Story Week Program PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION Lorem Lorem Ek! Lorem Lorem O Me to Story We Elc E

Story Week Program PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION Lorem Lorem ek! Lorem Lorem o me to Story We elc e. Lorem WLorem her delighted you’re (Time zone AEDT, Australia) ’re W(Timee zone AEDT, Australia) Lorem Lorem

Curtain up. Spotlight. Mic — Show. This is a week to celebrate the links that keep us human even when we can’t hug a friend. This is more than a show. These are your stories.

Friday 6 – Saturday 14 NOVEMBER 2020

2 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow Message from the Creative Director Before we begin… Word Travels is broadcasting on Gadigal Land. This land belongs to First Nations people. We pay respect and give thanks to elders, past, present and future. ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE INDIGENOUS LAND. This land is full of stories. Most are not written. They are told. Around a fire. Around a backyard. Around a table. Around this glowing rectangle in front of you. You’re in your dining room, on the train or hunched over llo your seven-year old’s bedroom table turned into “home He office”. You’re on your device. Wherever you are, grab a seat. Most of the events are on www.wordtravels.info. You purchase a ticket. A door opens to a hidden stage with live digital events and a library of powerful videos. Story Week brings together writers from across Australia and the world for an action-packed program in the cloud. Click for poetry slams. Eavesdrop on conversations. Share your stories and hear your virtual neighbour’s experiences. 2020 is a tumultuous year. Our new mantra: “ADAPTATION, RESILIENCE, INNOVATE, PIVOT”. Story Week is Word Travels’ Pivot. Through struggle, great stories come. Your stories/Our stories are at the forefront of this creative and challenging program. 3 Tickets Everyday Book your All Access Pass at www.wordtravels.info or Time zones Daily Events All listings are in Sydney time zone (AEDT). Morning and afternoon sessions fit North and South America times. Evening and night sessions fit Africa, Asia and Europe times. Aloud Boom cha! Broadcasting live conversations, performances and non-print literary shouts every night. Straight up My Latest Epiphany awesome shows streamed. Grab a drink from the home My Latest Epiphany is a collaboration with the Nuyorican bar. Settle in for a 30-minute blast. Poets Cafe, Write Bloody North and Edmonton Poetry The Aloud series is hosted by Hani Abdile and Festival. Lunchtime talks and performances with a mix of Zohab Zee Khan, live 7 — 7.30pm each night on musos, poets, and producers who share samples of their Novemeber: newest a-ha! moments, cracking open sealed pages and hitting play on their musings. Featuring a selection of fine • Saturday 7 with Zohab Zee Khan Canadian and U.S. artists. • Sunday 8 with Priya Srinivasan and Apeksha Harsh from Pomegranate Supported by the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney • Monday 9 with Phomolo Sekamotho Each day’s unique line-up in the My Latest Epiphany, (Hear My Voice) and Thando Fuze hosted by Emily Crocker and Miles Merrill, series takes • Tuesday 10 with DOBBY and Barkaa place from 12.30 — 1.30pm on November: • Wednesday 11 with Daiane Moret • Thursday 12 with Joshua Ip and Charlene • Monday 9 with Brandon Wint and Lucia Misch Sheperdson of Sing Lit Station • Tuesday 10 with Jillian Christmas and J. F. Seary • Friday 13 with Arielle Cottingham • Wednesday 11 with Nisha Patel and Darian Dauchan and Hollie McNish • Thursday 12 with reg e gaines and Ian Keteku • Saturday 14 with Hani Abdile • Friday 13 with Silla + Rise and Ruby Singh

4 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem Lorem (Time zone AEDT, Australia) (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Lorem Opening LoremNight House Party!

PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION Friday, November 6 6 — 7 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Welcome to your Living Zoom. Take a seat on the lounge with a cuppa. Imagine those moments when your mate said, ‘I’ll go order the pizzas. Shall we get another round?’ You down your meal and hustle along the harbour. Pick up your tix at box office. Seated. Lights down. Curtain up. Spotlight. Mic. Show. Featuring a selection of Story Week artists, staff, partners and friends in a roulette of conversation and performances. Platform : Zoom 5 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow WORKSHOP • EDUCATION PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION Spoken word Aloud with for a living Zohab Zee Khan Saturday, November 7 Saturday, November 7 12:30 — 1:30pm 7 — 7:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Live from London and Australia with Zohab Zee Khan and Join Executive Director of the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, Hani Abdile — boom cha! Daniel Gallant for a discussion about how to market, Zohab Zee Khan performs and chats with Hani Abdile fund and promote spoken word and literary programming. about where he comes from (Wagga), where he is (London) Webinar with Q&A and where he’s going... Hosted by Miles Merrill Hosted by Hani Abdile Featuring Daniel Gallant, Executive Director Featuring Zohab Zee Khan of the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 6 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow POETRY SLAM PERFORMANCE Sydney Poetry Word for Word AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM Slam Final Sunday, November 8 Saturday, November 7 12 — 1:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) 8 — 10 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Edmonton, Canada is deadly cold in winter. Like most places with crap Sydney’s best slam stars duke it out in this Zoom-tacular weather (Melbourne) they breed a rich finale. Poets from Katoomba to Randwick, Mount Druitt indoor culture. Their spoken word and to Double Bay, CBD to Northern Beaches and several literary scene is vibrant, diverse and stops in between compete for two spots to represent perfect for an indoor arts community. Sydney at the NSW State Final. Annually the Edmonton Poetry Festival Hosted by Mel Ree (EPF) rocks all kinds of local and greater Turtle Island poets, like Ruby Singh from Featuring Pola Fanous Vancouver plus a slew of international names. Sacrificial Poet Miles Merrill Now EPF travels South searching for Music Trevor Brown wordsmiths to match verses with. Three award-winning Australian writers meet the Edmontonians with multiple rounds of poetry slinging on a cloud stage over Sydney. Hosted by Nisha Patel Featuring Ruby Singh, Cobra Collins, Andi Stewart, Eunice Andrada and Andrew Cox

