That's What She Said feat. Fay Roberts

"The biggest spoken word night in London for women" (Evening Standard) is back for a rabble rousing 2018!

Shortlisted for Best Spoken Word Night in the UK (Saboteur Awards, 2017), That's What She Said showcases the best new writing and performance by women, featuring iconic and emerging authors with a mix of performance, poetry, storytelling, slam and more.

Speaking on the night:

Fay Roberts is a peripatetic, percussive performance poet by night, and a professional projector by day. She runs the Cambridge branch of the Hammer & Tongue slam series, and her own poetry label Allographic (which functions as a small press and a platform for performers), along with directing the Spoken Word section of The Free Fringe in Edinburgh from 2013 to present. She is a classically-trained singer, a self-taught drummer, a bit of a mumbler sometimes, and speaks with her hands. In 2014, she “won” the Edinburgh Fringe Anti-Slam (where the worst poem and performance with the lowest points wins a terrible prize). In 2017, her first solo show, “The Selkie”, was shortlisted as best spoken word show of 2016-17.

“We need more poetry like this... funny, confident, modest and a really bloody good poet to listen to” (Hollie McNish).

“Her poetry combines lyrical flair with a solid emotional core… there is no one quite like her”(Tim Clare).

“Gorgeously sensuous” (SabotageReviews.com).

Alice Short (@AS_PandHH) in her own words creates "Hip Hop made by an Introvert that hangs out with a bunch of songwriters". Already making big waves in her native Nottingham, Alice has been a staple part of the vibrant city scene since 2016; her first single release "Small Towns" was featured on BBC Radio Introducing, and featured airplay on Radio One and Radio 6. Alice delivers her words with cutting precision, to provide a gritty social commentary of modern day life. From billing on major festivals such as Nottingham's Dot to Dot to supporting scene favourites such as DJ SYNTAX, Miggy Angel, or being asked to perform at the UK Premiere of hip hop film " Patti Cake$"

Jane Bradley @jane_bradley (for Twitter) / @janeclairebradley (for Insta) is the founder and co-director of For Books'Sake, and a writer, performer and editor. She has performed at Edinburgh Fringe, Contact Theatre, Royal Exchange, Polari Literary Salon and HOME, and published by Dog Horn Publishing, Pankhearst, Hic Dragones, Crocus Books, Litro, Dear Damsels, The Guardian, Mslexia and more. Jane has been longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and a Young Enigma Award, and is the editor of short story collections Short Stack, Derby Shorts, Tongue in Cheek and (RE)Sisters. 

Harriet Kemsley (@harrietkemsley) is an acctress and comedian who you may have seen in Bobby & Harriet Get Married VICELAND, Comedy Central's Roast Battle, Kevin Hart's LOL Live taped at Just For Laughs Montreal, Jo Brand's Channel4 Sitcom DAMNED and an Awkward waitress in DOCTOR FOSTER. 'A quirky, refreshingly charming comedian at the dawn of her TV career,' The Radio Times.

Marcelle Mateki Akita (@matekiwrites) is a writer and co-founder of Afrikult. a literary organisation that promotes, discusses and explores African literature. She is Web Content Editor for the Caine Prize for African Writing and Project Co-ordinator at Royal African Society where she also co-produces the Africa Writes festival hosted at the British Library. Her work has appeared in online and print journals such as AFREADA and Aké Review, and her collection Lizard & Other Stories was published in 2016.

Sammie Venn (@BMisadventures) is a poet, a 43 year old mother of one and a survivor of sexual and domestic abuse. She is trying hard to own her sexuality and experiences in a positive way but its an ongoing journey that she explores through her poetic musings on love and life. Sam's been called “the Amy Winehouse of poetry” and the working title of her upcoming book is The Sex Never Bothered Me Anyway. 

Elysse Adjemon (@ArtByElysse) is a British artist and social entrepeneur who desires to impart passion and enthusiasm for creating art and living life to the fullest. She does this by telling her story, writing poetry, painting and promoting #project28shadesofgrey - a revolutionary mental health project she has initiated. Elysse has written a book about what drives her to create art, live life, and what drove her to found social enterprise Dare to Hope. Elysse's book 'NAKED' will be released end of April 2018.

Lucille Steward is a Half French, half British Spoken Word Artist and writer and has lived and worked as a journalist and writer in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Bucharest, Moscow, Rome and Berlin. Spoken word poetry is her way of linking her personal experiences with alternative perspectives on the things humans do and why we do them.

WHAT THEY SAY...

"To put it bluntly, I'd never come across a spoken word night with such a fantastic lineup. 'How have I never come across this before?', I kept asking myself, 'this is everything I've ever wanted from a night out...'

I was blown away. I left feeling inspired, with renewed confidence in my own abilities, and almost missed my tube stop on the way home trying to write down scraps of poetry and prose.

Not only is That's What She Said a great place to see talented literary performers, for everyone and not just women, but it provides a space for women to shout and scream their anger, their frustrations, their desires; a space without censorship, without objectification and without the dreaded “it must be her time of the month” quip. I think For Books’ Sake is doing some really important work." (Thanks SexyVeg for this recent review of one of our London shows!)

Open mic walk ups on the evening are welcomed but with limited places it might be advisable to email paul@forbookssake.net if you have a burning desire to speak 
out and speak up.

Get your tickets for only £7 now while you can, or come along on the night for £10 on the door. 

And remember - For Books' Sake is a volunteer led, community organisation so all your pennies will be going back into championing women writers!