EXTENDED DEADLINE
This exciting and unique project is part of the West Norwood Cemetery: A New Beginning National Lottery Heritage Fund programme of work that seeks to conserve the Cemetery’s magnificent landscape and built structures, as well as offer new experiences and facilities to increase community use.
This project - led by Lambeth’s inaugural Poet Laureate Abstract Benna - is a competition to showcase, acknowledge and reward the talent and creativity of young spoken word poets aged 18-30 years old.
Please click on the headline for more details on how to get involved
Project Brief
A lot is happening in the world today. War, the worries of AI on the rise, knife crime, mental health is a huge problem, the worst of social media is starting to dominate our lives, climate change is a growing concern and more. It can all be overwhelming.
What would you do to make the world a better place?
With one or more of the world issues in mind, write a poem that captures and describes your aspirations to make the world a better place.
What we are looking for?
- A spoken word poem duration up to 2.30 mins - sorry, but we will not be able to consider anything longer
- A captivating poem and an emotive performance
- Something that helps us get to know what you care about the most.
Entry Criteria
- 18 - 30 years of age
- This is a spoken word specific project, but open to actors who would like to write and submit a monologue
- South London (with the emphasis on the Norwood area)
- Video and written poem must be submitted with your name and poem title
- This short (20sec) form must be filled out - https://t.ly/SxC-1.
Application deadline - EXTENDED
Midnight, Tuesday, 1 October 2024
The competition is open, and entries are currently being accepted, send away!
You can record your performance on a phone or any other method so long as you can be upload it to Google Drive, WeTransfer, Vimeo etc. Then email us that link, together with your piece written out, to: Spokenwordcomp@gmail.com
One poem per entry!
Judging will take place shortly after the deadline and will be based on the poem with the most engaging and thought provoking performance. The winners will be announced shortly after.
Prizes Up For Grabs
1st place:
- Writing & Performance mentoring from industry professionals
- Tickets to creative events
- Paid Performance opportunity (£150)
- Poetry books - George the poet, Caleb Femi and Yomi Sode
2nd place:
- Poetry books - George the poet, Caleb Femi and Yomi Sode
- Tickets to creative events
3rd place:
- Tickets to creative events
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Details of our Project Team
Project Lead:
Abstract Benna
Abstract Benna is an award winning, Lambeth born and raised writer, spoken word artist, and the inaugural Poet Laureate for London Borough of Lambeth.
Judges:
Emmanuel Sugo
@emmanuelsugo • Instagram photos and videos
As a multi-disciplinary artist and poet, Emmanuel shatters the boundaries between mediums. Sitting between poetry, film, and performance within a West African context, traditions and rituals become the center by which he questions ideas of inheritance and legacy. One where the emotional landscape is as important as the physical landscape we will pass on. His work establishes affection, loyalty, and a fierce sense of belonging as forms of inheritance – binding us together across time and space.
Some of his work includes the Museum+Heritage award-winning “Speak” an art film/soundscape commissioned by Migration Museum; Lens to the Runway, a series of digital interventions commissioned by Camden Council; 3 times, word4word poetry slam champion; published poet in anthology ‘Fireworks in the day time’ and ‘Lamppost’.
Ayomide Adegun
British movie and television actor best known for his role as Pup Harrington in the 2023 action film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. He has also gained popularity from being cast in the 2023 Peacock mini-series The Continental: From the World of John Wick.
He is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. He also attended the BRIT School of Performance and Creative Arts prior to his acting career. Growing up, he lived with his family in London, England. He was born of Nigerian descent.