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 7 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE Aloud with Wordsmith Podcast Launch Pomegranate Sunday, November 8, 2020 Sunday, November 8, 2020 8 — 9 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) 7 — 7:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Join us for the launch of WORDSMITH the poetry podcast. Listen to and learn from an eclectic mix of Australian and Live from Mumbai and London Pomegranate’s Priya international poets as they reveal what’s behind their Srinivasan and Apeksha Harsh speak with Zohab Khan — words. From how poetry played out in childhood to what boom cha! time of day divine intervention visits. WORDSMITH delves Priya Srinivasan directs The Pomegranate Workshop. This deep into the lives of poets. dynamic and inspiring company runs creative education This free event will be live-streamed via programs with schools and youth centres throughout Mumbai. @wordsmithpoetrypodcast on Facebook — and if you’d Hosted by Zohab Khan like to join in the Zoom room and really be part of the fun, contact the team by email (hurry, limited places apply!). Featuring Priya Srinivasan & Apeksha Harsh of Pomegranate Featuring Miriam Hechtman and Kelly Van Nelson. Free on Instagram Live Guest poets include: Analysis (USA), Ali Whitelock (AUS), Thabani Tshuma (AUS), Scott-Patrick Mitchell (AUS), Juan Garrido-Salgado (AUS), Jeff Cottrill (CAN), Elizabeth McGeown (Northern Ireland), Special K (USA) and more. Poets will be performing their poems on the night. Free on Facebook Live

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE My Latest Epiphany Aloud with Brandon Wint + Lucia Misch Hear My Voice Monday, November 9 Monday, November 9 12:30 — 1:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) 7 — 7:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Canada showtime meets Australian lunchtime Live! Meet members of Hear My Voice, the South African on the first live episode ofMy Latest Epiphany, spoken word organisation. They give us insight into what it’s we meet Brandon Wint and Lucia Misch — two like on the ground for young black poets in Tshwane. Canadian spoken word poets on the cusp of Live from South Africa and London with Phomolo publishing their first books with Write Bloody North. Sekamotho from Hear My Voice, Thando Fuze and Hosted by Emily Crocker Zohab Zee Khan. Featuring Brandon Wint + Lucia Misch Hosted by Zohab Zee Khan Featuring Phomolo Sekamotho (Hear My Voice) and Thando Fuze

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 9 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow PERFORMANCECONVERSATION • • CONVERSATION PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATIONTickets LoremMy Latest Epiphany Lorem Book your All Access LoremJillian Christmas + J.F.Seary Lorem Pass, or to view free Tuesday,Lorem November 10 Lorem events, visit : 12:300(Time zone — 1:3AEDT, pmAustralia) (Time zone AEDT, Australia) (Time zone AEDT, Australia) www. wordtravels.info Lorem Showtime in New York and Canada meets Australian Lorem /story-week2020 lunchtime — one of Canada’s most remarkable poets Jillian Christmas and Nuyorican Poetry star J.F. Seary chat with Emily Crocker about where their craft comes from. Hosted by Emily Crocker Featuring Jillian Christmas and J. F. Seary

10 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE FILM + PHOTO

Aloud with First Person View: Dobby + Barkaa Concepts of Country Tuesday, November 10 Screening with Q & A 7 — 7:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Tuesday, November 10 ‘I Can’t Breathe is a song that Australia needs to hear. 8 — 8:45 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) It’s a direct reflection of our country’s disregard for the health of our indigenous people.’ Watch this powerful Concepts of Country is a collection of 5 x one-minute music clip then hear DOBBY and Barkaa unpack their videos made in the Kimberley region of Western Australia heads for Hani Abdile. to explain the meaning of words that are vital to living with Country; words that when translated into English lose their Hosted by Hani Abdile value and meaning. Featuring DOBBY and Barkaa The words share the value of relationships, and how these connections can provide a framework for identity, Free on Instagram Live well-being and sustainability. Hosted by Cornel Ozies Featuring Concepts of Country director, Marlikka Perdrisat

