Swindon Wordsmiths - Poetry and Comedy Night - May 2026

Swindon Wordsmiths is an evening of spoken word poetry and comedy organised by Swindon people, for Swindon people. Whether you want to get up and perform, or sit back and watch, Swindon Wordsmiths has something for all poetry and comedy lovers to enjoy.

You'll find us at The Well, a relaxed and friendly church space at the Abbey Meads village centre. Join us for our first birthday celebrations as we bring you more warm, witty and wonderous wordplay.

Follow @torncurtainco and @swindonwordsmiths on Insta to stay up to date with event info.

Line-up

Swindon Wordsmiths is hosted by local comedian, Abbie Hope.

Our resident poet, Rebecca Rocker, will be back to curate and perform the much-loved Audience Poem.

We'll have a stand-up set from Graeme Coulam, a comedian and writer who was praised by The Stage for his "considerable talent, high quality writing and engaging personality" in a review of his Edinburgh Fringe show.

Plus we’ll be treated to a headline spoken word poetry set from Chloë Jacquet a multicultural, multifaceted, multi-slam winning spoken word artist. With a preference for straight talking and a penchant for rhymes and opinions, Chloë’s poetry is both entertaining and meaningful. Her first poetry collection Take It By The Line is published by Black Eyes Publishing UK.

Open-mic

There are five open-mic slots (5 mins for poets, 10 mins for comedians). Peformers can sign up in advance, by emailing [email protected]. We'll confirm slots at least two weeks before the event. Open-mic performers do not need to buy tickets.

• Doors open at 7pm, for a 7.30 pm start.
• Parking: free car park at The Well, or in side streets.
• Tickets: £6 (Early Bird discount) / £8 (from 01/05/26) / £10 on the door (cash and card accepted)
• Drinks: bring your own. We will provide the glasses. There is a Tesco Express at the Abbey Meads Village Centre.

Swindon Wordsmiths is a safe space for comedians, storytellers and poets to share their stories with humour and heart.

Many of the organising team are Christians, with a passion for encouraging creativity and conversation in the local community. The venue is a church, but Swindon Wordsmiths welcomes any/all expressions of faith.

We want to:

• Create a supportive environment for creativity and connection.
• Be a non-judgmental place to share stories and spark conversation.
• Give people a great night out, offering an alternative to the narrative that Swindon is ‘one of the worst places to live in the UK'!
• Showcase comedy/poetry that is engaging, entertaining and accessible.
• Celebrate ordinary people and their extraordinary stories.
• Platform voices that uplift, inspire, encourage and challenge with care.

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

Get App

Host or Publisher Torn Curtain