Kick starting the season is Birmingham’s very own Verve Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word which returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for its fifth edition.

Running from Wednesday 16th–Sunday 20th February, Verve Festival has become synonymous with a lively and celebratory approach to programming poetry of every different kind, taking over studios, spaces and foyers at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Festival goers can expect everything from raucous performance poetry and quiet reading events to studious workshops, mind-blowing dramatic poetry, collaborative work and open mic poetry, with attendees encouraged to join in, create, listen and learn.

One month later, national student and young people’s poetry showcase, and the UK’s largest team slam event UniSlam returns home to the Hippodrome after a digital edition in 2021.

UniSlam opens on Friday 18th March with workshops for competing teams, followed by a special edition of Apples & Snakes and Birmingham Hippodrome’s seasonal poetry night Hit The Ode, featuring world class spoken word artists, resident DJ Psykhomantus and an open mic.

Saturday sees the teams take part in closed preliminary rounds, to arrive at the line up for a super Sunday (20th March) programme of two semi-finals and the grand final, with searing slam performances from some of the UK and Ireland’s top emerging poets in one jam-packed day.

Brummie photographer and filmmaker, Paul Stringer’s new exhibition The City That Spoke To Me, opens on Thursday 17th February and runs until May, celebrating the city’s spoken word scene.

Chris Sudworth, Director of Artistic Programme at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “Over the last few years, we’re proud that Birmingham Hippodrome has become a key venue within the city’s astounding spoken word and poetry scene. There’s a real sense of community among artists and audiences that we are excited to be a part of by welcoming back partners Verve Festival, Hit The Ode and Unislam.

“It’s also long overdue for the fantastic Paul Stringer to have a dedicated exhibition of his work in his home city and I’m delighted we’ve been able to partner with him on his love letter to Birmingham’s poets and the power of their words.”

Tickets for Verve Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word, Hit the Ode, and UniSlam 2022 are on sale now and can be purchased This February and March, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio will host a season of poetry and spoken word events, seeing the return of three popular events and a new exhibition from poetry-loving photographer and film-maker Paul Stringer.

Kick starting the season is Birmingham’s very own Verve Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word which returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for its fifth edition.

Running from Wednesday 16th–Sunday 20th February Verve Festival has become synonymous with a lively and celebratory approach to programming poetry of every different kind, taking over studios, spaces and foyers at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Festival goers can expect everything from raucous performance poetry and quiet reading events to studious workshops, mind-blowing dramatic poetry, collaborative work and open mic poetry, with attendees encouraged to join in, create, listen and learn.

One month later, national student and young people’s poetry showcase, and the UK’s largest team slam event UniSlam returns home to the Hippodrome after a digital edition, with our creative partners DRPG, in 2021.

UniSlam opens on Friday 18th March with workshops for competing teams, followed by a special edition of Apples & Snakes and Birmingham Hippodrome’s seasonal poetry night Hit The Ode, featuring world class spoken word artists, resident DJ Psykhomantus and an open mic.

Saturday sees the teams take part in closed preliminary rounds, to arrive at the line up for a super Sunday 20th March programme of two semi-finals and the grand final, with searing slam performances from some of the UK and Ireland’s top emerging poets in one jam-packed day.

Brummie photographer and filmmaker, Paul Stringer’s new exhibition The City That Spoke To Me, opens on Thursday 17th February and runs until May, celebrating the city’s spoken word scene.

Chris Sudworth, Director of Artistic Programme at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “Over the last few years, we’re proud that Birmingham Hippodrome has become a key venue within the city’s astounding spoken word and poetry scene. There’s a real sense of community among artists and audiences that we are excited to be a part of by welcoming back partners Verve Festival, Hit The Ode and Unislam.

“It’s also long overdue for the fantastic Paul Stringer to have a dedicated exhibition of his work in his home city and I’m delighted we’ve been able to partner with him on his love letter to Birmingham’s poets and the power of their words.”