11 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE My Latest Epiphany Aloud with Nisha Patel + Darian Dauchan Daiane Moret Wednesday, November 11 Wednesday, November 11 12:30 — 1:3 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) 7 — 7:30 pm Live from New York and Edmonton - A Beatboxing (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Loopstation Vice Champion and a Canadian Poetry Slam Having spent most of 2020 in her Brazilian hometown, Champion unveil their newest stuff. Electric and wild. Daiane Silva Moret brings new poems that expose difficult My Latest Epiphany is a collaboration with the Nuyorican topics, not losing focus that the personal is the political. Poets Cafe, Write Bloody North and Edmonton Poetry Her aim is to bridge the gap between Latin America and Festival to create lunchtime talks and performances with a Australia with her art. mix of musos, poets, and producers who share samples of Boom cha! Broadcasting live conversations, performances their newest – Aha! moments. Cracking open sealed pages and non-print literary shouts every night. Straight up and hitting play on their musings. Featuring a selection of awesome shows streamed. Grab a drink from the home bar. fine Canadian and U.S. artists. Settle in for a 30 minute blast. Featuring artists from Oz, Hosted by Emily Crocker Asia, Africa and the Euro-side of the globe. Featuring Nisha Patel and Darian Dauchan Hosted by Hani Abdile Featuring Daiane Moret Free on Instagram Live

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 12 Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow POETRY SLAM PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION • WORKSHOP NSW Poetry AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM Habla Slam Final Thursday, November 12 Wednesday, November 11 10 am — 12 pm 8 — 10 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Join the best spoken wordsmiths from across NSW as they lay their stories on the line. From Murwillumbah to Albury, Primary kids get all multilingual; Bathurst to Wollongong, Coffs Harbour to the Hunter, sharing poetry in languages other these storytellers tell it all for the chance to go on to the than English through workshops, APS 2020 National Final. performances and conversation. Hosted by Zohab Zee Khan Hosted by Eunice Andrada and Andrew Cox Sacrificial Poet Erica Hacker Free registration for schools Featuring Thando Fuze

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 13 PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION My Latest Epiphany Aloud with reg e gaines + Ian Keteku Joshua Ip + Charlene Shepherdson, Thursday, November 12 S IN G L IT 12:300 — 1:3 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) of Sing Lit Station STATION Live from New York and Toronto - reg e gaines legend Thursday, November 12 of New York’s poetry slam community. From his Def Jam 7 — 7:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) appearances to his hit broad way shows, reg is an artist you must experience. Followed by Ian Keteku World Poetry Live from Singapore and London with Joshua Ip, Charlene Slam Champion from Toronto. Shepherdson and Zohab Zee Khan. Hosted by Miles Merrill In the heart of Singapore lives a busting literary arts organisation, Sing Lit Station, they’ve been making great Featuring reg e gaines waves in the writing and reading community since 2016. and Ian Keteku Hosted by Zohab Zee Khan Featuring Joshua Ip and Charlene Sheperdson of Sing Lit Station

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 14 FILM + PHOTO PERFORMANCE First Person View: Word Travels Footprints Round the World Screening with Q&A Thursday, November 12 80 — 9:3 pm Thursday, November 12 (Time zone AEDT, Australia) 7 — 8 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) We can’t travel true. What can we do? It’s 2014 and a group of young Aboriginal men from a tribe A big showcase where wordy wild things on the verge of losing their songlines have just discovered spit and gyrate across lands near and far. that a law boss from a neighbouring tribe knows some Using that COVID bonus, streams have of their cultural songs and dances. They have not been no borders. Tune in for a heady melange performed for more than 50 years and it was thought they of UK/Asian/African artists. had been lost forever. The songs and dances were given to the men’s tribe, the Djugun tribe, by their creator during Hosted by Duckie L’Orange the Buguragarri (the Dreamtime). Featuring Busisiwe Mahlangu, Hollie Hosted by Miles Merrill McNish, Joshua Ip (Sing Lit Station), Tshepo Molefe and Hope Masike Featuring Q&A with Footprints and Our Law Director Cornel Ozies

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 15 POETRY SLAM • WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION APS Youth My Latest Epiphany AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM Friday, November 13 Ruby Singh + 10 am — 2 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Silla And Rise High school students dive into the deep end of spoken Friday, November 13 word getting a 4 hour immersion in the art-form that 12:300 — 1:3 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) includes watching great poets perform, learning to do it and jumping on the mic in a mini-slam. Includes social break Live from Vancouver and Ottawa — Silla and Rise blend times. traditional aspects of Inuit throat singing and futuristic dance floor beats. Ruby Singh’s creativity crosses the Featuring Jillian Christmas, Narcisa Nozica, boundaries of music, poetry, visual art, photography and film. and Andi Stewart Hosted by Miles Merrill Free registration for schools. Featuring Silla + Rise and Ruby Singh

