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WordCraft

Name: WordCraft
Address: 33 Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, ST11EN, GB
Telephone: +441782911819
Rating: 5

A welcoming community showcasing poetry and spoken word across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
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12/04/2024

Poets! We are down to our very last few open mic slots for WordCraft Presents: Poetry & Prosecco @ World of Wedgwood on Sunday 👀

If you'd like to get up on that mic then make sure to pop us a message ASAP so we can get you on the list. We don't want you to miss out!

10/04/2024

It's so very nearly time for us to see your beautiful faces at WordCraft Presents: Poetry & Prosecco @ World of Wedgwood, we really can't wait. But before then, shall we have a headliner announcement? Go on then. We've only gone and got the fabulous Giovanni Spoz Esposito to come and entertain us lucky lot! ❤️

Spoz (real name Giovanni Esposito) is an award winning performance poet,singer / songwriter, film maker, playwright and is the poet-in-residence at Birmingham City FC. Spoz has been seen on BBC Television, and has been heard on BBC Radio Four, Radio Five Live, Radio West Midlands, Radio Coventry & Warwickshire, Radio Hereford & Worcs, Capital Gold and on toilets.

Spoz has performed at Glastonbury, Shambala, Cheltenham Lit Fest, LarmerTree, Lakefest, Wychwood and other festivals, as well as in front of his mom.

Spoz was Birmingham’s Poet Laureate in 2006 /7 which was nice. He works alot with young people in schools, though likes to rough it a little with adults too.

Spoz manages and facilitates many school poetry slam projects, including The West Midlands, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and other regions nationwide.
Spoz was one of six ‘Bards of Brum’ in the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, where he performed some of his poetry to an estimated audience of one billion people. Quite a big gig really!

Spoz has had a poetry collection and a graphic novel in poetry form published, both suitable for KS2 and KS3 students. “Spoz’s Shorts … and the Occasional Long One” and “Canalligator” are both available from Caboodle Books. He’s also been published by Verve Poetry - “Sometimes Angry” is not for kids and is available from Waterstones.

What a bio, eh? Don't forget to grab your ticket (which includes a free drink by the way, bargain!), and join in the fun with us. We've still got a couple of limited reading slots, so if you'd like to be up on stage make sure you drop us a message so we can pop you on the list 🥂

https://www.worldofwedgwood.com/content/poetry-and-prosecco

21/03/2024

Happy World Poetry Day you lovely lot! We spy a familiar face here...

It's been far too long, and we've missed all your faces, so what better day to announce our next upcoming event! We're delighted to team up again with the folks at World of Wedgwood and put on some poetry for you ❤️

More info to come shortly, but for now, it's lovely to be back!

28/09/2023

THIS SUNDAY!
1st October
Wordcraft – An Afternoon of Poetry.
Join us for this poetry & spoken word event. Tickets: £5
More Info:
https://re-form.org/middleportpottery/whats-on

21/09/2023

Do you fancy getting up and reading your work in the fantastic setting of Middleport Pottery? Well, you can! Not only do we have some incredible headline acts for you, we've also got the chance for you to get up and share in the Open Mic section.

Whether you're a first time reader, or well versed in performing, we'd love to hear what you have to say. Slots will be given on a first come first served basis on the day, so why not come along and get yourself a cup of something while you get your name down.

This time around we'll be basing the slot length on demand, to try and fit as many in as we can, so if you're up for performing make sure you prebook your ticket here, and we'll see you there!

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-10-01-wordcraft-an-afternoon-of-poetry

14/09/2023

As our next poetry afternoon at Middleport Pottery approaches, we are VERY excited to be able to bring you this next headliner. WordCraft folks, you are going to be blown away by the incredible, Saboteur Award winning, Josie Alford Poet

Enigmatic, mysterious, drenched in shadow...Josie Alford is none of these things.
Josie Alford is a Bristol-based poet and freelance creative. Her stage presence is sequinned, pop culture referencing, infectious and welcoming. Once seen, never forgotten, her work ranges from the subtlety of dealing with loss to analysing the nuanced discography of the Spice Girls. She also makes YouTube videos on all things poetry and book nerdery covering subjects from writing poetry to getting your poetry collection published.
Josie has performed feature sets at events including Raise The Bar, SofarSounds Cambridge, Milk Poetry, Worcester Speakeasy, Stirchley Speaks, Hammer and Tongue, Womad and Bristol Harbour Fest, and her debut collection was recently published with Verve Poetry Press.

