Calling all poets, storytellers, and wordsmiths: if you have a passion to share your words with an audience, the Bx Poetry Slam is for you!
NSW Australian Poetry Slam finalists Alice and Tiph are ready to host your finest pieces. Performers are given just 2 minutes to step up to the microphone and make the atmosphere sizzle with an original work.
Then it’s over to the judges, picked at random from the audience, who will issue the highest scores to the works that move them the most. No experience in poetry or slams is required to take part or to enjoy the evening. Prizes are on offer for winners. Don’t miss your chance to speak your mind and make your poetic mark.
The Bx Poetry Slam is presented by BMEC and Bathurst Poets’ Society as part of the Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival. All ages are welcome to participate and attend. Please keep in mind that poetry can cover sensitive content matter.
Please see below for performer terms and conditions. More details about general admission will be available at a later date.
Your hosts:
Tiph Harris
Tiph (she/her) has written and performed poetry since childhood. She has performed at the Australian Poetry Slam NSW State Finals in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2025. She also performed at the National Final in 2018. Her solo show, Live or Cry Trying debuted at the Newcastle Fringe Festival in 2019. Tiph’s poetry has been published in the Bathurst Poet’s Anthology and Pocketry Almanac.
Holding a Graduate Certificate in Education, Tiph is at home when creating and facilitating classes and workshops for groups of enthusiastic participants.
Alice Blackwood
Alice (they/she) is is a multidisciplinary poet and performer. They have a passion for bringing opportunities for creative expression and reflection into the environmental and conservation movements. Alice has three times been a finalist in the NSW Poetry Slam, and has poems published in Cordite Poetry Review, The New Farmers Almanac, and Bathurst Poets Anthology.
In 2020, with the support of the Bathurst Local Stages program, Alice performed a solo show of music and poetry- In Breath (a poetic performance for plants and their people), to sold out audiences.
Event and Ticket Details
Tickets $15
Please fill in some extra details prior to the event by clicking the registration details button 🙂
Terms and conditions (for performers):
- All ages can participate and attend the event. People under 18 years of age should be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- Poems must be the original work of the performer. Poets cannot perform another person’s work.
- Poem topic is open. Any work that is deemed discriminatory (including, but not limited to, racist, sexist, ageist, ableist, or deliberately inflammatory or hateful towards or about a particular person or people group) will be interrupted. The poet will not be allowed to continue and will be disqualified from the competition.
- Poets may sign up via the performer sign up link, or in person up to 30 minutes before the event begins.
- Performance slots are allocated on a first-come basis. A maximum of 20 poets will be allowed to perform on the evening (i.e. If 15 poets sign up via the link, sign up will be limited to a maximum of 5 on the night).
- Performance order will be determined by random draw.
- Poets have a strict 2 minute time limit. The time starts when the poet speaks their first word into the microphone, or begins their performance (no time allocated for introductions). Points are deducted from the final score, if a poet exceeds the time limit. One point is deducted at 2:01 minutes, another point at 2:31 minutes, and an additional point for every 30 seconds thereafter.
- Five judges from the audience will be chosen at random by the host.
- At the end of each poem, judges hold up a score card with a score from 0.0-10.0 (all scores to one decimal place). The highest and lowest scores are eliminated, and the remaining 3 scores are added to give an overall score out of 30. Highest scores receive 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
- Poets may not use musical accompaniment, costumes, or props.
- Poets may have a copy of their poem onstage with them (hard copy or digital version).
