A new program from Poets Out Loud was held in school holidays for young writers – 15 local teens took part in Slam Camp, a free three-day writing and performance intensive held at Drill Hall Theatre in Mullumbimby.
The aspiring writers learned trade secrets of stand-up comedy from Mandy Nolan; songwriting from First Nations artist Mitch King, and poetry from Sarah Temporal, who also directed Slam Camp.
Live show at the Drill Hall
The camp wrapped up with a live show at the Drill Hall – participants took the stage with relaxed confidence to share their stand-up routines, poems and songs, showing how much they enjoyed performing.
Sarah Temporal said the response from students and parents had been overwhelmingly positive. ‘I am definitely planning to run another Slam Camp,’ she said. ‘Working with industry experts and creating their own show from nothing, the participants very quickly started to realise how impactful their voices could be.’
Many of the group are now eagerly anticipating Poets Out Loud Youth Slam in August, a live poetry competition with a $400 first prize held in partnership with Byron Writers Festival.
Slam Camp was part of the Holiday Break program, supported by the Office for Regional Youth in partnership with Create NSW.
For more information see poetsoutloud.org/youth or contact [email protected]
They’re too young to know how awful they are. Their numbers will thin and only the true narcissists will carry on. Nothing against poetry, just loud stuff. Write quietly for yourself young ones and see what happens.