Rose Condo

Biography

Rose Condo is an award-winning Canadian spoken word artist and educator currently based in the North of England. A multiple slam champion, she has been performing her work extensively at spoken word nights and festivals throughout the UK and Canada since 2013, including performances for Amnesty International, Apples & Snakes, Hammer & Tongue, and guest spots supporting Hollie McNish and Shane Koyczan. She has featured at festivals in the UK and internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe, Lingo Spoken Word Festival (Dublin), Winnipeg Fringe (Canada), Bradford Literature Festival, Huddersfield Literature Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe, the Yorkshire Festival of Story and the York International Women’s Festival. She hosts the monthly spoken word night Cellar Stories at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. She has written and toured three solo shows. 'The Geography Of Me' debuted at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe. 'How To Starve An Artist' was Runner Up Best Spoken Word Show at the 2017 Saboteur Awards. 'The Empathy Experiment' won Best Spoken Word Show at the 2019 Greater Manchester Fringe, received critical acclaim at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, and was shortlisted for Best Spoken Word Show at the 2020 Saboteur Awards. Rose’s debut collection, 'After The Storm' will be published by Flapjack Press in late 2020. Rose’s work is unapologetically feminist, oftentimes wry, occasionally raw, and always honest and compassionate. Rose is also the Programmes Team Coordinator for Arts Emergency, which is a charity and national network that supports marginalised young people into higher education and careers in the arts and cultural industries.

Poetry Sample - You Are Here

I carry around A red dot in my bag So that no matter where I am I can precisely tag The exact place on which I stand As the very spot Of exactly where I am Marked by this red dot A kind of ‘you are here’ For wherever I go So no matter where I am I will always know You Are Here You see There are places that I’ve been That don’t appear on any map Some of my travels Leave a geographical gap Few of these places lie Within the borders of any nations My red dot does not apply To these metaphysical locations For example I have cruised along denial I’ve sat deep in the blues I’ve tried to walk a mile In someone else’s shoes I’ve followed in others’ footsteps And walked along the razor’s edge I’ve jumped into the deep end And been in way over my head I’ve kept my head above water And been head and shoulders above I’ve worn my heart on my sleeve And fallen head over heels in love I have been atop cloud nine And walked along without a care I’ve sometimes crossed the line Or popped down to the depths of despair I’ve spent a few long hours In the dark nights of my soul I’ve gone out on a limb And I’ve spun out of control I’ve had to face the music I’ve had to take the upper hand I’ve put my foot in my mouth I’ve buried my head in the sand I’ve been struck down with worry I’ve sometimes lost my mind I’ve spent days deep in thought But I always seem to find My way back to remembering To stand here on this spot To let go of my focus On the places that I’m not And acknowledge where I am As the present reappears So this red dot is my reminder Hey girl You Are Here

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.

Blog entries by Rose Condo

Poem in response to #refugeecrisis (06/09/2015)

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/rosecondo