You lot know what to do - head here and book yourselves a ticket, it's going to be a belter

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-10-01-wordcraft-an-afternoon-of-poetry

04/09/2023

Did you know it's less than a month until our next event at Middleport Pottery? Where did that time go, eh? It's probably about time we started telling you about the fantastic line up we have in store for you...

First up on the list, we are simply delighted to welcome the fantastic jemima_unspoken back to WordCraft

16/08/2023

It's only one day until WordCraft: The Summer Showers One and we have two very important things to tell you.

One - our prebooked open mic slots have all gone! You lovely lot have been extra lovely this month, and we've got an open mic section bursting at the seams. If you'd like to read and you haven't let us know then pop us a message in case there are any drop outs!

Two - most importantly, we've got another fantastic feature for you on Thursday in the shape of the wonderful Matt McAteer, who will be treating us to some of his brand new collection, Damaged Glamour ❤️

Matt has been running poetry and music nights for a number of years and has previously taken shows to the Edinburgh and Greater Manchester Fringe Festivals. His new poetry collection was released by Northern Beat Poets Association in July 2023 and features QR codes that link to the poems performed with music. A separate album featuring different versions performed by Restless Spirits AKA will be released later in 2023.

You definitely won't want to miss Matt's set, so make sure you're tuned in tomorrow, in the room or on Zoom. See you there!

14/08/2023

We don't know where the time is going, but WordCraft: The Summer Showers One is suddenly four days away, and after doing a quick headcount we're incredibly excited by all the lovely people who have already signed up. The night is shaping up to be a super one, and if that weren't enough, we have a couple of feature treats for you to hopefully make up for the wetter weather - the first of these being the fantastic Tom Allsop ❤️

Tom is a poet and playwright from Hednesford, Staffordshire, who has had work staged in theatres across the country. He has been published in an anthology by Harper Collins to raise money for key workers during the pandemic and had two pieces included in 'In The Sticks'. He is one of Offa’s ‘New Voices' whose anthology is available from Offa's Press now!

As always, WordCraft at BottleCraft is completely free to attend, so get yourself over on Thursday, in person or on Zoom, and hear Tom's fantastic set. If you've a hankering to perform too then let us know - spaces are going fast!

03/07/2023

What an absolute honour yesterday was. With impeccable sets from our headline performers, a faultless open mic section, and a bloody lovely audience, we spent yesterday afternoon switching between laughing and crying, with enough goosebumps to go around. We can't thank everyone enough - whether you performed, listened, or just gave the event some support, you're all absolute treasures.

Huge thanks again to Middleport Pottery for inviting us to come and do this. To be able to put on an event in such a breathtaking venue is just incredible - we still have to pinch ourselves.

See you back there in October 👀

02/07/2023

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Are you ready for another day of fabulous Spoken Word at Middleport Pottery? Grab your tickets now!

30/06/2023

One of our WordCraft - An Afternoon of Poetry headliners Dan Webber had a blast last weekend performing over at Glastonbury Festival - impressive right? And it's not to late to see him and our other incredible headliners this weekend, just pop yourself over to the link below and get yourself a space!

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

30/06/2023

2 DAYS TO GO!
Sunday 2nd July – 1pm WORDCRAFT – An Afternoon of Poetry
Book Now: https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk

28/06/2023

This Sunday over at WordCraft - An Afternoon of Poetry we've promised four incredible feature poets, a jam-packed open mic section, and the beautiful backdrop of Middleport Pottery - pretty good right? Well, we thought we could go one better, and so it's our delight to welcome our final feature poet of the afternoon - the hugely talented Kathryn Millington! ❤️

Kathryn ‘Millie ’Millington is a poet, performer and activist from Sheffield. She runs the poetry charity ‘Nine Lives Poetry’, bringing some of the UK's best poets to a Sheffield audience and creating a stage for emerging local poets.

