POETS and spoken word artists are coming together to compete in Whitchurch next week in a 'bigger and better' Poetry Slam.

Poetry Whitchurch has it second annual Poetry Slam taking place on Monday, August 19 at Percy’s Café Bar in Whitchurch.

Gareth Von Dinther, on behalf of the event, said that the ‘Slam’ is a great way to introduce poetry to people and hopes it will continue to grow.

He said: “Last year, in 2023, we had a great mix of both amateur and established poets come from around the country to showcase their talents, with 15 entrants taking part in total.

“John Woodall emerged victorious, with Lateral G and Ashley Edge securing the second and third places.

“This year promises to be even more exciting, with new and returning poets ready to captivate the audience with their performances.

“This will be a great opportunity to witness some of the best poetic talent around.

“Whether you are a poetry enthusiast or a newcomer to the art form or simply want to be in the audience for an evening of fun, the Poetry Whitchurch Slam should be a great night out.

“Poetry Whitchurch is dedicated to nurturing a love for poetry—both in writing and performance—within the community.

“Events like the slam embodies Poetry Whitchurch’s mission to demonstrate that poetry is not just enriching but also fun and accessible to everyone.

“By blending serious literary craft with a tongue-in-cheek approach, the slam aims to engage a broader audience, showing that poetry can be both profound and playful.”

The Poetry Slam starts at 7pm at Percy’s in Watergate.