Australian Poetry Slam is coming to Echuca with a workshop and competitive heat event scheduled in September.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Australian Poetry Slam is heading to Echuca, with a workshop and competitive heat event scheduled across two nights in September.
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Poetry slam facilitator and spoken-word poet John Englezos will host a workshop at Campaspe Library in Echuca on Monday, September 14 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Mr Englezos will return the following night for the slam heat, with doors opening at 6pm and the slam starting at 6.30pm.
By throwing your ideas into the slam-storm, you could be chosen as the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam-bassador and offered an international writers' festival tour worth about $20,000.
The workshop is open to all ages and is designed to help participants prepare for the stage.
“The idea of the workshop is we want people who have an inkling to put themselves, to throw their hat in the ring for the heat the following night, or people who are just wanting to explore the art form, refine and learn some new things,” Mr Englezos said.
Mr Englezos said the workshop was built around care.
“The intention of the workshop will be that people will come in and learn about how they can best care for their words, their story, their audience and themselves,” he said.
Participants are encouraged to bring a pen and paper or whatever writing medium they feel comfortable using.
A Greek-Australian poet, Mr Englezos represented Australia at the National Poetry Slam in the United States in 2017 and was Melbourne Poetry Slam champion in 2015.
Poetry slam facilitator John Englezos will host a workshop at Campaspe Library on September 14 to help participants prepare for the slam heat the next night.
Photo by
J
“We were the first Australian team to go over, which was really exciting,” he said.
On the Tuesday night, up to 10 or 12 competitors can sign up, with names drawn from a hat to decide the performance order, or if there are more than 12 performers, who slams their poem.
Competitors have two minutes at the microphone to share their work.
The heat will be split into two halves with a break in between, and independent audience members will judge the performances.
Catherine Currey was one of the performers to secure a spot in the state final at the Australian Poetry Slam in Echuca in 2025.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
First, second and third place will be announced on the night.
“This is our version of the Olympics of poetry,” Mr Englezos said.
“It is the largest nationwide poetic event on the poetry calendar.”
The first place and runner-up from each heat progress to the state final, with two representatives from each state advancing to the national grand final at the Sydney Opera House.
The competition is organised by Word Travel, a NSW-based group that also runs workshops in schools and community settings.
Spaces are limited and bookings are required for the workshop at campaspe.vic.gov.au/library and everyone is welcome at the Poetry Slam the following night.
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