APS YOUTH

Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 16 PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION PERFORMANCE Aloud with Answer Story Friday night double bill with Friday, November 13 Arielle Cottingham + Hollie Mcnish 7 — 8 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Friday, November 13 This event takes place live at The Red Rattler Theatre (6 Faversham St, Marrickville) as well as being streamed 7 — 8 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) as part of the Story Week program — both ticket types Live from Berlin, the UK and Australia with Arielle are available below. Cottingham, Hollie McNish and Hani Abdile for this one Answers tore me / ancestry / answers or me / hour long Friday night double bill edition of Aloud. ANSWERSTORY 7 — 7.30 pm In 2016, Australian Poetry Slam had it’s first Papua New Guinean Australian poet Mel Ree presents her international winner. Texas-born Afro-Latinx performance latest body of work / birthed on Wodi Wodi and Yuin country artist, dancer, and Pushcart-nominated poet Arielle / speaking in diasporic tongue /honouring the struggle and Cottingham. They are now based in Berlin, making new strength of the POC experience. creative explosions. Joining her to enlighten truth / family / community / Hip Hop 7.30 — 8 pm Winner of the Ted Hughes royalty Kween G Activist / poet / leader / Aunty Lizzy Jarrett / Prize for New Work in Poetry, Hollie Vogue House Kiki House of Silky join forces for the first time / a McNish, joins us from the UK for part blend of artistic disciplines / radical in their own right / a call to two of the Aloud Friday night special. arms / rise up community / bring your ears / voices / hearts / Hosted by Hani Abdile activate the artivism. Featuring Arielle Cottingham Answer Story proceeds will go towards BUS FOR BLACK and Hollie McNish FAMILIES an important movement to raise funds to transport first nations families and those directly effected by Black Free on Instagram Live Deaths in Custody. Featuring Kween G, Mel Ree, Aunty Lizzy Jarrett and Kiki House of Silky Book tickets: www.wordtravels.info/storyweek2020-booknow 17 CONVERSATION • PERFORMANCE First Person Voice Saturday, November 14 10th Bi 11 am — 12:30 pm rthday (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Party & Au ion Indigenous artists from the colonised ct lands Australia and Canada throw their words and songs into the stream with their own micro shows Saturday, November 14 highlighting their flow and their 11 am — 12:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) powerful messages. Then they On the last day of Story Week, we invite you to join participate in a Q&A with host us in celebrating 10 years of paving the way for poetry DOBBY. and spoken performance in Australia. Grab a drink and Hosted by DOBBY some (virtual or otherwise) friends for an afternoon of celebration, conversation, and silent auction. Featuring DOBBY, Barkaa, Cobra Collins, Aunty Lizzy Jarrett What’s up for grabs at the auction? Well, we will be and K’alii Luuyaltkw releasing more prizes in the weeks to come, but for now we will leave you with details of yoga classes, gorgeous retreats and holidays, tours, paintings, and bespoke poems…you can even get legal advice from a Word Travels board member. For now, the rest are a sur-prize! We couldn’t celebrate spoken word in Australia without your support and the support of audiences around the world. We look forward to sharing our birthday with you! Just purchase our all-access $100 ticket for an invite! Book tickets: www.wordtravels. Featuring Miles Merrill, Hani Abdile and Jesse Oliver info/storyweek2020-booknow 18 PERFORMANCE • CONVERSATION Aloud with Hani Abdile Saturday, November 14 Book tickets: 7 — 7:30 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Hani Abdile travelled from Somolia to Australia by land, www.wordtravels.info/ sea and Christmas Island detention. Through this journey storyweek2020-booknow she found herself writing poetry then entering the Sydney spoken word community with wow performances. Hosted by Zohab Zee Khan Featuring Hani Abdile Free on Instagram Live

19 POETRY SLAM AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM Australian Poetry National Finalists Slam National Final AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM SYDNEY APS FINALISTS Rebecca Rushbrook Andrew Kennedy Rob Waters

Saturday, November 14 AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM Daiane Moret Rudi Astarot 8 — 10 pm (Time zone AEDT, Australia) Eleanor Hall Sophie Parente Eight states, sixteen poets, but only one will be named Elizabeth Whitehead Tina Huang the 2020 Australian Poetry Slam Champion. Join us as Janice Fereti Tiph Harris we stream the nation’s biggest and best slam event to Jing Gandy Xanthe Levi Littlemore an international audience and witness which incredible Marie McMillan Zacharey Jane word-wielder takes out this year’s crown. Melodie Grafton NATIONAL APS Hosted by Miles Merrill Mohammad Awad FINALISTS Featuring Hope Masike Munira Tabassum Ahmed Tamati Atea (ACT) Sacrificial Poet Elliot York Cameron Oscar Newsome Audrey McCormick (ACT) Music by the SICK Orchestra Page Sinclair Lekhika Bhadu (NSW) (Sydney Improvisers Composers Kollektiv Orchestra) Peter Hines Rob Waters (NSW) Sara Crane Kirra Voller (NT) Tina Huang Cyra Sebastian (NT) NSW APS FINALISTS Huda Fadlelmawla (QLD) Damien Becker Devika Krishnan (QLD) Jason John Jill Wherry (SA) Joanna Savage Coleman Chris Jaksa (SA) Joshua Cowell Brittany Cook (TAS) Lekhika Bhadu Rohan King (TAS) Matthew A.J. Anderson Andi Stewart (VIC) Miranda Clark Ren Alessandra (VIC) Olivia Wolfe Danny Love (WA) Oscar Newsome Moonchi (WA) 20 Week Fea Story tured Artists

ANDI STEWART ANDREW COX Melbourne Canberra Andi is a performancew poet living in Andrew is a Filipino/Australian educator Melbourne after being a fixture in the and performer who has featured at Hobart poetry scene. His work is a festivals competitions Australia-wide. In conglomeration of rap, hip hop, rhythm, 2018, he released The Space Between and classical poetry, focussing on themes the Words, his first collection of poetry. of queer Christianity, LGBTQ issues, and He has performed at Art Gallery of privilege. He represented Tasmania at NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art the APS National Final in 2017-2019. Australia, Sydney Town Hall, ICC and Parliament House Canberra. Featured in Word for Word and APS Youth Featured in Word for Word and Habla

