Slamming poetry to impact students

AUDIENCES are set to be wowed by words as Ballarat Grammar’s drama department stages an inaugural poetry slam.

Set for Wednesday 6 September, those interested in spoken word will be able to watch performances from Gamilaroi folklorist and musician Luke Patterson and Filipino Australian poet Andrew Cox.

Head of drama Elena Sabellico said there are plans for the poetry slam to become an annual event.

“We’re broadening options for spoken word opportunities within the school, and starting with this slam poetry event, which we will expand in future years,” she said.

The performances will be followed by a slam poetry workshop for 20 students between years 7 and 12, led by Patterson and Cox, who are also associated with the Australian Poetry Slam.

“We’re having the Word Travels slam poets work with us to establish the program this year, and to train up some students, as well as staff, so we can continue to run this as ongoing feature of our performing arts program,” Ms Sabellico said.

“We’re investigating other ways to explore spoken word and performance opportunities.

“Performance writing and monologues that the students have created, and taking part in competitions, are a way of developing their writing skills and breadth of understanding of performance opportunities as well.”

Ms Sabellico said bringing more poetry into the drama curriculum will mean students can engage with words in creative ways they may not have explored before.

“They can express their unique views of the world through poetry and performance poetry,” she said.

“It broadens their understanding of the ways in which words can be used, and gives them the chance to experience the complete joy of using words creatively or in a performance context.

“For them to perform their own writing is pretty exciting.”

Visit bit.ly/45LUsOK for tickets to the poetry slam which will run from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.