The Poetry Brothel Boston: DEVOTION

Come sit at the altar of inspiration with us and watch poets drop to their knees to profess their deepest yearnings. Our poets are exquisite, performing their original work live and in the flesh. Throughout the evening, you choose which poet to invite into the privacy of the boudoir for an intimate, one-on-one poetry reading.

On the main stage, become entranced by our incredible drag and burlesque performers. Listen to incantations and petitions to the universe. And in the secret corners of the theater, explore your future with our elite professional fortune-tellers—offering tarot, palmistry, dream interpretation, and, at times, mediumship.

Immerse yourself deeper in the show by coming in costume or in character.
Think: red satin, candy wrappers, old ivory lace, a trench coat of rose petals, herringbone and pinstripe, leather, evening wear, a feather in your cap, a black gown.

Age Requirement: 21+
Doors: 7:30 PM
Show: 8:00–10:30 PM
Private Readings: Until 11:00 PM

Please note: Seating is limited (approx. 70 chairs).

The Poetry Brothel is an immersive literary cabaret with chapters across the U.S. and Europe—including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Denver, Boston, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Madrid.

As The New Yorker describes:

“A madam presents a rotating cast of poets, artists, and artisans who erupt into verse in public and lure guests into back rooms for private readings.”

Each artist lures you into a world of uninhibited creativity, intimate connection, and poetic magic. We blend poetry and vaudeville, intimacy and immersive theater, cabaret and activism.
You may encounter faeries, sirens, witches, anthropomorphic petrichor, or even an ancient forest—or perhaps something entirely unexpected.

Our cast is made up of poets, performers, mystics, and activists who reflect the vibrant diversity of our city. We are BIPOC, queer and straight, cis, trans, and genderfluid. We honor the sacred tradition of sex work by casting current and former sex workers, sparking conversations to destigmatize sex work, educating our audiences on consent and current issues in sex work, and donating 10% of our profits. We aim to foster a safe space for sex workers, our LGBTQIA+ community, and our greater community of artists.

Note: While some of our artists engage in sex work outside of this space, The Poetry Brothel itself is a literary and immersive arts experience only.

We have three house rules: Be Kind. Be Bold. Be Consensual. We are, by design, a no-contact event—here to captivate your mind and imagination. Always ask before touching anyone in our House. If you experience or witness anything uncomfortable, alert security, staff, or the Madam immediately.

This event is wheelchair accessible. The main show and all stage performances take place in the main room, which has approximately 70 chairs available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact us with any accessibility questions or if you need to reserve a seat.

We also offer a limited number of Pay What You Wish tickets for those experiencing financial insecurity. To request a discounted ticket—or for accessibility questions—please reach out to:

Our show may include flashing lights, amplified music, the clacking of typewriter keys, and the risk of leaving healed and inspired.

The Poetry Brothel is brought to you by The Poetry Society of New York. Become a PSNY member for discounted and/or free tickets to future Poetry Brothel events, and so much more. Learn more:

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Host or Publisher The Poetry Society of New York