Speech Bubble

About the event

Join us for a relaxed and friendly evening of open mic performance poetry showcasing the best spoken word talent on campus, plus a special guest performance from Rachelle Foster.

Organised by LU Arts, Speech Bubble is a long-running, relaxed, and friendly evening of performance poetry at Loughborough Students' Union. Open to students, staff, and the public, it showcases the best spoken word talent on campus through open mic slots and often features a professional poet.

Whether you're performing or simply enjoying the show, Speech Bubble offers an inclusive and supportive space to celebrate creativity and the power of words.

The event is hosted by the Creative Writing Society, a welcoming and inclusive student community for anyone passionate about storytelling. They host twice-weekly writing sessions offering a relaxed space to explore your creativity, share ideas, and receive feedback. Beyond writing, they run a variety of fun socials, from film nights and board games to nature walks and pub meetups.

This event is open to everyone (18+) - students, staff and members of the public.

About our guest performer

Rachelle Ruby Foster (she/they) is a writer, journalist and educator based in Nottingham. She is a second-generation GOBS Collective member whose work focuses on mental health, mortality and relationships. One of her biggest achievements to date is having won PoENtry Slam's year-long poetry tournament in Barcelona, ending in 2020.

She has performed her work in Brighton, London, Nottingham and Barcelona, headlining shows such as Hammer and Tongue, Cellar Door BCN, Speech Therapy, Hockley Hustle, and Duende Sessions. Her work has also been published in magazines For Women Who Roar, the PoENtry Slam collections, Nottingham's Word Walk zines, and GOB's Full Moon & Earth showcase zines and performed on BBC Radio Nottingham.

Rachelle is also passionate about education and mentoring future talent, having held a variety of teaching roles in her career. She has previously ran spoken word workshops for organisers such as Sugar Stealers and Young Creative Awards Nottingham and has experience mentoring both adults and kids.

Visit Rachelle's website

Open mic opportunity

Any Loughborough University student or staff member can perform at this event but please book a slot in advance as places are limited. All abilities are welcome so it doesn't matter if you've never performed your work before. We welcome performers from all backgrounds and you can expect a friendly and supportive audience on the night. The deadline for registering your interest via a short online form is Friday 14 November 2025.

Register your interest in an open mic slot

Accessibility

This event is taking place on the ground floor of the Students' Union in The Lounge and there is step-free access into the building. There are gender neutral, accessible toilets close by. If you have any specific access needs then please let us know in advance via the booking form or email us at [email protected].

View the Access Guide for the Students' Union on AccessAble

Photography

Photography and/or filming will be taking place at this event. If you do not consent to your photo being taken/being filmed and this used for publicity purposes, then please alert the photographer/videographer/event organiser on the day.

Please note that Eventbrite processes data (including any personal data you may submit during your booking) outside of the European Economic Area. Please only submit any personal data which you are happy to have processed in this way, and in accordance with Eventbrite’s privacy policy applicable to respondents.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher LU Arts