Poetry Slam Highlights Team Effort in Supporting Young UK Voices

THE Roundhouse Poetry Slam, in partnership with Taylor Wessing, celebrated its 19th annual event by crowning this year’s Slam Champion, providing a platform for emerging spoken word artists to share their powerful voices. 

Spoken word artists from across the UK navigated six national heats before 11 finalists took to the Roundhouse Main Stage with pieces exploring their thoughts, experiences and perspectives through thought-provoking narratives.

This year’s coveted Slam Champion title was awarded to Birmingham-based Bradley Taylor, who personified the depth and talent of young poets in the UK.

The event was hosted by Anita Rani and Toby Campion and featured a judging panel of esteemed spoken word artists Cerys Matthews, Vanessa Kisuule, and Inua Ellams, who faced the difficult task of selecting the winner.

The Roundhouse Poetry Slam has grown in profile and scale over recent years, which has been propelled by the involvement of its Principal Partner, Taylor Wessing. Known for its commitment to the arts, international law firm Taylor Wessing’s dedication to community, culture, and inclusion aligns seamlessly with Roundhouse’s mission.

In addition to the Poetry Slam, Taylor Wessing supports Roundhouse throughout the year in other ways, from delivering workshops to one-to-one advice and pro bono support for our young people.

Louise Ajdukiewicz, Roundhouse Associate Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy, reflected on the collaborative effort behind the Slam: 

“We are proud to have provided a stage for inspiring young voices for almost two decades now, and we could not do this without the continued generosity of our partners. The comprehensive support from Taylor Wessing ensures that the Poetry Slam remains a life-changing opportunity for young participants.”

Kirstie McGuigan, Responsible Business Partner, and member of the UK Executive Board at Taylor Wessing, echoes the sentiments, sharing:

“As a law firm committed to innovation and responsible business, our values align naturally with the Roundhouse. Witnessing this round of Slam finalists’ performances, which explored pertinent social and political themes in such eloquent ways, was incredibly inspiring and highly entertaining and illustrated the impressive pool of poetic talent out there.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Roundhouse, ensuring we can provide even more incredible wordsmiths with a platform to share their talents year-on-year.”

The Roundhouse Poetry Slam Final marked the beginning of the Last Word Festival, a vibrant compilation of events celebrating spoken word, music, film, performance and more until 30 June 2024.

For more information, please visit: https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/series/the-last-word-festival/.

Renowned as a legendary venue, the Roundhouse delivers hundreds of creative projects and opportunities for over 9,000 young people each year. Covering music, media and performing arts, these opportunities offer affordable avenues for young individuals to harness their skills, gain practical experience, and pursue careers in the creative industries.