April 9, 2009

Poetry Idol, the wild child brat of the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival is back, and she’s even more precocious than ever.

After audiences spilled out onto Queen St, punters were turned away and there was tears before bed-time, it was decided Poetry Idol had to move to a bigger venue.  So the delinquent spoken word battle of Auckland’s premier performance poets has been moved to a shiny new home in the Montecristo Room at Totos Restaurant.

And if you think you’ve got what it takes to take out Poetry’s big gong and snaffle the $1000 in cash and prizes….well Auckland, it’s time to find out.

A Poetry Slam with a twist, Poetry Idol will pit the performers against each other under the watchful eye of three celebrity judges. After each round the judges will offer advice to the budding bards as to how to improve for their next round BUT those who do not make the grade will be eliminated along the way.

In the end two poets will face off for a final and the audience will cast the deciding votes.

Hosted by one of New Zealand’s leading Performance Poets, Penny Ashton, Poetry Idol promises to be a sizzling night of live literature.  Joining Penny, a regular commentator on National Radio and Breakfast TV, at the judges’ table are international Poetry Slam Sensation Sonya Renee (Winner of 2004 North American Slam Champs) our very own Doctor of Verse Glenn Colquhoun and Ireland’s irrepresible Physicist cum poet Iggy McGovern from Trinity College.

Last year saw Grace Taylor, a youthline worker take first prize and Hip Hop Poet Tourettes take out second.  This year expect to see poets from all walks of society pitch their souls into the mix to see who you the audience votes the victor.

Poetry Idol – Can you Make the Cut?  

Audition times will be allocated (five minutes each) on Saturday 9th May from 3pm at the Montecristo Room.

To register for an audition time, please email info@writersfestival with POETRY IDOL in the subject line. Include your name and phone number, and MC Penny Ashton will contact you direct with an audition time.

We recommend you register your interest before Wednesday 7 May to be sure of an audition time. Only ten performers will qualify –  so get practising NOW!

1st Prize – $300 in cash and a $50 book voucher.
2nd Prize – $50 cash and a $50 book voucher.
The eight runners-up will all receive $50 book vouchers, from Booksellers New Zealand, and accolades.

For more information contact the festival office: info@writersfestival.co.nz or (09) 376 8074.  Advance Bookings: http://www.the-edge.co.nz/Event-Pages/A/Auckland-Writers—Readers/17–Poetry-Idol.aspx    

 

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