2011 Judges
Poetry Rivals would like to announce the line-up for this year's slam final judging panel. We have been working with local poet, Mark Grist, for many years now and thought who better than to host Poetry Rivals this year. He has achieved some amazing things in his career to date and know he will make the slam final one to remember!
Mark Grist (Slam Host)Mark Grist is a Spoken Word artist and English teacher based in Peterborough. He became Poet Laureate of Peterborough in 2008, Chief Bard of the Fens in 2009 and Edinburgh Fringe Slam Champion in 2010. He's performed in Schools, Festivals and Theatres across the country and is perhaps most well known for his work as one half of Dead Poets, a live literature show that explores the relationship between hip hop and poetry. His new show, 'The Geek shall inherit the Earth' will be going to the Edinburgh Fringe this year and he has recently caused a stir online as one of the most unlikely battle rappers in the country. |
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Helen Mort
Helen Mort was born in Sheffield. She has published two pamphlets with tall-lighthouse press, 'the shape of every box' and 'a pint for the ghost' (a Poetry Book Society Choice). From 2010-11 she was the youngest ever poet in residence at The Wordsworth Trust where she published 'Lie of the Land', a sequence partly dealing with the Miners' Strike in South Yorkshire. A full collection, 'Division Street' will be published by Chatto & Windus in 2013. Helen has performed her work at Latitude, the Ledbury Festival, St Anza and in 2010 took her show 'a pint for the ghost' to the Edinburgh Fringe. Five-times winner of the Foyle Young Poets prize, she received an Eric Gregory Award in 2007. She is currently studying towards a PhD at Sheffield University. |
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Mixy
Mixy is a local artist from Peterborough who ranges his style from mellow poetry to hard hitting hip hop. One half of the popular double act 'Dead Poets' and member of 'Locality', a collective of urban artists performing and putting on events since 2007. In 2010 as well as Dead Poets having a very successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Mixy claimed the titles of 'Poet Laureate' 'Speakeasy Slam Champ' and 'King Of The Mic' he is also taking a solo show to Edinburgh Festival this year and working on a new album alongside many other projects. |
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Tim Clare
Tim Clare is an award-winning author, stand-up poet and musician. His memoir, We Can't All Be Astronauts, won the 2009 East Anglian Book Awards, and his latest show, How To Be A Leader, won a Brighton Fringe Best Show award.
Praise for Tim Clare:
"without question, one of the most enjoyable hours I have ever spent"
***** Three Weeks |
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Suli Breaks
Suli Breaks, has established himself as one of the premier artist within the UK. His first official spoken word video "R.I.P" totalling 25,000 views in its first week. He has featured on BBC ONE London 8pm News and has performed at over 40 universities all over the UK. Has been featured numerous times on Sky TV on the Voxafrica channel, Sky channel 203 and Sky Community Channel.
He came 2nd in the national UK Farrago Slam Championships 2009 and has featured in numerous National publications including The Voice and Flavour magazine. |
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Each performance poet has their own websites and videos on YouTube. Check them out for inspiration.
