Poetry Idol

Media Release March 2007

Poetry Idol

Have you got what it takes? Can you spin poetry magic in front of a live audience? Can you convince that same audience to vote for you? Are you the next Poetry Idol?

Well Auckland, it’s time to find out.

Poetry Idol is coming live and uncut to the Auckland Writer’s Festival and to Auckland’s iconic London Bar, and will star the freshest, most original performance poets in New Zealand. Be witness to their poetic prowess as they battle it out with their own original works to see who will take home not only the Poetry Idol crown but also $400 in cash and prizes.

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 New Zealand’s leading Performance Poet, Penny Ashton, Poetry Idol promises to be a sizzling night of live literature. Penny, who is a regular commentator on National Radio and Breakfast TV, has just returned from a Performance Poetry tour of the UK where she came second equal in a national British Poetry Slam. Joining her as a guest performer and also as a judge on the night will be Shane Koyczan.

Shane Koyczan is the first international performer to win the highly coveted Individual Championship title at the American National Poetry Slam 2000. (A Performance Poetry Competition that draws THOUSANDS of contestants.) He has also been a national finalist 4 times placing in the top 6 of North America every year he has competed. He is the winner of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's National Poetry Face Off and recently received the nod for best poetry reading from the Edinburgh Book Festival.

New Zealand’s own Graham Brazier and Jo Randerson will be the other two star-performers and Judges. Graham is a powerhouse performer and the Hello Sailor lead singer is now a beloved NZ icon. Jo Randerson is a young fresh voice in comedy and literature who has been making her mark on the scene for nearly a decade.

Poetry Idol – Can you Make the Cut?

AUDITIONS - Saturday 19 May 2007

Audition times will be allocated (five minutes each) on Saturday 19 May from 1.00pm on at the London Bar (corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets in central Auckland). Come prepared!

To register for an audition time, please email mel.awrf@xtra.co.nz with your name and phone number. MC Penny Ashton will contact you direct with an audition time.

We recommend you register your interest before Wednesday 16 May to be sure of an audition time. Only ten performers will qualify so get practising NOW!

1st Prize - $300 in cash, $100 London Bar-Tab, Chance to Host London Bar’s Open Mic Night and a goody bag of books.
2nd Prize - $50 London Bar-Tab and a goody bag of books

ENDS

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