21 APEKSHA HARSH ARIELLE COTTINGHAM Mumbai Berlin With an MA in Writing from the Texas-born Afro-Latinx performance University of Warwick, Apeksha has artist, dancer, and Pushcart-nominated worked with the Warwick Writing poet Arielle is an internationally touring Programme for Schools, Writing West whirlwind. With a theatre degree and an Midlands, and has written libretto for Australian Poetry Slam Championship an opera. Her poetry and prose has under their belt, they merge elements appeared in NITRB, Under the Radar, of dance and physical theater with Ambit, Fusion, Here Comes Everyone written poetry to create multidisciplinary and Eunoia Review. short works they have toured across continents. Featured in Aloud w/ Pomegranate Featured in Aloud Friday Night Double Bill w/ Arielle Cottingham + Hollie McNish

22 AUNTY LIZZY JARRETT BARKAA Dunghutti, Bundjalung Sydney Aunty Lizzy Jarrett is a proud Dunghutti, Barkaa is a Malyangapa, Barkindji Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung warrior woman from Western NSW, now living woman, poet, educator, activist fighting on Gandangara land. She released her on the frontline for JUSTICE for all. debut single this year “For My Tittas” and made waves within her community Featured in Answer Story and with the “Pass The Ochre” challenge. Her First Person Voice most recent collaboration with DOBBY “I CAN’T BREATHE” highlighted Black Deaths In Custody. Featured in Aloud w/ DOBBY and Barkaa and First Person Voice

23 BRANDON WINT BUSISIWE MAHLANGU Ontario Edmonton Brandon is an Ontario-born poet and Busisiwe is a poet from South Africa. spoken word artist. His work casts a Her debut collection ‘Surviving Loss’ tender but robust attention toward the has been adapted and produced for the movements and impacts of colonial, South African State Theatre. Mahlangu capitalist logic, and how they might be has toured her work internationally undone. In this way, Brandon is devoted including Washington DC, Sweden, to a poetics of world making, world Lesotho, Mozambique and Nigeria. altering and world breaking. Busisiwe is currently studying Creative Writing at the University of South Africa. Featured in My Latest Epiphany w/ Brandon Wint + Lucia Misch Featured in Word Travels Round the World

24 CHARLENE SHEPHERDSON COBRA COLLINS Singapore Edmonton Charlene is a poet and community Cobra is a Métis poet and spoken word organiser focused on language in written, artist based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary). performative and visual forms. She She has been published in “Drifting is interested in heritage, technology Like a Metaphor” and was nominated and creative education. She is the for The Alberta Magazine Award for Station Control of Sing Lit Station, an best ‘Featured Writing, Short’ in 2019. arts charity developing the literary arts Cobra was shortlisted as a nominee for through community building, writer Calgary’s 2016 & 2018 poet laureate. development and technology. Featured in Word for Word and Featured in Aloud w/ Joshua Ip + First Person Voice Charlene Shepherdson

25 CORNEL OZIES DAIANE MORET Dugun, Yawuru Sydney Cornel is a Dugun, Yawuru, Gooniyandi Dai is a Brazilian woman living in and Jabirr Jabirr man from the Gadigal Land since 2010. Her art Kimberley region of WA and the navigates personal experiences director of Our Law. He has worked on whilst deconstructing given identities, productions for NITV, SBS and the ABC. embracing elements of the Brazilian He is currently a senior videographer culture and retelling narratives. She has and learning media specialist at the performed at Sydney Writers’ Festival, University of Sydney. Vivid, Melbourne Spoken Word Festival, Poetica and Sydney International Featured in Concepts of Country – Women’s Jazz Festival. Screening with Q&A and Songlines on Screen – Footprints Screening with Featured in Aloud w/Daiane Moret Q&A

26 DANIEL GALLANT DARIAN DAUCHAN New York New York Daniel is the Executive Director of the Darian is the 2016 Loop Station Vice Nuyorican Poets Cafe. His writing has Champion of the American Beatbox appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Championships and a 2019 Jerome Hill Time Out, New York Post, Daily News, Artist Fellowship finalist. He recently Applause Books and Vintage Books completed The Brobot Johnson Project. and elsewhere. He is the recipient of The New Adventures of Brobot Johnson fellowships from Eisenhower Fellowship won awards at 2017 LA Web Festival, and National Arts Strategies and the 2017 Escape Velocity Festival and 2018 Devos Institute. Independent Television Festival. Featured in Spoken Word for a Living Featured in My Latest Epiphany w/ Nisha Patel + Darian Dauchan

27 DOBBY DUCKIE L’ORANGE Sydney Berlin DOBBY is a rapper, drummer, speaker Duckie L’Orange is a performance artist and workshop facilitator. A Filipino and with a twist. She’s performed at Sydney Aboriginal musician, his family is from Opera House, Sydney Festival, touring Brewarrina on Ngemba land, and is a Deutschland with the Berlin Puppetry member of the Murrawarri Republic in Slam, telling stories at the Au Chat Weilmoringle, NSW. He is a skilled music Noirin Paris or cheeky fun with BIZARRE composer, and is the 2017 recipient Bushwick in NYC. for the bi-annual Peter Sculthorpe Duckie’s skills span from puppetry, Fellowship. children’s entertainment, burlesque, Featured in Aloud w/ DOBBY and mc-ing, producing and visual arts. She Barkaa and First Person Voice likes to produce interesting events, such as the hugely successful Sydney Fringe Festival Mystery Bus, spoken word events for Word Travels, and arts activities at Skyvillage Festival. She also ran Umbrella Theatre Company with a bunch of other puppetry babes. Featured in Word Travels Round the World

