An international journalism student at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston has interviewed Write Out Loud regular Laura Taylor as part of her wide-ranging article on the state of poetry to mark World Poetry Day.

Indre Simanynaite, pictured, from Lithuania, knew of Laura from her recent performance at an event for Radical Liverpool, and wrote the article for her university website. In a section on performance poetry she says: “Performance poetry is now more popular than ever before. Some have their societies, some perform alone and for some artists poetry turns into rap songs. There are fewer stereotypes about poets and no boundaries for performing poetry. Today poetry has left the pages and blossomed under the limelight of the stage.

“ ‘Anyone who says that art has no impact on the world would do well to remember that it is much more about consciousness-raising than using a blunt weapon’ – Laura Taylor speaks about modern poetry. She describes herself as a “dedicated shirker” on her poetry profile, though in her day job works as a business centre manager. She not only deals with sales, finances, and management but also performs poetry out loud.

“In recent years performance poetry led the shift from an elite script to a more working-class and gender-balanced writing. ‘You don't need expensive training or education, or any equipment above and beyond a pencil, some paper, and your voice. You can do it any time, any place. Each poet has their own voice, their own perspective on the world, and each one is unique, and equal’ – it’s a truly democratic art form, she verified.

“Performing poetry is not all about words but emotions too: shouting, hissing or whispering your own lyrics on a stage. No matter what you think or write, someone somewhere feels exactly the same way: ‘Poetry has the capacity to make us all feel less isolated, and in doing so, strengthens and empowers us.’ She explains that a lot of the poems she writes are intended to expose and ridicule the oppressions and deceits practiced by those in authority, and its dogmatic followers.

“Laura also added that real poets are the ones who speak their own truth, not somebody else’s: ‘They could dress in anything, look like anyone. There is no uniform, dress code, or identity, no age group, style or membership badge. We do generally spend a lot of time observing the world, however; analysing everything, and constantly weaving narratives. Oh, and writing down a thousand lines that we will never use…’ ”

Indre goes on to write about her local Preston Poets Society, a more traditional poetry group that was founded in 1947, and hip-hop: “Some might think that it’s a totally different genre – but in reality it is just another form of performing poetry.”