Millie’s poetry tells us a story of grief as a result of involuntary childlessness. It takes us on a journey “…into a world that feels niche, but is anything but…” (Wendy Pratt), to a place of acceptance of a future without children and ultimately a creative and fulfilling life.

“You will know someone like me. We are everywhere: at your workplace, within your family, and your friendship groups. It’s such a lonely place. I want to inhabit that place and be that voice, to show that we can create.”

Millie has shared the stage with Helen Mort, Michael Pedersen, Toria Garbutt and Leyla Josephine. Her poem ‘Imprint’ was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. Her debut Pamphlet ‘Imprint’ was published by Fawn Press in May 2023.

Make sure to prebook your tickets at the link below - you won't want to miss it!

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

26/06/2023

1 WEEK TO GO!
Sunday 2nd July – 1pm
WORDCRAFT – An Afternoon of Poetry
Join us for this poetry & spoken word event that has been providing a cultural home for Stoke-on-Trent writers & performers since 2018. The team strive to create a safe space and a community for writers of all levels to share their work and be inspired by the work of others.

Tickets: https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/

21/06/2023

As we mentioned already, not only do we have a fantastic line up of poets travelling over to show us their words at Middleport Pottery, but the Open Mic section is your chance to grab yourself a feature slot at our next event. That's pretty exciting, right? And without any further ado we'd love to introduce you to our spotlight performer at July's event, the lovely Alison Falkonakis! Alison really wowed us with her pieces back in April, and we can't wait to hear what she has in store for us this time around.

Alison Falkonakis, is a British writer who lived for many years in the small Greek town of Leonidio in Arcadia. Alison's first two children’s books were nominated for a Public Award in Greece and Alison was honoured to make the White Ravens list of 2015.
Her six books have been translated into Chinese, Turkisk and Korean.
Alongside her own writing, Alison has translated many Greek stories into English so that they can be shared across the world.
Alison has been writing poetry for many years and has previously been shortlisted for the Bridport prize.
Working for the NHS, Alison was to be reunited with her high school English Teacher - the late Mr John Mills - and with his encouragement and mentoring began sharing her poetry for the first time in 2022

Come and join us for a wonderful afternoon of Spoken Word, and nab yourself a ticket here:

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

20/06/2023

We've got another absolute treat in store for you all at Middleport Pottery...

Fresh off the back of his feature performance on the poetry stage at Glastonbury Festival this year, we are really honoured to announce that Dan Webber Poet as our third headline poet for July.

Dan Webber (he/him) is an award-winning LGBTQ+ poet and producer based in Derby. He has appeared at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Reading Fringe Festival and as part of the 25th Birthday Celebrations for Leicester Comedy Festival. His first collection ‘Genre Fluid’ was published by Big White Shed in June 2019, a show of the same name was named Best Solo Show at Morecambe Digital Fringe in August 2020.

Dan's commissions include ‘The Derby Witness’ a poetry and street art project for Derby Feste, ‘Whispers From The Woods’, a poetry and nature trail produced with Arts Melbourne for The National Forest, ‘15st 9lbs at time of writing’ for SHOUT Festival, Birmingham, ‘Genre Fluid: Quarantine Edition’ for Coventry Pride, and ‘322 Ways of Escape’ as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations for The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent.

Dan's set is guaranteed to be a fantastic one, and if you'd like the chance to see him without the wellies (though you can wear them if you'd like) then grab your tickets at the link below ❤

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

19/06/2023

Shall we have another headliner? We think so. We're over the moon to bring you a feature set from the founder of Fawn Press, the wonderful Scarlett Ward ❤

Scarlett is a poet, publisher and workshop facilitator living in Staffordshire. Her recent work has appeared in Nine Arches’ “Under the Radar” magazine, Broken Sleep’s “Eco poetry” anthology, and in 14 poems. Last year she was shortlisted for the Womens’ Poetry Prize, the Spelt poetry competition, and came in the top 10% of the Bridgeport Poetry Prize.

Scarlett's first collection 'Ache' is one of Poetry Press's best-sellers, and was subsequently nominated for the Forward Poetry Prize in 2020. Alongside hosting sold out workshops with Verve Poetry & Spoken Word Festival, Scarlett has also found huge success in founding her own press for new and upcoming writers, with two of its collections being nominated for the Saboteur Awards 2023.

