Join Spork! this December for our 5th annual Christmas Bash, featuring a stockingful of spoken-word talent, some top-notch poets, a brass band, a drag queen & a partridge in a pear tree!!

Our Christmas Special is a big dollop of poetry, comedy, live music & festive cheer. Featuring drag queen comedy from Bopa Rhys, soaring poetry from the award-winning John McCullough, silly verse with comic-poet Rob Barratt and a feature set from the slam winning Jemma Hathaway. Plus traditional carols from the gloriously horny Exeter Railway Band. All ho-ho-hosted by Chris White.

“Words that not only warm, but smoulder burn, ignite, inspire, calm, cool, hush and explode, and most of all, connect… Accompanied by the gentle brassy tones of the Exeter Railway Band, the event was rich with the feel of a festive hug.” PRSD (Spork! Xmas Special 2022)

JOHN MCCULLOUGH
John McCullough lives in Hove. His third book of poems, Reckless Paper Birds, was published with Penned in the Margins and won the 2020 Hawthornden Prize for Literature as well as being shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Award.

John’s previous collections have been Books of the Year for publications including The Guardian and The Independent, and he also won the Polari First Book Prize. His poem ‘Flower of Sulphur’ was shortlisted for the 2021 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem. His fourth collection, Panic Response, was published in March 2022 by Penned in the Margins.

“Mournful yet angry, surreal yet deadpan, McCullough’s poems put immense pressure on the autobiographical self… elegiac, rebellious, painful and radiant” The Times

JEMMA HATHAWAY
Jemma’s poems have been featured on BBC Radio Bristol & BBC iPlayer. She’s a multiple slam-winner and was the 2020 Hammer & Tongue slam champion for Bristol. She is a Button Poetry Short Form contest winner, has appeared on Sky Arts Life & Rhymes and has supported Joelle Taylor, Jasmine Gardosi and Roger McGough. She has performed at some amazing venues, including: WOMAD festival, the Royal Albert Hall and her mum’s kitchen. I’ve been looking everywhere for you (published by Verve) is her first full collection.

ROB BARRAT
Rob is a comic poet and singer hailing from North Cornwall, blending clever wordplay, satire, and music to entertain and provoke thought. With a knack for humorous commentary on everyday life, Rob captivates audiences with his unique style and infectious energy.

BOPA RHYS
Rhys Slade-Jones (aka Bopa Rhys) is an award winning artist, drag queen & Valley Gal, here to spread their legs and some Christmassy cheer. Rhys’ work is stuffed full of fun, silliness & heart, straddling the worlds of cabaret, performance and craft. They’ve performed across the UK and made work with National Theatre Wales, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, The BBC & The Pleasance.

TICKET OFFERS

Save £2 on each ticket when you book any 3 theatre/dance shows at once

Explore more of our theatre and performance programme, and enjoy money off your tickets! Save £2 on each ticket when you book for three or more shows from our performance programme at the same time. Book any three theatre or dance shows and your discount will be automatically applied at checkout. Not valid on £5 Student/Under 25 tickets.  

£5 Tickets for Students & Under 25s

VENUE: AUDITORIUM, EXETER PHOENIX

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>