Literature Wales is on the hunt for the best performance poet in Wales. Do you have what it takes to impress the judges in just five minutes and walk away with the first prize of £500?

The first heat was held on Wednesday 12 October at the Drill Hall in Chepstow. The next one is on Tuesday 18 October at Carmarthen Quins Club, with further heats on Tuesday 25 October at Venue Cymru in Llandudno and Saturday 5 November at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The final will take place on Tuesday 29 November in Swansea Grand Theatre’s Depot Studio.

Events have been held in tribute to John Tripp, one of Wales’ finest poetry performers, since 1990. Once again, this year’s competition is open to all; beginners and established poets alike. In addition to the First Prize of £500 two further prizes of £100 each will be awarded at the grand final to the runner-up and audience prize winner.

Whether you prefer to come along and listen or battle it out yourself, each event is guaranteed to be a night of entertaining and exciting new work. Tickets for the heats cost just £3 / £2 (Welsh Academy members) and tickets for the grand final cost £5 / £4 (Welsh Academy members). Tickets can be booked directly from Literature Wales on: 029 2047 2266.

To request an entry form or for more information on the 2011 John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry, contact Literature Wales on: post@literaturewales.org / 029 2047 2266. Entry forms are also now available to downloaded from the Literature Wales website: www.literaturewales.org/johntripp/