Date: Friday 17th April 2026

Venue: Arnolfini (Theatre)

Time: 18:00 - 19:00

Tickets: £5 / £3 / FREE

✅ BSL Interpreted

✅ Live Streamed (book a ‘Live Stream Ticket’ at checkout)

✅ All Lyra Fest venues are wheelchair accessible. Access Information Pack available at www.lyrafest.com.

The Power of Poetry

Panel Discussion

Join international, national and local poets for a captivating panel discussion which considers the enduring power of poetry in contemporary life. International recognised author and spoken word artist Shane Koyczan will be joined by: touring UK poet and internet sensation Georgie Jones, former Bristol City Poet Vanessa Kisuule, and celebrated Bristol poet and founder of Bristol Black Writers, Bertel Martin. Chaired by Professor Lucy English, co-director of Lyra Festival and co-editor of Spoken Word in the UK, the panel will discuss the role of spoken word and live poetry in responding to world events and empowering communities, particularly through difficult times. 

Artist Bios:

Georgie Jones is a poet and performer praised for her ‘formidable stage presence and compelling way with words’. A Roundhouse Slam finalist and BBC Words First alum, she has toured the UK, garnered millions of views online and nearly performed with Pitbull (a technicality she refuses to dwell on). Her debut collection And The World Spins Anyway is a love letter to real life, however it shows up; an exploration of the exquisite messiness of modern existence in which Georgie, with her signature wit and warmth, makes the chaos feel, somehow, quite comforting. 

Internationally recognized author and spoken word artist Shane Koyczan has emerged as a creator of poetry that dares to belong to the people and speak directly to them in their own voice. In 2013, he collaborated with animators to make the anti-bullying viral video To This Day which has had over 13 million views, and he performed a customized version For the Bullied and the Beautiful to acclaim at the 2013 International TED Conference in Long Beach, California. Shane shapes his words and delivers in multi mediums from authored, video, spoken word, operatic, and musically performed. Shane Koyczan performed at the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“Koyczan’s passionate poetic slice of life lessons have garnered him a global audience for his uplifting performances.“ The Record

For HeadFirst use only:

Part of Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2026

#LyraFest

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Entry requirements: 16+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio — Read more — Read less