Join Spork! this Halloween for another spectacular & spooky spoken-word event, featuring the multiple slam winning poet Jo Eades, and the riotous Samuel L Cohen. Plus 6 famous faces brought back to life in a “Dead Poets Slam.” All hosted by Chris “Ghostly” White.

We’re still looking for poets to compete! Scroll down for full details.

Jo Eades performs regularly on the Bristol spoken word scene. In 2024 she was the Lyra Bristol Poetry Slam Champion and won the Hip Yak Poetry Shack Slam at WOMAD Festival. In 2025 she featured at Keynsham Music Festival, won the Ledbury Poetry Festival Slam and came fourth in the England SLAM! Championships.

She has been featured four times on BBC Radio Bristol’s Upload, being one of their ‘best of’ poets for 2024. Her debut pamphlet “Flanked” was published by Burning Eye Books in October this year.

Samuel L Cohen is a multidisciplinary Theatre Maker, and an award-winning Poet. A high-octane lyrical raconteur of the hilarious, unbelievable and downright outrageous, Sam joyfully discovered in poetry a means to interrogate and finally understand life’s great many true stories which defy rational explanation…

He’s a multiple slam winner who has performed at nights and festivals from WOMAD to Shambala. Most recently, he founded RIOT ACT- a multidisciplinary club night of open mic fun, with the joint missions to celebrate the people of Bristol and their stories whilst finding new ways to stick it to The Man with laughter.

Chris White is a poet, performer and the founder of Spork! A multiple slam winner, his poems about love, ducks and other wet things are soul-searching, subversive and silly.

THE SLAM – GET INVOLVED!

Six famous poets will rise from the dead, brought to life by six contemporary artists for one night only! They’ll battle it out in a chance to win everlasting life, plus a cash prize of £100.

Using a mixture of their own poetry, the work of their alias, and some stuff they make up on the night. Expect punches, pithy remarks and pure fire, in the ultimate graveyard smash.

Want to take part?

To apply, and for the full list of rules, email Spork! on sporkpoetry@gmail.com.

Deadline: Mon 13 Oct

Just let us know: Where you’re based. Who you’d like to play, and why. A couple of sentences about yourself & any previous experience.

Additional information 

Age guidance: 12+

Duration: 2 hours (including interval)

Venue: Studio 1, Exeter Phoenix

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