Lancaster has a spoken word open-mic night again! The Wordarium, run at the Herbarium Bar and Café by poet Benjamin Guilfoyle, aka Woolly Hat Poet, in partnership with Lancaster LitFest and the café, staged a spectacularly successful opening night last month, judging from the pictures, and Benjamin plans to make it a regular monthly event.

It has filled a post-lockdown gap, he told the Lancashire Evening Post. “When I moved to Lancaster in 2014 there really was a bustling spoken word scene in the city. Events such as Lancaster Spotlight at The Storey, and Working Title hosted by Big Charlie Poet helped me find my way into the world of performance poetry. Since the world went into lockdown these events no longer happen and that is a real shame.

“I want to give the people of Lancaster a place to have their voices heard in a space that is safe, inclusive and non-judgmental. Each event will offer 10 open mic spots for local poets as well as a guest poet.”

“We will also have a poetry book swap which is exactly what it sounds like; swap a poetry book you have read for one you haven’t! The money we raise will go to The Lancaster Men’s Hub so they can continue to support men of all ages with their wellbeing, physical and mental health. The LMH is a volunteer run charity and with more money they can continue to provide this critical service to the men of Lancaster.” He added: “The Wordarium project owes so much to the Working Title and Spotlight spoken word events that came before it. I hope that The Wordarium can continue what they started.”

The first Wordarium was held on 26 October, with special guest Dominic Berry. Entry is £4. Benjamin told Write Out Loud: “It was an amazing first event!” The next Wordarium will be held on 30 November. Email woollyhatpoems@gmail.com

The Wordarium is on Twitter @the_wordarium and on Instagram @thewordarium. Enter Woolly Hat Poems for Facebook. 

Background: Wandering poet treks to 12 shows in 12 days