With the significant drop in temperatures and a brief lull in essay deadlines, take refuge in Poetry Ireland this Monday at 7pm at the brand-new open mic night, Lemme Talk. Collaborating with Slam Sunday, Lemme Talk is set to give the wordsmiths and performers of the city a platform to voice their work in front of a friendly and appreciative audience. Taking place on the first Monday of every month, this event will afford poets – slam or otherwise – the chance to break into the Dublin spoken word scene in a non-competitive and inclusive environment.
Speaking to The University Times over email, Elizabeth Mohen of Poetry Ireland expressed a fervent belief in the power of the spoken word: “Open Mics play such an important role in building communities of poets, and that human connection and encouragement is so important in a field that can often feel difficult, lonely, or like a minority sport.” Noting the already “thriving Open Mic scene in pubs around the country”, Mohen explained Lemme Talk’s unique appeal: “We hope that Lemme Talk will contribute to this scene by promising an alcohol-free safe space that is open to all kinds of poets and performers.”
With at least one special guest promised at each event, this Monday night will welcome award-winning playwright and Trinity alumnus Dylan Coburn Gray, the writer behind Boys and Girls, a highlight of Dublin Fringe 2013 and winner of the Fishamble Best New Writing Award. As well as this, Felispeaks, a well-known performer on the slam poetry circuit, will make an appearance, no doubt inspiring those performing on the night with her long list of achievements and unique take on the social concerns and struggles of young people in Ireland today.
Tickets cost €5, a price that includes tea, coffee and a selection of sweet treats for the peckish poets in the audience, and five-minute performance slots will be available on the night. Ridding students of excuses not to attend, there will also be 10 free tickets on offer at the door – all you have to do is request a Talk Token. As Mohen explains, it is paramount to Poetry Ireland “that Lemme Talk is as accessible as possible. We don’t want cost to be a deterrent to anyone struggling, so we hope the Talk Tokens will remove that barrier”.
So, whether you have been nervously waiting for a chance to reveal yourself as the next Felispeaks, or you are simply looking for an excuse to break free from the library, this is the event for you. Revel in the chance to be part of the launch night of Lemme Talk: sit back, relax and enjoy the power and passion of the spoken word.
Lemme Talk will take place on Monday, November 5th at 7pm at Poetry Ireland, 11 Parnell Square East, Dublin 1. Tickets are €5, available on Eventbrite, with 10 free at the door for those who need them.
