The event is featuring slam veteran and co-founder of Enough Said Poetry Slam in Wollongong Lorin Elizabeth, as well as local writer and regular attendee,Annette Arany.
Poetry slam host Elliot York Cameron founded the event last July as an opportunity for anybody to share their creativity in front of a live and engaged audience – regardless of age, background, ability or skill level.
“The Narellan Slam is entirely necessary. It enriches the community around it in the most genuine way,” says Bilal Hafda, co-organiser of Bankstown PoetrySlam and creative writing teacher.
Bilal featured at the slam in April, and believes, “Elliot has cultivated a space that lets poets, young and old, feel accepted and supported and listened to.”
As the event has grown month-to-month, writers have travelled from every corner of the Sydney surrounds, from Gosford to Wollongong to Bondi to Picton.
Bowral High School’s acting-Deputy Principal, Sam Schroder, first attended last year to watch her son perform. She decided to give it a go herself and quickly found a love for the art form.
“In 15 years of teaching, I’ve always struggled to show teenagers how poetry is relevant to their lives. Then, a year ago, I went to Narellan Poetry Slam, and everything changed.”
Sam went on to compete in the 2018 Australian Poetry Slam and made it all the way to the NSW Final at Customs House, Sydney. “Now my students come along, to perform, to see me perform, to snap for other performers who represent all ages and interests. Poetry slams are where it’s at.”
The event has featured established guest poets such as Australian Poetry Slam National Champions Philip Wilcox, Arielle Cottingham and Jesse Oliver, plus Filipina poet and teaching artist Eunice Andrada.
Eunice featured at Narellan Poetry Slam in May, and believes the slam, “carves out such a necessary space for representation and community-building … It’s wonderful to continue seeing the ways people are both challenged and nurtured by this space for sharing poetry.”
Eunice received the 2018 Anne Elder Award for her collection Flood Damages (Giramondo Books), available at Harry Hartog Bookseller.
Narellan Poetry Slam is held on the second last Tuesday of each month at Harry Hartog Bookseller in Narellan Town Centre. In addition, there is a monthly capacity-building workshop for poets the Tuesday prior to the slam.
“The Narellan Poetry Slam continues to grow as a valued cultural event in Sydney with contestants travelling from afar to participate. It’s a wonderful community event and Harry Hartog Narellan is proud to host it,” says Harry Hartog Director David Berkelouw.
To sign up for the slam, or more information, call (02) 4648 2211 or email narellan@harryhartog.com.au
DETAILS
Narellan Poetry Slam
Harry Hartog Bookseller
Shop T201-202 Narellan Town Centre
Camden Valley Way, Narellan NSW 2567
Date: Tuesday 23 July, 2019
Time: 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start – 9pm
Tickets available here
Featured photo by Jules Centauri