Call for Experimental Live Poetry at VERVE 2026
Are you developing a bold new poetry performance? Testing something hybrid, strange, or genre-breaking? VERVE Poetry Festival wants to hear from you.
As part of its 2026 festival programme, VERVE launches WORK IN POETRY — an open call for experimental live poetry and spoken word. This showcase is a platform for scratch performances, works-in-progress, and interdisciplinary pieces exploring what poetry can do on stage.
What to Submit to VERVE 2026
- Scratch performances or works-in-progress
- Experimental or interdisciplinary approaches
- Performance poetry incorporating sound, movement, visuals, digital media, or audience interaction
- Projects connected to DYCP or other development processes
- New voices pushing boundaries
- Established voices with fresh material
Benefits of Submitting to VERVE 2026
- A professionally produced slot at VERVE Poetry Festival 2026
- A £300 fee per performance (solo or group)
- Basic technical support (lighting and sound — this is a scratch, not a finished show)
- A live audience and feedback opportunity
- Promotion in the official festival programme
- Travel covered (but not accommodation)
This is a testing ground for raw edges, risk-taking, and creativity in development.
Event Details
- Date: Friday 13 February 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Location: Birmingham Hippodrome
- Fee: £300 per artist or group
- Number of commissions: 4 slots, 20 minutes each
- Event type: Scratch performance showcase
Who Should Apply
- Artists at any phase of their poetry career
- Poets and performers from underrepresented backgrounds
- Artists working at the intersection of poetry and other disciplines
- Anyone with a wild, weird, or wonderful idea that needs a stage
How to Apply
- Submit via the online form on the festival’s website
- Your proposal should include:
- What the performance is and how it works
- Where you are in the development process
- Why this opportunity matters for your creative journey
Submissions open September 1, 2025 and close October 31, 2025.
Helpful Resources
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