Spoken Word Night

Name: Spoken Word Night
Start: 2025-09-07T17:00:00+01:00
Location: London Road, Stroud

Schedule

Sun, 07 Sep, 2025 at 05:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

London Road, Stroud | Stroud, EN

Spoken Word Night to Celebrate Stroud's Creative Spirit and Remember the Fringe
Sunday, 7th September | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Free Entry
The Bowbridge Arms, Stroud, Gloucestershire – Join us for an inspiring evening of poetry, storytelling, and spoken word at our first Spoken Word Night, which will be a special gathering that honours the legacy of the Stroud Fringe Festival and celebrates the enduring creativity of the Stroud community.
Taking place on Sunday, 7th September from 5pm to 7pm, this free event is hosted by local wordsmith Tony Rogers, and features performances from acclaimed guest poets Avril Staple and Tim Bannon. The night will also include an Open Mic session, welcoming poets, storytellers, and anyone with a passion for words to take the stage and share their voice.
In the spirit of community collaboration, the evening will culminate in the creation of a 12-line community poem, written with live with input from the audience. The process begins with a vote on one of three proposed opening lines, followed by line-by-line contributions from attendees—each selected through collective applause and consensus. The final result: a unique, crowd-sourced tribute to the spirit of the Stroud Fringe and the town's vibrant creative heart.
Whether you're performing or simply soaking in the words, The Bowbridge Arms Spoken Word Night promises a heartfelt, welcoming space for connection, expression, and remembrance.
Free entry. All are welcome.

Tony Rogers will also be performing with his band - Backhouses at the Bowbridge Arms on Saturday 13th September from 8pm - a 7-piece local Stroud band known for their blend of folk, rock and blues to present their "deep Stroud and anti-establishment" repertoire. Expect social commentary, and astrophysical songs with guitars, accordion, flute, trumpet and a djembe. They will follow up with a DJ set with 60s to 90s rock rarities and classics plus a bit of drum and bass... a night not to be missed! Free entry