Thirteen Names for the West: a fantastical coven in thirteen poems

The Wicked Witch of the West is a character we all know - or think we do. But do you know her by name? And how many names do you know her by?
In the 'Wicked' stories, she is Elphaba. In the classic 1939 film, she is the vivid, emerald-skinned avatar of sepia-tinted Miss Gulch. In 'The Wiz', she is pink-red-and-purple Evillene - not a splash of green to be seen. And these are just some of her better-known monikers - she's been called by at least a dozen more.
In 'Thirteen Names for the West', Wes Viola has taken a cauldron-full of these names and from them crafted a sequence of poems, each of which presents another face of this surprisingly mercurial character.

Tonight, thirteen female and non-binary performers—poets, actors, and singers—give voice to these names for the first time.

The performers:

: born in a paddling-pool in South London beneath a waning Cancer moon; they delight in writing about queer transcendence and flatulent saints. Winner of the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize, Moniack Mhor Emerging Writer Prize, and BBC Proms Young Poet; Annie has performed at the Barbican, Southbank Centre, and on BBC Radio 3. Their practice is dedicated to making spaces of listening and imaginative possibility. Annie will perform ‘Momba’.

is a Library Development Officer for Southwark Libraries, and Assistant Leader for London Youth Choir. Possessed with extraordinary and infectious energy, Jessica will perform 'Elphaba'.

: A poet and performer whose style blends improvisation and memorization. A regular on NTS Radio and featured on The Wind that had Not Touched Land (A Colourful Storm records 2025), her book Love and Beauty is available via Pages of Hackney. Christina will perform 'Zelena'.

: Wes' long-term creative (and life) collaborator and subject of the prize-winning short The Bard's Wife. Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska—the earthly home of the Wizard of Oz himself—Erica will bring an authentic "not in Kansas any more..." note to the evening when she performs 'Miss Gulch'.

The Voices in the Air: Exclusive recordings will be featured from a powerhouse ensemble, including Kate Potts (Bloodaxe Books), Annie Gardiner (Hysterical Injury), Jessa Brown (Keats-Shelley Prize), Charlie Romijn (Silver Stairs of Ketchikan / Thought Forms) and many more.

The full list of voices on the project are:

Annie Hayter - Momba
Erica Viola - Miss Gulch
Kate Potts - Bastinda
Annie Gardiner - Smarmy
Vegas Valente - Evillene
Jessica Nyantakyi - Elphaba
Jessa Brown - Old Snarl-Spats
Sarah Mooney - Mordra
Sophie Hanson - Azkadellia
Johanna van Fessem - Theodora
Charlie Romijn - Lynessa
Christina Petrie - Zelena
Katy Naylor - Pyrena

About the poet

(a pen name of Wes White) is an Elder Bard of Glastonbury and current holder of the Silver Pen of Ynys Witrin. A past winner of the Wells Festival of Literature poetry prize and a Goldsmiths MA (Distinction) graduate, Wes previously presented the Way to Zed poem cycle and tarot at Camberwell Arts Festival.

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The events starts at 6.13pm on the 6th of the 6th at historic Nunhead Library.
It's free to book, with free refreshments provided. Reserve your place now!

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