AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM FINALS 2012
When it comes to spoken word poetry, Australia has found the crème de la crème. After SLAM heats and State finals, 16 artists will compete at the national finals in Sydney’s Walsh Bay in a night that promises to be fiercely creative. And the stakes are high – one lucky winner will walk away with a $12,000 writing tour of Asia.
Representing New South Wales are state champion Zohab Khan from Wagga Wagga and runner-up Jessica Santosa from Hurstville.
Santosa is a natural when it comes to poetry SLAMs. The 24-year-old popped her spoken word cherry in August this year at the Friend in Hand Hotel in Glebe and has hit the ground running.
“It’s an honour to be rewarded for poetry and that’s enough for me but I am nervous,” she laughs. “It’s something that I never dreamed of before and seeing that I only discovered it four months ago I can’t believe it.”
Up until now, the singer/songwriter has geared her work towards ‘safe’ topics but after some encouragement from fellow poets including the state winner, Khan, she’s branching out.
“Definitely expect some more dangerous poems from me and I’m willing to be unpopular for it,” she continues. “I’m a little bit scared but I feel like I’ve been given an opportunity and I need to take it otherwise I’m going to be kicking myself.”
Dec 1, Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $30, sydneytheatre.org.au