28 EMILY CROCKER EUNICE ANDRADA Sydney Sydney Emily is a performing poet who grew up Eunice is a Filipina poet and educator. in Western Sydney and came of age in Her poetry collection Flood Damages Wollongong’s spoken word scene. Her (2018) won the Anne Elder Award and debut chapbook Girls and Buoyant was was a finalist for the Victorian Premier’s released by Subbed In in 2017. Other Literary Award for Poetry (2019) and the poems can be found in Solid Air (UQP, Dame Mary Gilmore Award (2019). She 2019), Cordite, Verity La, Southerly, and currently lives and writes on unceded Baby Teeth. Gadigal Land. Featured in My Latest Epiphany Featured in Word for Word and Habla w/ Brandon Wint + Lucia Misch, My Latest Epiphany w/ Jillian Christmas + J. F. Seary, and My Latest Epiphany w/ Nisha Patel + Darian Dauchan

29 HANI ABDILE HEAR MY VOICE Sydney Tshwane Hani is a spoken word poet based in Hear My Voice is a non-profit Gadigal land of the Eora Nation, Sydney. organization based in Tshwane, South Her first book, ‘I will rise’, was published Africa. Their focus is developing young in 2016. Hani is an honorary member spoken word artists and creating of PEN International, a lead member platforms for youth to express of Writing Through Fences, and an themselves through spoken word poetry. Ambassador for the Refugee Advice and They organise local and international Casework Service. exchange programs, workshops, live spoken word shows, open mics and Featured in Aloud w/ Zohab Zee Khan, other literature programs. Aloud w/ DOBBY and Barkaa, Aloud w/ Daiane Moret, Aloud Friday Night Featured in Aloud w/ Hear My Voice Double Bill w/ Arielle Cottingham + Hollie McNish, Aloud w/ Hani Abdile and Word Travels 10th Birthday Celebration

30 HOLLIE McNISH HOPE MASIKE Cambridge + Glasgow Zimbabwe Hollie is a UK writer who has published Hope emerged on the Zimbabwean three collections of poetry, a play, and music scene last decade. Inspired by one poetic memoir, Nobody Told Me, the Zimbabwean traditional music which won the Ted Hughes Prize for New of Mbira, her music is a hybrid of Work in Poetry. Her forthcoming title, many music styles tied together by Slug: and other things I’ve been told to her signature sublime Mbira playing, hate, will be released in May 2021. poetic song-writing and highly-charged performances. In February 2020, Hope Featured in Word Travels Round the self-published her first book, Ask Me World and Aloud Friday Night Double Again. Bill w/ Arielle Cottingham + Hollie McNish Featured in Word Travels Round the World and Australian Poetry Slam – National Final

31 IAN KETEKU JESSE OLIVER Toronto Perth Ian’s is an internationally-acclaimed Jesse is a Perth poet who has appeared spoken word poet, national slam on national platforms including National champion and 2010 World Poetry Slam Young Writers Festival, Emerging Writers champion. Ian’s work is influenced by Festival and Digital Writers Festival. his upbringing and journeys throughout In 2018, Jesse launched Rap/Poetry Africa. He teaches creative writing and show Star-Crossed Poetry at Perth community activism at OCAD University Fringe World, and joined the Spoken in Toronto. His debut book, Black Word Perth team. Jesse is the 2017 APS Abacus, is published by Write Bloody Champion — Adult. North. Featured in Word Travels 10th Birthday Featured in My Latest Epiphany w/ reg Celebration e gaines + Ian Keteku

32 J. F. SEARY JILLIAN CHRISTMAS New York Vancouver J. F. Seary has performed at Nuyorican Jillian is a queer, afro-caribbean writer Poets Cafe, Bowery Poetry Club, and Le living on the unceded territories of Poisson Rouge in NYC, and in London, the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Musqueam people (Vancouver, BC.). She Juan, Grand Rapids, and Orlando. She has won numerous Grand Poetry-Slam is working on Necromancer (pilot), and Championship titles and represented she is a co-creator/co-writer for the web- both Toronto and Vancouver at 11 series The New York Effect. national poetry events. Jillian’s first book, “The Gospel of Breaking” was published Featured in My Latest Epiphany in 2020. w/ Jillian Christmas + J. F. Seary Featured in My Latest Epiphany w/ Jillian Christmas + J. F. Seary and APS Youth

33 JOSHUA IP K’ALII LUUYALTKW Singapore Nass Valley, Canada Joshua is a Singaporean poet who K’alii Luuyaltkw is an Indigenous poet has published four collections with from the Nisga’a Nation located in Math Paper Press, won the Singapore the beautiful, mist-covered mountains Literature Prize for his debut, sonnets of the Nass Valley region of British from the singlish, and placed in Columbia, Canada. K’alii considers her three categories of the Golden Point poetic practice as a means for healing Award. He received the Young Artist and bringing people together. Exploring Award from the National Arts Council Indigenous identity and intergenerational (Singapore) in 2017. trauma are central to her work. Featured in Aloud w/ Joshua Ip Featured in First Person Voice + Charlene Shepherdson and Word Travels Round the World

