Famous Last Words New Westminster

Famous Last Words is a spoken word comedy show that involves poets participating in six rounds of a faux competition where they ‘compete' in a series of poetry related events that are in turn, 'judged' by our host (with input from Uni the Unicorn and our audience).

These games include poems written in unusual forms (haiku, sonnet, limericks, etc.) or on silly themes (love poems directed to someone in the room) or with funny addendums (poems must be written from the perspective of a puppet and must be read with said puppet). There are 25 potential games that can occur during any episode of Famous Last Words thus no two shows are exactly the same.

Recurring characters at every show like Uni or the Dr. Dru or the Professor add silliness to the show and we hand out free chocolate to everyone that attends. We also tend to loan our unicorn bubble guns and give our free sticker/pins to members of the audience. It’s been called a kids show for adults or spoken word that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This show in particular will feature Aaron Hunter, Babaloluwa (Lolu) Oyedele, Elliott Slinn, Jenny Garcha, Steve Miller, host Sean McGarragle and of course, Uni the Unicorn.

Aaron Hunter is a poet, performer and visual artist He is an indigenous, transgender man, who explores his identity through art. He is the Artistic Director of Tri Cities Poetry, an arts organization that runs poetry open mics and other performing arts themed events. He has published 2 books one being a collection of local poets called "Brave Voices" (May 2025) and a collection of his poetry titled the "Archives" (December 2024). You can find more information about Aaron and Tri Cities Poetry at tricitiespoetry.ca

Babaloluwa (Lolu) Oyedele is a Nigeria-born, South-Africa raised interdisciplinary artist, performer and writer. He is privileged to be part of the Unbound Reading Series team as well as a member of Playwrights Theatre Centre’s Block A writing cohort led by the auspicious David Geary. He is currently working and living in the unceded territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, otherwise known as Vancouver, B.C.

Elliott Slinn is a performer who takes listeners on a journey of the heart with his honest song writing and poetry. With a unique style and an emphasis on the musicality of his lyrics, his storytelling and sonic signature weave together as one. Slinn’s haunting and powerful voice carries an air of gentle melancholy, which captivates audiences and leaves listeners spellbound. His work has been described as immediate and accessible, as he aims to engage the soul and transform his personal tale into a shared experience.

He has performed at the: Lululemon Leadership conference, for Lush Cosmetics, the Vancouver and New Westminster Arts Council, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the YWCA, New West Chamber of Commerce, VMF (Vancouver Mural Festival) and Vancouver Writers Festival. Most recently he was on the CBC radio program “North by Northwest” with Margaret Gallagher.

His street poetry, Moment Poems, has been welcomed into numerous events, as he writes personalized on-the-spot poetry for people all around the city.

Slinn was named the Poet Laureate for the City of New Westminster in 2021 and was successfully elected to the New Westminster School Board as a Trustee in 2022.

Jenny Garcha humbly learnt to accept the generosity of Penticton’s diverse immigrant community. These people who were from all the different corners of the globe. Who were here in Canada, trying to make a name for themselves and provide for their families, just like her mother. Her childhood was multicultural; different languages, tongues and mouths speaking, often hollering over one another as if she had landed in the middle of the tower of Babel. This loving community that surrounded Jenny in her early years, is the positive influence she has with her through every adventure she partakes in. She carries her Canadian family with her everywhere.

Sean McGarragle is the host and founder of Death Rides a Unicorn. He has performed and read poems and stories across Canada, the US and even a little bit in Europe. He loves presenting interesting artists to curious audiences and chocolate and laughter to everyone.

Steve Miller is a spoken word artist, slam poet, storyteller, performer, workshop creator/facilitator, singer(he thinks), musician(nope but I still try), renaissance handy person(who identifies as a man-kinda). He currently lives and works on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Qayqayt First Nation, the first people of this land, and the shared traditional territories of other Coast Salish peoples, including the Musqueam, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Tsleil-Waututh, and Katzie nations.

Steve Miller's work is defined by its relatable accessibility, often comedic yet raw honesty and unflinching, confessional style. His poetry courageously explores the complexities of human connection, personal trauma, and the search for healing.

Uni the Unicorn is a grown up sparkle, a dancing child of the moon and Michael Flatly and the epitome of the joy we hope we can bring to every Death Rides a Unicorn show. In times of direct stress and deress we beieve it is critical to give me joy, laughter and where possible, a little bit of decadence. Uni is all of that wrapped in a hug that smells like home cooking.

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