Off The Chest is an inclusive, explosive spoken word and poetry night, celebrating original voices and poetry that makes a statement. Don’t miss their long-awaited return to Canada Water Theatre, after their smash hit night back in September.

As well as feature sets from Molly Naylor and Gabriel Akamo, their renowned open mic segment offers the opportunity to poets of all backgrounds and ages, from first-timers to seasoned pros, to take to the stage.

You will be able to sign up for the open mic on the night, with 10 spots up for grabs. Names will be pulled out of a hat.

Hosted by poets Ella Dorman-Gajic and Iftikhar Latif, Off The Chest champions community within the poetry world. They have produced multiple nights to sell-out audiences.

Join a workshop where you’ll get creative with words, try out spoken-word techniques and have the opportunity to perform. You will play with metaphor, free writing and understand how to keep developing your own ideas after you leave.

This Saturday Studio is open to anyone aged 14 to 19, whether you’ve tried spoken word before or are completely new to it.

Gabriel Akamo is a Nigerian-British poet, actor, facilitator and creative producer. He is a Barbican Young Poet alumnus and has worked and performed throughout London, the UK and internationally, in spaces ranging from the Royal Academy of Arts and St Paul’s Cathedral to venues in Riga, Latvia. He is inspired by philosophy, faith, family and identity – all of which feature massively in his writing.

Location

We’ll be in the Studio on level 1. When you enter Wellcome Collection, head up the stairs or take the lift, then follow the signs.

Saturday Studio sign-up

Each workshop has 25 spaces available and you can sign up from 13:30 in the Studio. Places are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you’re visiting the museum with a parent, guardian or support worker, they are welcome to drop you off at our Studio. If you’d like someone to support you during the session, just let us know in advance of the session or on the day.

Almost any successful writer can trace a guide, someone without whom their route to acclaim would have been far more treacherous. For many poets from the UK, for the last decade and a half, Jacob Sam-La Rose has been that unseen mentor. 

His influence stretches from school workshops, initiatives such as the famed Barbican Young Poets and his work as poetry editor with flipped eye publishing. Here he presents a trio of his poet-mentees: Miriam Nash, Gabriel Akamo and Bella Cox.

Please note there’s been a venue change. The R.A.P Party will be taking place at The Albany, in Deptford

20 years ago, one of the greatest albums in Hip Hop was released. Combining classic rap lyricism and poetry with soul, jazz and funk, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill grew to supersede the Hip Hop genre in which it was conceived to become one of the greatest albums in the history of music, indeed of all time. 

This special R.A.P Party gathers the most incredible contemporary poets writing to create and share new verse in response the timeless songs, the journeys, questions and reflections raised by Lauryn Hill. 

Tickets: £8 concessions / buy here