34 KELLY VAN NELSON KIKI HOUSE OF SILKY Sydney Sydney Kelly Van Nelson is the #1 bestselling Kiki House of Silky is a collective body author of Graffiti Lane and Punch and of Sydney based QTPOC artists. Silky Judy poetry collections. She is a KSP combines a diverse blend of cultures First Edition Fellowship recipient and performing together to pay homage AusMumpreneur ‘Big Idea Changing the to both their ancestry and the iconic World’, Roar Success Best Book and legends past and present of the ballroom Most Powerful Influencer Award winner. scene. She is represented by The Newman Featured in Answer Story Agency. Featured in WORDSMITH the Poetry Podcast — Launch

35 KWEEN G LUCIA MISCH Sydney Vancouver Hip Hop artist and cultural leader Lucia is a writer, performer and renowned for provocative, unflinching facilitator from the Bay Area. Her work and authentic hip hop content, Kween has published in Arc Magazine, The Post G is a strong advocate for inclusion, Feminist Post, and Room, and her first social justice, human rights and women’s collection, The Problem With Solitaire, representation within the music was released by Write Bloody North in industry. She currently sits on the 2020. She lives on unceded Musqueam, advisory panel of the Australian Women Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territory, in Music Awards. Vancouver. Featured in Answer Story Featured in My Latest Epiphany w/ Brandon Wint + Lucia Misch

36 MARLIKKA PERDRISAT MEL REE Nyikina Warrwa Sydney Marlikka is a Nyikina Warrwa and Mel is part of the Sydney performance Wangkumara Barkindji woman and art community, featuring at Bankstown the director of Concepts of Country. Poetry Slam, Enough Said Poetry Slam, She is a digital storyteller focusing Slamboree, That Poetry Thing, Sydney on documentary, as writer, producer, Writers’ Festival as well as hosting director and editor. She attained her and producing Word In Hand. Mel has Bachelor of Commerce, completing her performed at Melbourne Fringe Festival, Juris Doctor in Law, and will start her Sydney Fringe, Bondi Feast and Batch at Postgraduate Doctorate in 2021. Griffin Theatre. Featured in Concepts of Country Featured in Sydney Poetry Slam Final — Screening with Q&A and Answer Story

37 MIRIAM HECHTMAN NARCISA NOZICA Sydney Sydney Miriam is an Australian writer, producer Narcisa is an English teacher with over and poet. She is the founder and eleven years’ experience. In 2016, she creative director of POETICA, a won a NSW Premier’s English Teachers community initiative and monthly live Association Scholarship to study how poetry and music event. She writes spoken word poetry can be used in poetry under the Instagram handle schools. She has written articles in the @_fourlines_ and has been commissioned ETA journal mETAphor and presented at to write and perform her poetry for an ETA conference on spoken word. several organizations. Featured in APS Youth Featured in WORDSMITH the Poetry Podcast — Launch

38 NISHA PATEL NUYORICAN POETS CAFE Edmonton New York Nisha is an award-winning queer poet & Since 1973, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe artist. She is the City of Edmonton’s Poet has served as home for groundbreaking Laureate, the 2019 Canadian Individual works of poetry, spoken word, music, Slam Champion and a recipient of the theater and visual arts. A multicultural, Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award. multi-arts institution, the Cafe She is the Executive Director of the champions artists existing outside Edmonton Poetry Festival. Her debut the mainstream, promoting the use of collection COCONUT is forthcoming spoken word to empower artists of color, with Newest Press. immigrant artists and LGBTQIA+ artists. Featured in My Latest Epiphany Featured in Spoken Word for a Living w/ Nisha Patel + Darian Dauchan and Word for Word

39 PHOMOLO SEKAMOTHO POLA FANOUS South Africa Sydney Phomolo (aka. Flex of He & I) is a South Pola is a spoken word poet, rap artist, African artist incorporating spoken word educator, and activist from Western into live music. In 2012 he headlined Sydney. An Egyptian-born immigrant, the House of Hunger Poetry Slam at age 22 he is a well-loved member of in Zimbabwe. In 2015 he facilitated Sydney’s Spoken Word scene and has workshops in schools across Washington featured at the Parramatta, Granville, DC. Flex is currently working on a live and Bankstown Poetry Slams, as well as “poetry in music” album. at schools, rallies, and conferences state- wide. Featured in Aloud w/ Hear My Voice Featured in Sydney Poetry Slam Final

40 THE POMEGRANATE PRIYA SRINIVASAN WORKSHOP Mumbai Mumbai Originally a Journalist with over a The Pomegranate Workshop is decade of experience, Priya was a Mumbai-based arts education afflicted with the idea that the inherent organization whose student films have potential of children is best tapped been screened at over 15 International by marrying creative expression and film festivals and have won awards the learning processes; that children need world over. Pomegranate’s theatre and a space where they can let loose their music productions have been hosted at imagination with all its absurdities and the National Center for the Performing twisted wackiness. Arts and the Royal Opera House, Featured in Aloud w/ Pomegranate Mumbai. Featured in Aloud w/ Pomegranate

