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Australian Poetry Goes Global: Red Room Poetry Brings UK's Biggest Poetry and Performance Festival Down Under

Poetry is beyond time. It’s a way of bringing together the countless generations of humanity. It’s a means of connecting past and present. It’s a way of imagining the future. ~ L-Fresh the Lion

The UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival, Contains Strong Language, comes to Sydney August 28-31 as part of Poetry Month 2024. Over four days, local poets and spoken word artists will take to the stage alongside visiting UK poets including Simon Armitage, the UK Poet Laureate. This is the first time the annual broadcast festival, founded by the BBC in 2017, is leaving British shores. Events will be held in iconic venues across Gadigal and Dharug land in Greater Sydney and broadcast to Australia and around the world.

Red Room Poetry is proudly presenting Contains Strong Language (Sydney) with the BBC and ABC to deliver 20+ free live and broadcast events including performances, masterclasses, panels, galas, slams, live and online workshops, and international writing collaborations featuring 70+ artists.

Bookings are required for most sessions via the BBC's Contains Strong Language website (note: please head to the individual event pages for the direct ticketing links for each session.) You can also view the full program as a PDF below.

View the CSL Program Brochure Keep me in the loop

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  • ABC

  • BBC3

  • BBC4

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