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BBC Radio 4 UK Performance Poetry Slam 2009
Wales Heat Winners Announced

On Wednesday 15 July Academi hosted the Welsh Heat of the 2009 BBC Radio 4 UK Performance Poetry Slam at The Riverfront in Newport. Introduced by Terry Victor eighteen poets took to the stage to prove that they had what it takes to make it to the semi-final and battle it out against winning poets from other regional heats.

Despite the immense talent on display from Wales only two poets could go through to the semi-final. After adding up the scores the judges chose Simone Mansell Broome from Llandysul and Kit Lambert from Cardiff to represent Wales at the semi-final in Reading. John Bilsborough from Llanelli came in third taking the reserve slot.

Each poet had just 2 minutes15 seconds to impress the panel of judges which was made up of established Welsh poets Goff Morgan and Hilary Llewellyn-Williams; BBC Executive Producer for Network Radio, Bristol, Sara Davies and audience members Liz Gardiner and Parysa Mostajir. The diverse range of poetry style and subject matter presented was huge, including poems on the environment, bras, the economical crisis, a lost mobile phone, a tragic fishing trip, ghost slugs and a woman dressed in PVC.

On getting through to the semi-finals Simone said: ‘I had a lovely time and was thrilled, honoured and gob smacked to be voted through to the semis, especially amongst so many experienced and talented performance poets’

The complete line-up included: Susan Hamblen from Cardiff, Mike Oliver from Cardiff, Sally Spedding from Ammanford, Emily Hinshelwood from Tair Gwaith, Brid Wyldearth from New Quay, Simone Mansell Broome from Llandysul, Jon Seagrave from Machynlleth, Kit Lambert from Cardiff, Alan Roderick from Newport, John Bilsborough from Llanelli, Martin Daws from Bethesda, Neil Clarke from Gower, Nick Fisk from Cardiff, Gemma June Howell from Cardiff, Chris Paul from Chepstow, Caroline Ferguson from Swansea, Emma Williams from Cardiff and Hugh Doyle from Bridgend.

The semi-finals and Grand Final will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:

Semi-final 1: Thursday 24 September 2009 at 11.00 pm

Semi-final 2: Thursday 1 October 2009 at 11.00 pm

Final: Thursday 8 October 2009 at 11.00 pm

For more information contact Academi on:
029 2047 2266 / post@academi.org

For information on the BBC’s Poetry Season visit:
www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/