performances on the stage are judged by…
Find out more »The Fugitives presented by the Wise Hall & Verses, introducing the “Little Death Match”
Live at the WISE and Verses Festival of Words is proud to present The Fugitives album release Show for “The Promise of Strangers” . PLUS Introducing the Verses Festival of Words “Little Death Match” (a 17 syllable slam) During intermission we dip our toes into a tantalizing tiny pool of words, revisiting the 17 syllable slam format with four skilled champions of the sharpened tongue and keenly wielded wit: past Haiku Death Match champions Erin Kirsh, Fernando Raguero, RC Weslowski,…
Find out more »“It Takes a Village: Community Care for Survivors” Q&A with Kitty Stryker
![[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]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/18209346_1323109567743026_6284841095387137108_o-360x275.jpg)
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 to ask questions about their own experiences and allyship. This event will focus on fostering a supportive environment for survivors and a learning environment for their allies, as well as…
Find out more »Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Day 2: Bouts at Havana Theatre
![[ID: Gold running shoes and jeans of a person standing at behind a mic and mic stand on stage. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/18198444_1323706294350020_7424804281473372304_n-360x275.jpg)
Canada’s best performance poets show us their strongest two and three minute poems to decide who will advance to finals. These Day Two bouts at Havana Theatre are two of eight preliminary competitions that take place on Thursday and Friday nights here and at Cafe Deux Soleils during Verses Festival. The scores from these eight bouts determine the twelve poets who move on to compete in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship (CIPS) final match on Saturday night. All poetry performances…
Find out more »Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Day 2: Bouts at Cafe Deux Soleils
![[ID: A person wearing a purple shirt holds up a scorecard with the number 8.1 on it. In the background are other audience members and the menu chalkboard at Cafe Deux Soleils. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Photo-for-CIPS-Day-2-CDS-resized-360x275.jpg)
Canada’s best performance poets show us their strongest two and three minute poems to decide who will advance to finals. These Day Two bouts at Cafe Deux Soleils are two of eight preliminary competitions that take place on Thursday and Friday nights here and at Havana Theatre during Verses Festival. The scores from these eight bouts determine the twelve poets who move on to compete in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship (CIPS) final match on Saturday night. (Bouts 6…
Find out more »Interrobang?! Billy-Ray Belcourt, Virago Nation, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
![[ID: Many people in audience clapping and cheering. Two people are in the forefront of the photo. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/18121289_1323034557750527_2230345362122569032_o-360x275.jpg)
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 unasked-questions. Join us as this all star line-up of curious creators, including Billy-Ray Belcourt, Virago Nation, and Snotty Nose Rez Kids, fill the room with wonder and imagination – all the while offering us a bounty of new…
Find out more »Talk the Talk: Harm Reduction
This community-driven, facilitator-mediated conversation asks artists to participate in anti-oppression dialogue around the topic of “Harm Reduction” within the Spoken Word Community and the many intersecting communities in which we engage. Active listeners will be present for community care. Come prepared with questions, suggestions and a respectful voice. This discussion is a free event. Seating cannot be reserved in advance. Doors Noon / 12:30 – 2:30 pm / Havana Theatre / Free This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist…
Find out more »Word Circus: Chimwemwe Undi, Deirdre Lee, Andre Prefontaine, Philip Kevin Paul & Doug Koyama
![[ID: Many people dancing and moving around a room. They are smiling. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/18155892_1323040434416606_3688364882893511007_o-360x275.jpg)
A whirlwind of words from Chimwemwe Undi, Deirdre Lee, Andre Prefontaine, Doug Koyama, and Philip Kevin Paul who will perform feats of acrobatic wordsmithery before your very eyes. Doors 2:30 / Show 3 – 4:30 / Havana Theatre / $10 Advance / $12 At Door $10 Advance tickets for Word Circus are available here on Brown Paper Tickets. $12 At Door. Cash only. Admission to this event is included in your Verses Festival Pass but get there early to get a…
Find out more »Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Finals at ANNEX Theatre
![[ID: Ifrah Hussein, 2018 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam champion stands at a microphone on a stand in front of a red curtain illuminated by a spotlight. Her mouth is open speaking. She is looking to her right. She is wearing blue jeans and a denim jacket with a yellow t-shirt under it. She wears a black hijab. Her hands are clasped behind her back. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Ifrah-2017-Finals-360x267.jpg)
The top 12 poets from preliminaries advance to this final match. Who will claim the title of 2018 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion? This closing match includes a feature presentation by the 2017 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam champion Ifrah Hussein. Poets in the Finals will be performing three-minute poems. The first round will consist of twelve poets. The top seven highest-scoring poets will move on to the second round. Then, the top four highest-scoring poets from the second round move…
Find out more »Talking Stick Festival Community Stage
![[ID: Graphic image with salmon and red and black designs inside them move diagonally from middle left to upper right. The salmon are leaping along the edge of a turquoise coloured representation of water with spirals along the top edge. The words "EXPLORE ABORIGINAL CULTURE THROUGH THE ARTS. TALKINGSTICKFESTIVAl.CA" appear in the bottom right corner of the image. /endID]](http://verses.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/29994623_10156604372386535_508856424_o-360x275.png)
UPDATE on line-up below! The Talking Stick Festival has been calling community together for over 17 years. With a desire to appeal to Indigenous and non-Indigenous attendees alike, the multi-disciplinary Indigenous arts festival comes to us as a community stage presentation, closing out Verses Festival of Words 2018 with a showcase of artists who have performed on TSF stages throughout the years. Hosted by Molly Billows. Featuring: Hosted by Molly Billows Featuring: Valeen Jules jaye simpson Tawahum Justin Peter Bige Christie…
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