What's On / Bristol Concerts, Theatre & Dance / poetry

Poetry & Spoken Word Events in Bristol

Name: Shadow Work: Exploring the Unconscious Through Creativity
Start: 2026-11-13T18:30+00:00
End: 2026-11-13T21:30+00:00
Location: St George's Bristol

upcoming event

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

Tahmina Begum's debut book brings us the stories of three South Asian Muslim women navigating the complexities of choice, desire and expectation in lives shaped by history, faith, family and so much more. Begum will be in person at Bookhaus inviting us into their world, and reflecting on womanhood forged in the fires of a patriarchal, Islamaphobic world. Womanhood launch with Tahmina Begum at Bookhaus.

Kenmure Street is a shining light of collective action in our recent history. Here's another chance to catch the Sundance winning doc following the momentous resistance of this Glaswegian community, stepping up against the Home Office to stop the deportation of their neighbours. Bristol Radical Film Festival 2026 - Everybody to Kenmure Street at The Cube.

Sell out warning! "No-one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away". And so the black-hatted Discworld bard will be in the room as earthly Ankh-Morpork guide and Pratchett biographer Marc Burrows leads a comic tour de force littered with audible footnotes, Pratch-tastic puns, allstar dramatic readings, special guest interviews and nerd-baiting nuggets plucked from the life of STP. Celebrating Terry Pratchett with Marc Burrows at The Gaffe Comedy Club.

Hate crimes are on the rise, anti-immigrant rhetoric is coming from all sides, Islamaphobia is at an all-time high. What can we do? Come together and develop the skills to fight back with this union-friendly half-dayer, packed with workshops on refugee solidarity, the New Far Right and challenging racism in the workplace. Together, we can build a better world! Summit ★ Against Racism in the Workplace, Communities and Colleges at The Station.

What our editors say

“Dada is more than just collage. This anti-establishment rejection of traditional art and society spawned an approach to writing that’s reverberated through the music world. Whether you’re writing lyrics, poetry or fiction, it will liberate your creative process with randomness and ambiguity. ”
From: Shut Up & Cut Up

“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

“We will be showcasing all kinds of performance art and cabaret acts! Some examples include drag, burlesque, circus, spoken word, dance, political performance art, stand up comedy, live singing, and lip syncing. You don't have to be under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella to perform or attend, but we ask that allies please respect that this is intended as a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community.”
From: SCRiTCH - Open Mic Cabaret

“Whether you’re a seasoned performer, a first-timer testing out new material, or just along for the ride, our open mic is all about great performances, good company and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Expect an ever-changing mix of live music, poetry, spoken word, comedy and the unexpected. Anything can happen once the mic is live!”
From: Ill Repute Open Mic Night

“Angus Allman is a translator and poet based just outside Cambridge. He works from German and Italian into English and has a particular interest in literature from northern Italy, including South Tyrol. He has recently graduated with an MA in Literary Translation from the University of East Anglia. When he’s not translating, he works as a software engineer, organises poetry events, and is director of the Cambridge Poetry Festival.”
From: “Hang on, let me get the Ouija board”: Translating the work of dead authors