Upcoming events
York InterUni Slam - 19th March 2026
Stu Freestone's Book Launch - 30th March 2026
Shane Koyczan - 12th April 2026
Say Owt Slam featuring Maureen Onwunali - 17th April 2026
Luke Wright - 21st May 2026
Harry Baker - 17th June 2026
Stu Freestone's Book Launch - 30th March 2026
Shane Koyczan - 12th April 2026
Say Owt Slam featuring Maureen Onwunali - 17th April 2026
Luke Wright - 21st May 2026
Harry Baker - 17th June 2026
York InterUni Poetry slam
19th March 2025
Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm
Theatre@41 Monkgate, YO31 7PB
Part of York Literature Festival
Students from the Dead Poets Society at York Saint John and the Slam Soc at the University of York come together in a battle of poetry and spoken word. Hosted by York’s Say Owt crew, each poet has three minutes to impress the judges and win fame and glory for their University!
Plus special guest: Bradley Taylor. Bradley is an award-winning poet born and based in Birmingham. In 2024 he won the Roundhouse Poetry Slam, the biggest poetry slam in history. In 2025 he released his debut collection ‘You Missed The Best Part’ before embarking on a nationwide tour. On BBC Radio 6 Music, Craig Charles described him as ‘a brand new voice and a fresh perspective on the art of poetry and performance’.
Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm
Theatre@41 Monkgate, YO31 7PB
Part of York Literature Festival
Students from the Dead Poets Society at York Saint John and the Slam Soc at the University of York come together in a battle of poetry and spoken word. Hosted by York’s Say Owt crew, each poet has three minutes to impress the judges and win fame and glory for their University!
Plus special guest: Bradley Taylor. Bradley is an award-winning poet born and based in Birmingham. In 2024 he won the Roundhouse Poetry Slam, the biggest poetry slam in history. In 2025 he released his debut collection ‘You Missed The Best Part’ before embarking on a nationwide tour. On BBC Radio 6 Music, Craig Charles described him as ‘a brand new voice and a fresh perspective on the art of poetry and performance’.
Stu Freestone: 'The Lights That Blur Between' Book Launch
30th March 2026
Doors 7pm
The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
Tickets available here. 8 or £13 in advance + booking fee. £15 on the door
An evening celebrating Stu’s debut collection release, featuring two sets of poetry set to a live music backing. Stu is a York-based poet and Associate Artist of the gobby Say Owt collective. His collection explores the nostalgia of adolescence, relationships, loss and processing, as well as comedic themes of condiment addiction, festival trips gone wrong, cheese-monger battle raps and the perils of ‘after work’ drinking. An honest portrayal of life experiences, as Stu sees it.
Plus live music from Adam Leeson and performance poetry from Sarah Armitage.
Doors 7pm
The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
Tickets available here. 8 or £13 in advance + booking fee. £15 on the door
An evening celebrating Stu’s debut collection release, featuring two sets of poetry set to a live music backing. Stu is a York-based poet and Associate Artist of the gobby Say Owt collective. His collection explores the nostalgia of adolescence, relationships, loss and processing, as well as comedic themes of condiment addiction, festival trips gone wrong, cheese-monger battle raps and the perils of ‘after work’ drinking. An honest portrayal of life experiences, as Stu sees it.
Plus live music from Adam Leeson and performance poetry from Sarah Armitage.
shane koyczan
12th April 2026
Doors 7.30pm
The Wardrobe, 6 St Peter’s Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH
Tickets available here. £15+booking fee. £20 on the door
An internationally recognized author, Shane has emerged as a creator of poetry that dares to belong to the people and speak directly to them in their own voice. In 2013, he collaborated with animators to make the anti-bullying viral video “To This Day” which has had over 13 million views, and he performed a customized version “For the Bullied and the Beautiful” to acclaim at the 2013 International TED Conference in Long Beach, California. Shane shapes his words and delivers in multi mediums from authored, video, spoken word, operatic, and musically performed.
Plus support from Izzy Brittain, a Leeds-based poet, dance artist and performance maker. A witch-in-progress. Fascinated by folk, body, breath, myth, story, nature and magic, She believes strongly in the power of care, collectivity, creative play and embodiment.
Doors 7.30pm
The Wardrobe, 6 St Peter’s Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH
Tickets available here. £15+booking fee. £20 on the door
An internationally recognized author, Shane has emerged as a creator of poetry that dares to belong to the people and speak directly to them in their own voice. In 2013, he collaborated with animators to make the anti-bullying viral video “To This Day” which has had over 13 million views, and he performed a customized version “For the Bullied and the Beautiful” to acclaim at the 2013 International TED Conference in Long Beach, California. Shane shapes his words and delivers in multi mediums from authored, video, spoken word, operatic, and musically performed.
Plus support from Izzy Brittain, a Leeds-based poet, dance artist and performance maker. A witch-in-progress. Fascinated by folk, body, breath, myth, story, nature and magic, She believes strongly in the power of care, collectivity, creative play and embodiment.
SAY OWT SLAM
featuring maureen onwunali
17th April 2026
Doors 7.30pm
The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
Tickets available here. £8 or £13 in advance. £15 on the door
Say Owt Slam is a raucous evening of poet vs poet in a fun night of verse. Poets have three minutes to wow YOU the audience. Expect poetry with humour and heart, comedy and charisma, stories and sizzling spoken word! Hosted by the loveable Say Owt gang celebrating 11 years of performance poetry!
