By Anita Foxall.
Can I Have A Word? is offering a new stage for Spoken Word Poetry.
How the idea came along
The inspiration for Can I Have A Word?, a new poetry open mic night, came from Chris Grayston, owner of The Attic in Totton. Known for its thriving comedy scene, The Attic has become a regional hub for both professional and grassroots performers. Chris, who has long championed local comedians, recently began hosting touring poets and saw an opportunity to extend that same support to the local poetry community.
Having seen poet/comedian PG Trips perform comedy poetry at various events over the past three years, and knowing he regularly MCs a comedy night at the Clockwork Bar in Shirley, Chris approached him to help bring a poetry open mic to life at The Attic.
What the concept is
Can I Have A Word? is not your typical poetry open mic. While it remains inclusive and welcoming to poets of all levels, it places a special emphasis on performance. Inspired by the energy and engagement of Slam poetry and stand-up comedy, this event encourages poets to develop their stage presence, microphone technique, and audience interaction.
Unlike traditional poetry nights, which often focus on the written word, Can I Have A Word? aims to spotlight Spoken Word Poetry – where delivery is just as important as content. Poets are asked to bring 5–10 minutes of material, read from the page or performed from memory, but mobile phone reading is discouraged to maintain a strong connection with the audience.
Details of the event, and future events
The inaugural event takes place on Wednesday the 16th of July, with a few performance slots still available. The second event is scheduled for Wednesday the 17th of September, and the plan is to continue hosting on the third Wednesday of each month. Each night will feature a mix of emerging and experienced poets, all united by a passion for spoken word.
Audience members are warmly invited to attend and enjoy an evening of live poetry that promises to be entertaining, inspiring, and uplifting.
To buy tickets or register interest in performing, visit:
theatticsouthampton.co.uk/products/southampton-spoken-word-night
Future Path
Looking ahead, the goal is to build a vibrant community of confident performers who are ready to take on bigger stages – including poetry Slams. With its intimate yet dynamic atmosphere, The Attic could very well become a future venue for Slam competitions, giving poets a platform to shine and grow.
Ultimately, Can I Have A Word? hopes to bridge the gap between page and stage, nurturing a new wave of spoken word artists who captivate not just with their words, but also with their presence.
PG Trips, pictured, the host of Can I Have A Word?, is also a wildly funny, entertaining poet, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to share some of his work here.
PG Trips
‘Like many poets, I can often feel like an ‘imposter’. I wrote as a teenager, but my inner poet got buried under a maths degree—until 2022, when I dipped a toe into comedy. I took a daft poem about hair to Eastleigh’s Comedy Lab, read it aloud (mainly because I had nothing else), and unexpectedly got laughs—and a gig offer. That set me off on a rhyme-fuelled comedy journey, and I still have no real idea where it will take me.
My poems are primarily written to be performed rather than read. I aim to entertain, surprise, and occasionally sneak in a slice of social commentary. Comedy clubs are my main stage, but I’ve since found a warm welcome at poetry open mics too. My poems evolve through performance—each gig is a test run. Once something sticks, I commit it to memory (with the help of a few onstage brain blanks).
I don’t claim technical polish, but I do chase punchlines and connection. What I love most is that it’s just me, the mic, and the audience. No props required. My dream is to be gig-ready at the drop of a hat—and to make people laugh even when they disagree with every word I say.’
CLENCH
Like a worker’s hand raised in solidarity
Like a warrior’s jaw set in determination
Like an anal sphincter in a moment of awkwardness
Our love will clench
As fingers curl together they bring strength
As jaws clamp together they show fortitude
As buttocks squeeze together they minimise seepage
Our souls will clench
Yet, I can no more clench your fist
Than you can clench my jaw
But we can clench each other’s bums
And that’s what love is for
TRAMPOLINE
Has anyone seen my trampoline?
It’s three long days since it was seen.
A sunny day and then a storm,
a gust of wind and it was gorn.
I think it blew off with its mates
Leaping over fence and gates
Bouncing down the railway track –
I don’t think it’s coming back.
I hope it’s happy in the wild;
it left a disappointed child.
Along with goals and tennis nets
they’re spatially demanding pets
But time will heal and hearts will harden…
at long last I can see my garden.
Here is a link to PG Trips perfoming Carbon Monoxide live:
youtube.com/watch?v=Iw99uSeikCc
And this is his website:
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