Salford Students are chosen to compete in the UK’s National Poetry Slam
Tuesday 10 January 2017
Four young writers have been selected to compete in a national poetry competition, after applying to an advert on social media.
The quartet calling themselves Salford Speaks will be representing The University of Salford at UniSlam, to be held in Leicester on the 29th and the 30th January.
The all-female team is made up of undergraduate students Sky Summers from Manchester, Ella Otomewo from Birmingham, Megan Powell from Salford and Alex Beloe from the Peak District.
This will be some of the girls’ first time competing at a poetry slam apart from Ella, 21, who said “I've been writing and performing poetry for a couple of years now, mainly in Manchester because there's such a great spoken word scene.”
19-year-old Sky, who is in her first year studying Drama and Creative Writing, said: “More than anything we are looking forward to meeting fellow creatives from across the UK and making memories. It's a wonderful way to start the New Year and blossom as people and as artists.
“I love my course and the Salford lecturers have been very supportive of our journey; some have helped towards our costs and helped spread the word through social media.”
Lecturer Mark Smith said: “It’s really exciting to see these students getting so actively involved in the Slam Poetry scene nationally as well as locally, and I’ve been happy to support them in this. It’s been great seeing Sky and the others embracing the form.”
Dr Szilvi Naray Davey, who also teaches the girls, said: “I am immensely proud that our Drama/ Creative Writing programme has spawned such talent.”
However, the students’ participation in the competition all depends on raising £500 for travel and accommodation expenses, which they are working hard towards.
The girls said “So far we have raised £140 and we have quite a way to go, but we are trying to plan another showcase this month.”
You can find and donate on the girls’ Just Giving Page here.
Find out more
Charlotte Trott
0161 295 0271
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