Does it work on the page – as well as on the stage? Wirral Ode Show is staging its annual competition on Thursday 15 November, with two parallel contests.

Participating poets are asked to provide copies of their poems at the start of the night.  Each competitor gets four minutes to perform their work  At the end of the night three judges will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes.  At the same time one of the judges, from the Merseysider magazine, will decide which poem wins the Merseysider prize, and will be published in the magazine. It could be one of the top three poems – or it could be something completely different from among the other entries.

The competition is free to enter, with a £75 cash prize. If you want to take part email coaster.coey@googlemail.com. More details on entry rules here. The evening begins at the Egremont Ferry hotel, Wallasey, at 8.30pm.