wāni Le Frére wins 2018 Victorian Poetry Slam state final

Melbourne-based poet, Wāni Le Frére, was crowned Victorian slam poetry champion at the Australian Poetry Slam state final held at State Library Victoria on Friday 21 September.

Hosted by one of Australia’s top performance poets, Joel McKerrow, the state final saw 13 poets from across Melbourne and regional Victoria wow the crowd with 2-minute performances of original works.

Wāni and runner-up Abe Nouk were chosen by a panel of five judges – selected at random from the audience – to represent their state at the national final next month.

Joel McKerrow said he was impressed with the calibre of writing and performance from the 13 competitors, and highlighted the inclusive nature of the event.

“What I loved about the night was that we had such a diverse range of performers, from the youngest, aged 11, to a poet in her late 70s. I love the inclusive nature of the poetry slam – that anyone can get in and have a go – which was demonstrated so clearly on the night,” Mr McKerrow said.

“The performers brought a whole lot of passion, and a whole lot of beautiful, poetic words, and they were able to combine those two things really powerfully.”

Wāni and Abe will now battle it out against the country’s best wordsmiths at the 2018 Australian Poetry Slam national final in Sydney on Sunday 14 October.

The national winner will enjoy an all-expenses-paid international literary tour incorporating performances at Sydney Writers Festival, Byron Writers Festival and Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali, worth up to $10,000.

Australian Poetry Slam is presented by State Library Victoria; is co-created nationally by Word Travels; and supported by state, territory and public libraries and festivals across the country.