WORD Poetry

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Not just one of the longest running poetry nights in the UK…

WORD! IDPD Special - with Robert Ferguson and Carolyn Turner
Thu, Nov 30, 2023
- Attenborough Arts Centre, Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA
- Join us for our last big sparkling WORD! of the year - headlined by Carolyn Turner and Robert Ferguson, co-hosted and curated by Teagan Buckley and Lydia Towsey and celebrating this year's International Day of People with Disabilities. . . . read more
WORD!Slam - with Some-Antics!
Thu, Nov 16, 2023
- Attenborough Arts Centre, Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA
- Join us for WORD!Slam 2023 - this year bought to you by WORD! in collaboration with our friends at Some-Antics! . . . . . read more

Let us keep you posted...

WORD News

WORD! Q & A with Carolyn Turner
- Thu, Nov 30, 2023
- This Thursday, 30.11.23 - writer and performer Carolyn Turner comes to WORD! to headline our access and (dis)ability themed special. WORD! caught up with her in advance... . . . read more
WORD! Q & A with Robert Ferguson
- Tue, Nov 28, 2023
- This Thursday, 30.11.23 - writer and speaker, Robert Ferguson comes to WORD! all the way from Birmingham - to headline our access and (dis)ability themed special. WORD! caught up with him in advance... . . . . . read more
Q&A with Robert Hamberger
- Sat, Sep 23, 2023
- Robert Hamberger is the author of four full-length collections. He’s been awarded a Hawthornden Fellowship, featured by the Guardian - and published in British, American, Irish and Japanese anthologies. This Thursday, September 28th - he'll workshop and perform li . . . read more
Review: Jason Allen-Paisant - Thinking with Trees
- Mon, Jun 26, 2023
- WORD!s Pam Thompson reviews Jason Allen-Paisant's award winning 'Thinking with Trees' with thanks to Nine Arches' Under the Radar magazine, in which this piece was originally published . . . read more
Q & A with Demi Anter
- Wed, May 24, 2023
- Abi Willock catches up with Demi Anter - our May, Attenborough Arts Centre headline - in an exclusive interview on our favourite topic - poetry. . . . read more
Q&A with Stephen James Smith
- Mon, Apr 24, 2023
- Stephen James Smith is an Irish poet, spoken-word artist, and playwright. Abi Willock catches up with them ahead of their headline performance with us at WORD! . . . read more
Q&A with Liv Torc
- Thu, Mar 9, 2023
- WORD!s Abi Willock catched up with March headline, Liv Torc . . . read more
Q&A with Helen Seymour
- Wed, Feb 1, 2023
- This Thursday, 02.02.23 - writer and performer, Helen Seymour comes to WORD! to headline our access and (dis)ability themed special. WORD!'s Abi Willock caught up with her in advance... . . . read more
Q&A with John Hegley
- Tue, Jan 24, 2023
- John Hegley is a poet and comedian originally from North London. He has been a guest on BBC Radio 1, he was nominated for the Perrier Comedy Award and he was the Keats House poet in residence in 2012. His works to date include twelve books and one mug! Abi Willock caugh . . . read more
Q&A with George Szirtes
- Fri, Nov 11, 2022
- This Monday, November 14th 2022 - Poet, translator, biographer and former Man Booker International, Judge - GEORGE SZIRTES - will be headlining our first WORD! back in Beeston since the pandemic. We caught up with him in advance to talk all things poetry... From how he . . . read more
Black History Month Q&A - with Lydia Towsey
- Mon, Oct 24, 2022
- This Thursday, 27th October will see us present our annual Black History Month Special - and what a particularly special one it will be, headlined by WORD! Associate Artist, Mellow Baku ("A must for all" - Courtney Pine OBE) and all the way from LA - Fred D'Ag . . . read more
Q&A with Bobba Cass
- Wed, Sep 21, 2022
- Bobba Cass is a gay, grey poet and performer. He has been a part of WORD! for fourteen years and also organises ‘Pinggg…K’, a monthly open mic night in celebration of metrosexual verse. WORD!'s Abi Willock caught up with him for an exclusive interview… . . . read more
Q&A with Janet Sutherland
- Wed, Sep 21, 2022
- Janet Sutherland is a poet, author and editor with an MA in American Poetry. She also won the Kent and Sussex Poetry Competition in 2017. Acclaimed poet Gillian Allnutt said, ‘There is a tact, a tender truthfulness, that leaves language alone and lets everything . . . read more
Digital Call Out
- Tue, Aug 23, 2022
- Are you an emerging or mid-career spoken word artist with something to say? Would you like to have a piece of your work professionally developed and produced by an acclaimed, London based digital agency who’ve worked with Disney, Netflix and the Old Vic amongst ma . . . read more
Q & A with Pete `the Temp` Bearder
- Thu, Jul 21, 2022
- Pete Bearder is a critically-acclaimed poet, spoken world artist and author. His most recent book Stage Invasion: Poetry and the Spoken Word Renaissance was referred to as ‘the book we’ve all been waiting for’ by Ian McMillan. His show, Hip Hop to Home . . . read more
Q&A with Maria Taylor
- Wed, Jun 29, 2022
- Maria Taylor is a British-Cypriot poet, author, editor and lecturer. Her most recent poetry collection, Dressing for the Afterlife, was described by Nine Arches Press as ‘diamond tough and tender’. WORD!'s Abi Willock Caught up with her in an exclusive inter . . . read more
Q&A with with David Parkin
- Wed, Jan 1, 2020
- David Parkin’s Delusions of Grandeur is a heartbreaking, hilarious book that takes an honest look at bipolar disorder and being sectioned. In all the excitement for David’s reading of the book at the WORD! Evening on Thursday, we caught up with him for an ex . . . read more
Q&A with with Hannah Lowe
- Thu, May 19, 2022
- This Thursday, May 19th 2022 - join us for an evening of poetry with multi-award winning poet, memoirist and academic, Hannah Lowe. WORD!s Lydia Towsey caught up with Hannah ahead of her visit . . . read more
Competition Time!
- Wed, Jan 1, 2020
- It's competition time! Want to win a copy of Rishi Dastidar's much acclaimed, book and long narrative poem 'Saffron Jack'? Send us your micros... . . . read more
Q&A with Cathi Rae
- Wed, Apr 20, 2022
- This Thursday (21.04.22) WORD! at Attenborough Arts will be supported by an emerging group of spoken word artists, coming out of Attenborough Arts Centre, and facilitated by poet and performer, Cathi Rae. WORD!'s Abi Willock caught up with Cathi on her work with the gro . . . read more
Q&A with Rishi Dastidar
- Wed, Apr 20, 2022
- Join us for an evening of spoken word poetry with acclaimed poet, editor and reviewer, Rishi Dastidar. Rishi’s recent book, Saffron Jack was included in The Guardian Review ‘Best Recent Poetry Collections’ in May 2020. He has also recently been a judge . . . read more
Q & A with WORD!`s Lydia Towsey
- Tue, Feb 15, 2022
- Q & A with Lydia Towsey . . . . read more
Q & A with WORD!`s Tim Bombdog
- Tue, Feb 15, 2022
- Tim is our recently revealed support act for the WORD! Comedy Special - this Feb 15th 2022. As Leicester’s only post-punk-poet, WORD!s Abi Willock caught up with him about his many talents, his favourite performance and that time that he was joined onstage by Tenp . . . read more
Q & A with WORD! Associate Artist - Rob Gee
- Sun, Feb 13, 2022
- WORD!'s, Abi Willock catches up with WORD! Associate Artist, Rob Gee. Read on to find out about his inspirations, top tips for overcoming pre-show nerves and much more. . . . . . read more
On your Passing, Dr Jean `Binta` Breeze MBE
- Tue, Aug 10, 2021
- It is with the greatest sadness that we share the news that Dr Jean Binta Breeze MBE, our Patron at WORD! has passed away. . . . . read more
Remote Art
- Wed, May 20, 2020
- BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health are delighted to launch a new programme to support people through creativity throughout the lock down. . .Remote Art: BrightSparks at a Distance is available to people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who are receiving m . . . read more