We can't wait for Scarlett's set, and for those of you looking to have your work published then come and grab the opportunity to have a chat ❤ Tickets are still available right here 👇

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

16/06/2023

So, let's talk Open Mic. Over here at WordCraft we're all about giving you guys a platform to showcase your own work, and more importantly, get the chance to have your own feature slot at Middleport Pottery. Because we can all agree, it's quite the venue, right?

On the day we'll have 6 open mic slots, at 5 minutes each, up for grabs. Due to high demand (and we really don't want to leave anyone out), we're putting four of those slots up for grabs on the day. The early bird catches the worm and all that - park up early and come and get your names down.

If you're not an early four, don't panic - we'll also have two Wildcard slots, drawn from a hat (probably a fancy poetry one) for anyone who wants to sign up a little later.

Most importantly, of those six performers we will be picking one to have a super special showcase slot at our next event. You'll have the opportunity for a longer set, and a chance to really show off your material in front of a beautiful crowd.

We don't want to get all lottery on you, but you have to be in it to win it 👀 So grab yourself a ticket at the link below and come and show your words off ❤

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

15/06/2023

We promised you some headliners, and we're utterly delighted to announce our first feature poet at Middleport Pottery - the fantastic Mary Dickins ❤ Mary has been such a constant supporter of WordCraft, and we're dead chuffed to be able to hear her lovely words in person.

Mary wrote the first of many poems when she was four but it took her another fifty-six years to begin sharing them publicly. Her debut pamphlet “Happiness FM” was published in 2020 and selected as one of 10 uplifting books chosen by the NHS and the Reading Agency, and her poems have been published in various anthologies and zines. She has featured on television and radio, and has dished up poems all over the country as part of the Poetry Takeaway team. Her latest collection “Late Shift at the Pickle Factory“ was published in June 2023 by Burning Eye Books . Mary describes her poems as 'tender, sad, joyful, poignant and utterly ridiculous.'

If you haven't grabbed your ticket already, then pop over to the link below and treat yourself 👇

https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-07-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery

15/04/2023

Today is the day, and we're very excited to see you later at Poetry & Prosecco at World of Wedgwood for a glass of fizz, some fantastic open mic and the very brilliant Rick Sanders aka Willis the Poet treating us to a headline set.

Rick Sanders, aka Willis the Poet, is an established comedy stand-up poet based in the mighty West Midlands. He is a regular headliner and featured poet on the Birmingham circuit and is also active in the flourishing spoken word scene around the country, his sticky sausage-fingers in as many pies as he can.

We've heard he even has a Wedgwood poem up his sleeve...

02/04/2023

What can we possibly say. Middleport Pottery, you were utterly beautiful. Poets, you were all exceptional.

We have laughed, and cried, and burst at the seams with gratitude ❤️

Thank you everyone who shared such a lovely afternoon with us. And hopefully, we'll see you all there again in July!

02/04/2023

Due to circumstances beyond anybody's control, we are really sad to say that Helen Mort will no longer be able to join us for WordCraft Presents: An Afternoon of Poetry at Middleport Pottery. We hope to have her back at our next event.

However, in true superhero style, we have the fantastic Casey Bailey, former Poet Laureate of Birmingham stepping in as our headliner for today, who is guaranteed to give us an outstanding set! ❤️

See you in just under an hour!

01/04/2023

It's less than 24 hours until WordCraft Presents: An Afternoon of Poetry at Middleport Pottery, and we couldn't possibly go without thanking the wonderful Middleport Pottery for inviting us along to showcase some fantastic spoken word.

Hosting WordCraft in such an important and beautiful heritage site is an absolute blessing, and we're genuinely overwhelmed with excitement.

Limited tickets are still available - head over to https://middleport-pottery.arttickets.org.uk/middleport-pottery/2023-04-02-wordcraft-presents-an-afternoon-of-poetry-at-middleport-pottery to grab yours.

Address

33 Piccadilly
Stoke-on-Trent
ST11EN

Telephone

+441782911819

Website

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