41 reg e gaines RUBY SINGH New York Vancouver reg is author/lyricist of the Tony Award Ruby was born in the Crow’s Nest winning musical, Bring In Da Noise/ Bring Pass and now calls the lands of the In Da Funk, and is the artistic director of Musqueam, Skxwú7mesh and Tsleil- the Downtown Urban Theater Festival Waututh home (Vancouver BC). As in New York. Most recently, reg directed a composer and sound designer he Through The Looking Glass for Center has worked with theatre and dance Theatre Group’s, and Rock WILK’s companies across Canada, and created Brooklyn Quartet. scores for the National Film Board and other independent films. Featured in My Latest Epiphany w/ reg e gaines + Ian Keteku Featured in Word for Word and My Latest Epiphany w/ Ruby Singh + Silla and Rise

42 SYDNEY IMPROVISERS SILLA AND RISE COMPOSERS KOLLEKTIV Ottawa ORCHESTRA Silla and Rise blend traditional aspects Sydney of Inuit throat singing and futuristic The Sydney Improvisers Composers dance floor beats. They were nominated Kollektiv (SICK) Orchestra is Australia’s for a Juno Award for Indigenous Music foremost conducted improvisation Album of the Year (2017) for their self- ensemble. Members of the ensemble titled debut: Silla + Rise, and their second have performed in SSO, ACO, Synergy, album Galactic Gala for World Music Ensemble Offspring, Australian Opera, Album of the Year (2019). The Song Company, The Mothership Featured in My Latest Epiphany Orchestra, as well as festival headlining w/ Ruby Singh + Silla and Rise acts as well as experimental and improvisational scenes in Australia and abroad. Featured in Australian Poetry Slam — National Final

43 SING LIT STATION THANDO FUZE Singapore South Africa Sing Lit Station is a Singaporean literary Thando is a spoken word artist, writer, charity whose programmes include curator and author of self-published workshop-for-schools programme Book collection Conversations with The A Writer, community writing challenges Human. She is the founder and SingPoWriMo / SEAPoWriMo, the first director of Fuze Art, a literary arts and Manuscript Bootcamp in Asia, and the performance company prioritizing works regional Hawker Prize for Southeast by female artists. In 2016 Fuze started Asian Poetry. They are supported by a SHEfted Minds, a platform created to Major Company Grant from the National showcase female artists. Arts Council. Featured in Aloud w/ Hear My Voice Featured in Aloud w/ Joshua Ip and NSW Poetry Slam Final + Charlene Shepherdson and Word Travels Round the World

44 TREVOR BROWN TSHEPO MOLEFE Sydney Johannesburg Trevor is an award-winning composer, Molefe is a Johannesburg-based multi- multi-instrumentalist, sound designer, award winning poet, writer and spoken improviser, director, producer, DJ radio word artist. Molefe won the May presenter. He is the Artistic Director 2016 Current State of Poetry Open of the Sydney Improvisers Composers Slam and the February 2017 edition Kollektiv Orchestra, and performs with a of WordnSound. Molefe’s work has variety of projects from classical to jazz featured in the Sol Paatje European to electronica, theatre and spoken word Union anthology and the online Pan to installation and sound design. African poetry archive, Badilisha Poetry. Featured in Sydney Poetry Slam Final Featured in Word Travels Round the World

45 WANI LE FRÈRE ZOHAB ZEE KHAN Melbourne UK wani is a Congolese-New Zealander Zohab is a performance poet, writer, visual storyteller and award- motivational speaker, hip hop artist winning performance artist and poet. and YouTuber. In 2014 he was crowned wāni coached the first ever Australia Australian Poetry Slam Champion and poetry team in Chicago USA, won the was runner-up at the International 2019 Wyndham Art Prize, the Arts House Poetry Slam in Madrid. His first poetry Evolution award for his theatre work collection “I Write” reached best-seller ‘jana’, and became the 2019 Australian status in Australia within months of its Poetry Slam National Champion. release. Featured in Aloud w/ Zohab Zee Khan, Aloud w/ Pomegranate, Aloud w/ Hear My Voice, NSW Poetry Slam Final, Aloud w/ Joshua Ip + Charlene Shepherdson and Aloud w/ Hani Abdile

46 Thank you Staff Creative Director Miles Merrill, Education and Programs Officer Elliot Cameron, Head of Development Brynnie Goodwill, Head of Marketing Erica Hacker, Operations Manager Natasha Younger, Production Manager Shani Moffat, Digital Tech Support Andrew Bondfield, Junior Website Designer Indira Bhaskaran Interns Bianca Arthur-Hall, Jasmyn Dawkins, Julie Epshteyn and Jason Nash Art Illustrations by Rosie Di Wu, Graphic design by Rachel Stone

These amazing people support Word Travels in many ways — donations, loaning out their house, serving food, lending an ear, attending meetings and being passionate about what we do. Board Chairperson Louisa Graham, Treasurer Joe Achmar, Simon Bloomfield, Cathy Levins-Byres, Miles Merrill, Nadia Theore.

Word Travellers aka fundraising sub-committee Evelyn Hawkins, Kane Wylie, Kelly Douglas & Werrdan Khoury Donors Thank you to all of our donors we couldn’t do it without you! 47 Thank you Sponsors Funding Partners

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