Here's launching our latest publication - now available to order!

Bogside Story - and other tales of truth and reconciliation, is a exciting new collection of poetry and artwork,

responding to the work of the renowned Bogside Artists and broader themes of peace and reconciliation. Produced in collaboration with Leicester Cathedral, BrightSparks Arts and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, all proceeds will be split between the NHS and community facing work of the Cathedral. For more info - see here!

WHO SAYS POETRY IS JUST FOR POETS?

WORD! is an 18-year-old voluntary poetry and spoken word organisation based in the East Midlands. Not only does it deliver one of the longest running poetry and spoken word nights in the UK, but it is also pioneering an ever expanding programme of other activities across Leicester and Nottinghamshire.

These include regular nights in Leicester and Beeston; one off shows; a poetry festival; annual Slam; regular workshops; ongoing and one-off projects working with specific communities and our publishing imprint, WORD! Poetry.

We are uniquely co-produced by an NHS Trust (Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust) and currently enabled due to the generous funding support of Arts Council England. Further funding support is provided by University of Leicester Wellbeing Matters (via the Edith Murphy Foundation), Attenborough Arts Centre and Inspire.

Our other partners and collaborators include BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Group and Writing East Midlands.

word! Partners

WORD Poetry

Not just one of the longest running poetry nights in the UK…

WORD! IDPD Special - with Robert Ferguson and Carolyn TurnerThu, Nov 30, 2023

WORD!Slam - with Some-Antics!Thu, Nov 16, 2023

Let us keep you posted...

WORD News

WORD! Q & A with Carolyn Turner

WORD! Q & A with Robert Ferguson

Q&A with Robert Hamberger

Review: Jason Allen-Paisant - Thinking with Trees

Q & A with Demi Anter

Q&A with Stephen James Smith

Q&A with Liv Torc

Q&A with Helen Seymour

Q&A with John Hegley

Q&A with George Szirtes

Black History Month Q&A - with Lydia Towsey

Q&A with Bobba Cass

Q&A with Janet Sutherland

Digital Call Out

Q & A with Pete `the Temp` Bearder

Q&A with Maria Taylor

Q&A with with David Parkin

Q&A with with Hannah Lowe

Competition Time!

Q&A with Cathi Rae

Q&A with Rishi Dastidar

Q & A with WORD!`s Lydia Towsey

Q & A with WORD!`s Tim Bombdog

Q & A with WORD! Associate Artist - Rob Gee

On your Passing, Dr Jean `Binta` Breeze MBE

Remote Art

WHO SAYS POETRY IS JUST FOR POETS?

WORD! IDPD Special - with Robert Ferguson and Carolyn Turner
Thu, Nov 30, 2023

WORD!Slam - with Some-Antics!
Thu, Nov 16, 2023