Featuring Maureen Onwunali, a Dublin-born Nigerian poet and a two-time national slam champion. Her work has been featured by various musicians, radio shows, and organisations, including BFI, Pearson, Penguin, BBC, Roundhouse, TEDxMilton Keynes, Apples and Snakes, Obsidian Foundation, and the Poetry Society.
“What the Say Owt crew have built and cultivated is an event that feels simultaneously welcoming and inclusive, whilst pushing standards to levels of top quality entertainment. Loved it.” – Polarbear
Fancy taking part in the Slam? Slots open 1st Feb 2026. Email [email protected].
(We prioritise people living in York and the surrounding villages).
Doors 7.30pm
The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
Tickets available here. £8 or £13 in advance. £15 on the door
Say Owt Slam is a raucous evening of poet vs poet in a fun night of verse. Poets have three minutes to wow YOU the audience. Expect poetry with humour and heart, comedy and charisma, stories and sizzling spoken word! Hosted by the loveable Say Owt gang celebrating 11 years of performance poetry!
Featuring Maureen Onwunali, a Dublin-born Nigerian poet and a two-time national slam champion. Her work has been featured by various musicians, radio shows, and organisations, including BFI, Pearson, Penguin, BBC, Roundhouse, TEDxMilton Keynes, Apples and Snakes, Obsidian Foundation, and the Poetry Society.
“What the Say Owt crew have built and cultivated is an event that feels simultaneously welcoming and inclusive, whilst pushing standards to levels of top quality entertainment. Loved it.” – Polarbear
Fancy taking part in the Slam? Slots open 1st Feb 2026. Email [email protected].
(We prioritise people living in York and the surrounding villages).
LUKE WRIGHT: LATER LIFE LETTER
21st May 2026
Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4HD
Tickets £15, available here
Luke Wright is one of the UK's most acclaimed poets, having performed at festivals, theatres and in pubs up and down the country. He's regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs for The Libertines. Later Life Letter tells the story of Luke Wright’s adoption – the life he leads, and the one he might have done.
Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the wit, pathos, and silliness that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.
Expect raucous laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum n bass.
“His poems shoot arrows through the heart, or leave you dazzled by their virtuosity” ★★★★★ List
“A highly original idea, expertly carried out.”
John Cooper Clarke
Plus support from Bobby Olley, a poet and dramatist from York. His work draws on his working class youth, mental health, the wickedness of luck, and the strength in all of us. He is a regular performer around the city and loves sharing and hearing stories.
Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4HD
Tickets £15, available here
Luke Wright is one of the UK's most acclaimed poets, having performed at festivals, theatres and in pubs up and down the country. He's regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs for The Libertines. Later Life Letter tells the story of Luke Wright’s adoption – the life he leads, and the one he might have done.
Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the wit, pathos, and silliness that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.
Expect raucous laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum n bass.
“His poems shoot arrows through the heart, or leave you dazzled by their virtuosity” ★★★★★ List
“A highly original idea, expertly carried out.”
John Cooper Clarke
Plus support from Bobby Olley, a poet and dramatist from York. His work draws on his working class youth, mental health, the wickedness of luck, and the strength in all of us. He is a regular performer around the city and loves sharing and hearing stories.
Harry baker: tender book tour
17th June 2026
Doors 7.30pm
York Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Pl, York YO1 7HD
Tickets available here, £15 + booking fee.
As in ripe for the taking.
As in a heart swelled to twice its size.
As in soft. As in delicious. As in ready.
World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker brings his characteristic warmth, wit and wonder to new parenthood. From introducing his baby to a horse for the first time, to trying to work out if the GP really did drop them on purpose to test their reflexes, Tender contains poems from the first hundred days of new life and celebrates all of the euphoria, panic and vulnerability that come with it.
Following on from the last two years’ 40-date sellout runs of Wonderful and Wonderful 2.0, he’ll
even slip in some non-baby bangers too. Expect more laughter and tears than ever.
“Harry Baker’s intricate, quick-fire rhymes have always been on the impressive side of mind-blowing” - The Scotsman
“Spectacularly Witty” ***** (Whatsonstage)
“Blistering wordplay” ***** (Threeweeks)
“Not one syllable out of place” ***** (The Wee Review)
“The Spell Over The Audience Is Tangible” ***** (Broadway Baby)
“Simply put... The greatest performer on earth” ***** (BBC Radio 1)
Doors 7.30pm
York Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Pl, York YO1 7HD
Tickets available here, £15 + booking fee.
As in ripe for the taking.
As in a heart swelled to twice its size.
As in soft. As in delicious. As in ready.
World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker brings his characteristic warmth, wit and wonder to new parenthood. From introducing his baby to a horse for the first time, to trying to work out if the GP really did drop them on purpose to test their reflexes, Tender contains poems from the first hundred days of new life and celebrates all of the euphoria, panic and vulnerability that come with it.
Following on from the last two years’ 40-date sellout runs of Wonderful and Wonderful 2.0, he’ll
even slip in some non-baby bangers too. Expect more laughter and tears than ever.
“Harry Baker’s intricate, quick-fire rhymes have always been on the impressive side of mind-blowing” - The Scotsman
“Spectacularly Witty” ***** (Whatsonstage)
“Blistering wordplay” ***** (Threeweeks)
“Not one syllable out of place” ***** (The Wee Review)
“The Spell Over The Audience Is Tangible” ***** (Broadway Baby)
“Simply put... The greatest performer on earth” ***** (BBC Radio 1)