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Poetry & Spoken Word Events in Bristol

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Bristol's Poetry Scene

At the time of writing there are very few regular poetry events in Bristol. Milk hosts regular nights at Halo on Gloucester Road and The Wardrobe Theatre in Old Market. Hammer & Tongue occasionally bring their poetry slams to town and have used The Grain Barge for past events. Stand Up For Lyricism promotes poetry events in south Bristol at The Rope Walk and Tobacco Factory Theatre.

Buy tickets for poetry events in Bristol

Our recent poetry recommendations

Sell out warning! Proper pagan fun from the alternative community at Bridge Farm. Delve into the true meaning of Halloween with storytelling, ritual, fire ceremony, esoteric folk music and Wych Elm's eldritch grunge-horror - it'll be just like The Wicker Man (with a PG rating)! Samhain at Bridge Farm at Bridge Farm Community.

Sell out warning! Attack Pro crank up the masked mayhem and melting KISS make-up, flipping Loco into a subterranean spandex battleground with a spooky seasonal twist. Inside: Welsh WWE titan Mark Andrews celebrates 20 years between the ropes, Deathmatch Prince Drew Parker defends his title against Chris 'The Stallion' Bronson + more grudge matches TBA. ATTACK Pro Wrestling - GOOSEBUMPS 11 Night 2 at Loco Klub.

Free entry / PWYC! This bumper editions of the priceless Anarchist Bookfair spreads its disruptive tentacles over five venues in Old Market, with radical publishers, direct action crews, free childcare, workshops on resisting immigration raids, blocking the Israeli supply chain, and more. Everything you need to stop doomscrolling, get informed, and get involved... Bristol Anarchist Bookfair at Exchange.

The thespian life is not all greasepaint and curtain calls… Argento’s former assistant director Michele Soavi made his debut with this gloriously unhinged horror chimera, a hallucinatory stew of backstage paranoia, baroque bloodletting and Hitchcockian mischief. Stagefright is a queasy little treasure chest of surface pleasures featuring bodies cleaved in two, pickaxes through the gob and an absolutely deranged final act. STAGEFRIGHT at Bristol Megascreen.

What our editors say

“myndstate (he/him) is a spoken word artist, poet, and performer known for blending hard-hitting, vulnerable performances with wit and humour. His words - full of emotion, storytelling, and rhyme - have made him a national poetry slam winner, got him featured on the likes of BBC Radio London, Sky Sports, and Attitude, plus have amassed millions of views online. ”
From: Milk Poetry Presents: myndstate: deep breath

“If you have written something come and share it otherwise your stories, Flash/Micro fiction/ poetry won't live. You will find a warm and welcoming environment with a very supportive and friendly audience al willing to listen. FREE ENTRY.”
From: Spoken Word Open Mic

“How do our senses help us find poetry in moments of uncertainty and urgency? Part of a weekender exploring touch, multisensoriality and rhythm in our universe of warnings, this concert will featuring new collaborative commissions from Dali de Saint Paul, Valentina Magaletti, Aura Satz and Holly Thomas.”
From: Scoring Warnings

“Causing a stir and serving up his blend of honest, observational and comedic stand-up poetry, performance and comedy poet Ade Smith's quick wit, charm and relatability provide quite the occasion. All in the name of rhyme!”
From: Ade Smith - Rhymes Against Humanity

“Naomi is a disabled actor and writer, working across stage and screen. She first performed her poetry on the Copenhagen poetry scene whilst working out there, then moved to London nine years ago. She has written two award-winning short films, and this is her first published poetry.”
From: Author Talk - Grief Is A Feeling, voices brought together through grief