Author: Mitch Knightbridge
World-touring educational theatre company Poetry in Action will stage their first public performance next month, with a new spoken word event at the State Library of New South Wales during the July school holidays.
Meanwhile, the State Library of NSW will host Rhyme Battle Royale on 7 July as part of its public events program.
First Public Performance After 20 Years
Notably, this performance marks the first time the organisation has presented to a general audience after 20 years of performing primarily in schools across Australia and internationally.
Additionally, Poetry in Action developed the event in partnership with the State Library of NSW, which has subsidised ticket costs to make the performance accessible to a broader audience beyond the education sector.
Rhyme Battle Royale will feature live poetry performance and audience participation, drawing on the spoken-word format that has underpinned the organisation’s touring program.
“There is a beautiful synchronicity in Poetry in Action celebrating our 20th year with a performance at the State Library as they celebrate their 200th,” said Bryce Youngman, CEO and Artistic Director of Poetry in Action.
“The celebration of language and literature may change over time but they are intrinsically linked with our shared pursuit of self expression,” Mr Youngman said.
State Library of NSW Foundation Director Sue Hunt said that “The State Library Foundation is delighted to support Poetry in Action’s work encouraging young people and families to explore the joy of poetry.”
Bringing Poetry to New Audiences
Since its establishment in 2006, Poetry in Action has performed curriculum-aligned productions that encourage students to appreciate poetry and literature. The organisation has reached more than 900,000 students and expects to welcome its one millionth student during its 20th anniversary year.
Similarly, the State Library regularly hosts literary events, workshops and school holiday activities aimed at encouraging engagement with reading, writing and storytelling. At the same time, the performance will form part of that program while introducing Poetry in Action’s work to families and members of the public who would not typically encounter it through schools.
Furthermore, according to Creative Australia’s National Arts Participation Survey, 98 per cent of Australians engage with the arts and one in five attend literary events. The survey identified youth arts access and low-cost public events as leading priorities for arts investment nationwide.
More broadly, the announcement comes amid renewed investment in literary programming in NSW, with government-backed initiatives and cultural institutions placing greater emphasis on public engagement with literature, writing and live storytelling events.
Tickets for the 7 July performance are now on sale through the State Library of New South Wales here.
