Events next month at the Scottish Poetry Library

The God Damn Debut Slam

9 February, 6:30pm, £4 Taking place on the second Tuesday of every month, The Goddamn Debut Slam is an exciting, fast-paced and unpredictable poetry slam and a good place to see new work from fresh voices alongside veterans of Edinburgh’s music and spoken word scene. Yes, that’s right. Mature poets can take part too; it’s not just for youngsters. All the organisers ask is that they perform new material.

Workshop: Improvisation and Performance for Poets

17 February, 11am-4pm, £25 Poets! Have you ever stood before an audience and felt unsure about how to introduce yourself and your work? Increasingly, poetry is as much about your performance on stage as well as what’s on the page. For those who are looking to improve their performance skills, this SPL workshop will provide solutions. The workshop is built around relaxed group activities, improvisation exercises and writing games, and is led by improv and poetry facilitators Will Naameh (UK Improv Champion 2017) and Colin Bramwell (twice award-nominated poet, Prague Fringe 2016-17).

Edinburgh Villanelle: A Celebration of Muriel Spark with Elaine Feinstein and Alan Taylor

22 February, 7pm, £10 (£8 concessions)

The Scottish Poetry Library is especially keen to celebrate Muriel Spark’s legacy in the year of her centenary because – as is often overlooked – she began her writing career as a poet and poetry critic. In this special event, journalist Alan Taylor and poet Elaine Feinstein discuss Spark’s life and work, with an emphasis on her poetry. In its first half, the event will be a conversation between Feinstein and Taylor about Spark and her memoir Curriculum Vitae; after a short break, the event with resume with Feinstein reading her own poetry. It promises to be a great evening remembering Spark’s life and work. ■