Swindon Wordsmiths - Poetry & Comedy Night - September 2026
About this Event
Swindon Wordsmiths is an evening of spoken word poetry and comedy organised by Swindon people, for Swindon people.
You'll find us at The Well, a relaxed and friendly church space at the Abbey Meads village centre. Join us 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're doing things a bit differently in September, closing the open mic to bring you a pro-show!
Our opener is Ben Dali. Ben Dali is a 21st Century Renaissance man who spent his formative years as a cruise ship gameshow host and stage hypnotist, before becoming a primary school teacher. Now he's a comedy-cabaret poet, sharing rhyming insights into his unusual skillset and eclectic experiences, and is performing his hyperbole-defying 'Humdinger Words' show at Edinburgh Fringe this summer.
Our middle-acts are Ken Rich and Craig Mcleod.
Originally from Bristol, now living in Hampshire, Ken Rich has always loved having fun with words and language. His topics include being a ‘Cereal Killer’, his infatuation with wordplay, the letter ‘O’, and the joys of visiting ‘Basingstoke’.
Craig Mcleod is an engaging and quick-witted new comedian with a fresh charisma and charm that is easy to listen to. A stand out from the 2026 Caerphilly comedy festival and finalist for the 2026 Bath New Act, Craig is making waves across both the Welsh and English comedy scenes.
Our headliner is musical stand-up comedian, David Hoare.
Described as "An annoyingly funny young man," by Gary Delaney, David won the 'Audience Favourite Award' at the Musical Comedy Awards in 2021. He's taking his show 'How to Live to 100' to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, then bringing his rude songs, stupid jokes and insightful expertise to Swindon Wordsmiths!
I mean... what's not to love?!
Key Information
- 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 (standard price) / £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.
The heart behind it...
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.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 6.00 to GBP 8.00
