Welcome to Red Dirt Poetry Festival 2018
Built on the back of the success of The Dirty Word and Central Australia’s long and rich love affair with poetry, Red Dirt Poetry Festival brings together poets and spoken word artists from all over Australia and overseas.
Book Tickets
Rooftop Hip-Hop
9:00pm–1:00am @ Epilogue Rooftop
A night of hip-hop to blow your mind. Featuring Jesswar, Dallas Woods, KND and appearances by Omar Musa plus a mystery DJ set!
This is going to be huge. Get in early so you don’t miss out.
Journey the Dreaming
Poetry Walk
10am–11am | Meet @ Sandbox
Join Arrernte woman Alison Furber for a walk around Mparntwe. Explore the cultural history of this place and hear from local poets along the way.
This is a once in a lifetime journey you won’t want to miss out on.
The Program
MAIN EVENTS
Thursday 2nd August
Festival Opening
6:30pm–7:00pm @ Totem Courtyard
This is the time we open the festival – we acknowledge land, culture, art and history as it binds us to ourselves and our world.
Welcome to this space we have created and welcome to the 2018 Red Dirt Poetry Festival.
Australian Poetry Slam
Alice Springs Heat
7:00pm–11:00pm @ Totem Theatre
Ignite the mic and set the stage alight in Australian Poetry Slam 2018!
Are you the next Australian Poetry Slam – National Champion or a keen punter ready to cheer? You have two minutes to win the judges over! We will have an open mic session also for those who are ineligible for the Slam. Featuring Sukhjit Khalsa and Michael Moore.
Hosted by Laurie May.
Please find more information on entry and rules at australianpoetryslam.com
Cost: Entry by donation
Friday 3rd August
Poetry:
It’s What’s For Breakfast
8:00am–9:30am @ Page 27 Cafe
Have you just wanted some one on one time with the poets? Get to know them more, hear their words, maybe bring a poem of your own to share? Whatever your fancy, come and share poems, ideas and stories with the poets. Get up early and join our poets for an intimate experience.
Facilitated by Alexandra Steffan.
Cost: Free (but feel free to tip your poets)
Atitjere Poetry Project
Documentary Screening
5:30pm–6:00pm @ Totem Theatre
An Else Kennedy and Laurie May production.
The Atitjere Community is a poetic place to be. In scenery and words. This short documentary takes a brief peek into the poetry being created in an isolated outback community.
Cost: Free
Wom-Yarn
(Arlhe-Kenhe Ayeye)
6:30pm–8:30pm @ Totem Theatre
Embrace the space
in which we
the “other”
live (love)
Some of Australia’s finest female voices in a session of storytelling, spoken word and poetry.
This session is dedicated to the memory of Candy Royalle.
Featuring: Marie Elena Ellis, Jess Knight, Ellen Van Neervan, Stevie Jean, Alexandra Steffan, Victoria Alondra, Jennifer Compton, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa.
Hosted by Hannah Bronte.
Cost: $10
Rooftop Hip-Hop
9:00pm–1:00am @ Epilogue Rooftop
A night of hip-hop to blow your mind. Featuring Jesswar, Dallas Woods, KND and appearances by Omar Musa plus a mystery DJ set!
This is going to be huge.
Get in early so you don’t miss out.
Cost: $20 presale // $25 at door
Saturday 4th August
Haiku Deathmatch
10:00am–11:30am @ 8CCC Carpark
Let’s get ready to rumble! Bring your haiku, write them on the spot whatever floats your boat. Using a syllabic 5-7-5 haiku structure we invite you to meet us in the carpark for the battle to end all battles. Who will be crowned Australia’s Haiku Death Match Champion? Broadcast live on 8CCC radio, sign up at 10am for a 10.30am start.
Hosted by Laurie May.
Cost: Free
Mixtape Memoirs
6:00pm–7:30pm @ Totem Courtyard
A handcrafted mixtape you won’t get off the radio. Step back in time with us as we relive our glory days of highschool through poetry and song. Featuring storytelling magic from Jess Knight, Hannah Bronte, Michael Moore, Jeremy Garnet, Dina Indrasafitri, Alexandra Steffan, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Declan Furber and Jennifer Compton.
Hosted by Bill Moran.
