Video: Steve Smart’s The Turning

Spoken Word at Bar Oussou

A night for the poetic sweepings of the inner north to degenerate into vitriol and confusion. And rise into revelation, liberating confession and poetic wisps of the sublime. A feast of clashing waters. All in a cozy artsy pup. No features, no list, no limits. Just put your hand up and come on up. Is your piece not really ready? It is for this gig. None of us know what will happen on the night, yet 100% of people performing spoken word here for the first time in their lives have survived so far, and often return for more.

Nikki Viveca / Asexual Love Poem

Winner of the Midsumma Festival Queer Poetry Slam, Nikki Viveca, performs ‘Asexual Love Poem’ at the Malthouse Theatre.

Queer comedienne Nikki Viveca is a prolific performer in standup, spoken word and improv. Her solo storytelling shows include The Lazy Show, about her love affair with laziness, and Asexual Healing, about her lack of interest in actual love affairs. She has been a featured performer three times at women’s spoken word night Mother Tongue, as well as appearing in many queer and alternative events such as Trans Magic, Taint and Lemon Comedy. She can be seen at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Three Dollar Bill, Completely Improvised Potter and her new solo show, The Cake Bride.

Anisa Nandaula wins the 2018 XYZ Prize for Innovation in Spoken Word

In its 4th year, the Arts Queensland XYZ Prize for Innovation in Spoken Word is Australia’s only national arts award that recognises the growing field of spoken word and is named after the former 2010 Arts Queensland Poet in Residence, Emily XYZ, who left a deep impression on many of today’s Queensland spoken word artists. It is open to applicants Australia-wide.

The winner receives $1,000 and publication with Melbourne Spoken Word.

Previous winners include Quinn Eades, Benjamin Wild, and Manna Marvel.

The 2018 Selection Panel was Daisy Lavea-Timo, Benjamin Solah.

Winner: Anisa Nandaula / I hate you

Anisa Nandaula is the 2016 Queensland poetry slam champion, the runner up Australian poetry slam champion and nationally renowned poet. This published poet has performed her work at festivals around the country such as the Queensland poetry festival, Townsville Multicultural festival, Women of the world festival and African Australian film festival. Her unique and captivating exploration of identity and politics has been showcased at the Sydney Opera house, Slama Lama ding dong in Melbourne and Adelaide writers center. Her combination performance, engaging use of language and profound ideas can capture the heart of any audience. She is a published author releasing her debut collection titled Melanin Garden.

Highly Commended: Joel McKerrow / The Brave Ones

Joel McKerrow is an award winning writer, speaker, educator, community arts worker and one of Australia’s most successful internationally touring performance poets having performed for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world since 2010. Based out of Melbourne, Australia he is the Artist Ambassador for the aid and development organisation ‘TEAR Australia’ and was the co-founder of community arts organisation, ‘The Centre for Poetics and Justice’ (2010-2013). Joel was the third ever