Cost: $10
Riverside Readings
8:00pm–9:00pm @ Totem Theatre
Get up close and personal with some of the finest voices in spoken word poetry. Featuring Australian icon Omar Musa, the captivating Lay the Mystic, Texan wordsmith Bill Moran & TV superstar Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa.
Hosted by Stevie Jean.
Cost: $10
Boulevard of Broken Dreams & Open Mic
9:15pm–10:30pm @ Totem Courtyard
See out your Saturday night with a steaming mug of mulled cider and tales under the stars as we explore the realm we occupy between confinement and freedom. With poetry from Jennifer Compton, Alexandra Steffan, Jeremy Garnet, alongside YOU! Bring your poems and become part of the story.
Hosted by Lay the Mystic.
Cost: $5
Sunday 5th August
Journey the Dreaming
Poetry Walk
10am–11am | Meet @ Sandbox
Join Arrernte woman Alison Furber for a walk around Mparntwe. Explore the cultural history of this place and hear from local poets along the way.
This is a once in a lifetime journey you won’t want to miss out on. Please pre-book to avoid disappointment.
Cost: $20 pre bookings
Living Poetry
4.30pm–6pm @ Sandbox
Be enchanted by a stunning musical poetry Poesia Viviente by Juliana Menjura and Jeremy Conlon. Experience the moving works of Lay the Mystic, from across the ditch New Zealand poet Michael Moore will move you and the event capped off with a listening party from Dina Indrasafitri’s Alice Springs’ sessions.
Hosted by Laurie May.
Cost: Free
The Afterparty
7pm–Late @ Black Wreath HQ
Here’s where we cut loose. Let your hair down, it’s Picnic Day tomorrow so all you have to do is turn up and party with us at the Black Wreath.
Featuring The Wiggle of Judas, Eastern Reggae Band, Stevie Jean, The Holy Dimes and a DJ set to close the night from our mystery DJ.
Please note the event is BYO.
Cost: $10
THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL
Microaggressions
@ Totem Theatre
Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, which communicate hostile, derogatory or negative messages. This display sees poets from the program using poetry and imagery to highlight the microaggressions they face on the reg.
The Magic Tree
@ Todd Mall
The Magic Tree is inviting you to spend some time with it > to contemplate the beautiful mystery of life and art > and to write a poem.
Poetry to Public
Public signage poetry – see how many you can find around town!
We’ve turned 10 poems into street signage around town and carefully placed them among the signage. See how many you can find and post them to Instagram #reddirtpoertyfest18
Poetry in Suspense
@ Page 27 Cafe
We’d hate to leave you hanging – please take a poem to go at Page 27 Cafe.
WORKSHOPS
Thurs 2nd–Fri 3rd August
School Workshops
School Workshops will be taking place throughout the festival with visiting and local artists.
Saturday 4th August
R.A.P.
Workshop with Jesswar & Hannah Brontë
2.30pm–4.30pm @ Sandbox
Rhythm and poetry, exploring the relationship between the written and spoken word as a tool for extending your creative work.
A workshop for artists of all mediums.
The Page as a Hallway
Workshop with Bill Moran
4.30pm–5.30pm @ Sandbox
In workshopping with Bill, you will work through the function of poetry as an art form in relation to its creator, debunk received myths about content and form, and produce a piece of art that is performative and transformative.
INSTALLATIONS
Poetry Jukebox
Fri & Sat 11:00am–1:00pm @ Todd Mall
As poets we often get asked on the spot to “do a poem”*. Situated in the middle of the Todd Mall is the Poetry Jukebox. Inside is a feature poet from the program who will read/perform a poem for you when you hit the “do a poem”* button.
*Offer limited to one poem per button push
Alter Shego
Fri–Sat 10:00am–2:00pm @ Sandbox
Self made textiles using microscopic imagery of oestregen combined with camouflage explores the idea of female militia and adornes many of the heroines within these video works by Hannah Brontë.
Skin of the Text
Sat 6:00pm–6.30pm @ Totem Theatre
Skin of the Text is a live installation of poetry written on the body by Kim Zeneth. The bodies are arranged into formation sculptures so audiences can read the poetry inscribed. Thematically linked poetic phrases written across arms and legs join up to form lines of poetry.
Light Me Up Poetry
Fri–Sat 10:00–2:00pm @ Sandbox
We’ve carefully selected 5 poems, crafted artwork to belong and displayed in LED lightboxes for you to experience.