DOORS 6PM // KITCHEN OPEN // SHOW STARTS 6.30PM

Slama acknowledges that our slam takes place in Naarm, on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded, no treaty was signed and it always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

*This venue is wheelchair accessible 

*This venue has gender neutral toilets

NEW SEASON. NEW INTENTIONS.

We are back on our beloved premiere stage at the Brunswick Ballroom.

Slama is a space where we celebrate intersectional community and encourage Artists to bring their absolute best work to the stage.

It’s time for some cross pollination, fam. 

On May 21, we welcome Singapore Slam Champ, Shivram Gopinath to the Slama stage to help him release his debut poetry collection, Dey.

WHO IS SHIVRAM GOPINATH?

Born in Chennai, India, Shivram Gopinath is a poet who has called

Singapore a home for more than two decades, picking up a disdain

for the typical, and a never-ending appetite for thosai along the way.

His work has been heard at literary festivals, dingy bars and

living rooms across the Asia Pacific. He often teaches workshops

structured around poetic identity, and is co-founder of Mama

Magnet, a cultural co-creation studio with a network of independent

artists. Shivram is a twice-winning Singapore National Poetry Slam

champion. Dey is his debut collection.

About the book:

“Dey” is Tamil slang. A polysemic portal into community. It is “hey”,

“no”, “yes”; it hails, it invites, it warns, it cajoles, it pleads, it loves.

Just like Shivram Gopinath’s Dey: a cross-genre, multi-tongued

celebration of diasporic desire, complaint and joy that stretches

what poetry can be. Part translation, part illustration, part verse,

Dey is a love child of Tamil cinema tropes and themes, Singaporean

hopes and dreams. A discordant soundtrack to migrant identity, an

invitation to a language game, a retort to power. Rajinikanth, Lee

Kuan Yew, durian fish soup fight for your eyeballs. A thick syrupy

mix, that’s what. Dey, read it.

3-ROUND POETRY SLAM

- No props, music or costume. 
- Poems must be 3 minutes. 
- Must be original work. 

We are continuing with a pre-registration system (for now) until further notice. $10 for poets to register. 

POETS. Please have 3 pieces ready. 

Want a coveted slam spot?

SIGN UP HERE BEFORE IT’S FULL

https://www.trybooking.com/CRFEN

12 spots only. Online registration OPENS at 9AM, Friday April 26th and CLOSES at 4pm on Tuesday May 21st 2024.

Poets, please make sure to follow the registration process closely: 

1. Go to the trybooking link and pay your $10 fee at the trybooking link.

2. Review the rules.

3. Practice. Memorize (if you want to, it’s not mandatory) Embody. 

$50 cash prize for first place and we want all poets seasoned and new to put your name in the hat.

All scores are accumulated throughout the season and the poets with the top scores make it into our Grand Slam. Since 2023 was our first full season back in person and a new TEAM SLAMA was formed. We are declaring 2024 our “off season” so we can nurture the current team’s creative process towards regional and international travel. 

In this “off season” we will be focusing on nourishing our community, loving on new to the stage poets and strengthening our processes in preparation for another team based finale in 2025. This is a perfect season for fresh voices and less excuses, so if you’ve been dreaming of standing on the Slama stage and competing, now is it. 

This year our Grand Slam will occur in November 2024. Grand Slam Prizes to be announced. 

TUESDAY MAY 21st 2023

THE BRUNSWICK BALLROOM ARTIST BAR
314 SYDNEY ROAD, BRUNSWICK

TICKETS: 

$25 full

$23 concession

Free entry for First Nations folk

Free entry for Palestinians

Tickets available at brunswickballroom.com.au
Limited tickets available on the door. 

 DOORS: 6 PM POET’S PRE-SHOW GATHERING: 6:15 PM SHOW STARTS BETWEEN: 6:30 - 7 PM SHOW FINISH: 9:45 PM (for all you 9-5 folk) 

SLAMALAMA WHAT!!!?????

SLAMALAMADINGDONG!!!!!!

 OPEN DOOR POLICY:

We will never turn anyone away. Selling tickets allows us to pay our producers, venue and artists appropriately. It also helps us make a small profit margin so we can continue to thrive and grow as an organization. We donate 2% of our income to Pay the Rent.

This being said, if you are struggling financially and feel the need to participate, please advocate for yourself and send us a message so we can find a way to make sure you can participate in all the Slama goodness.

TICKETING INFO 

Please have a digital or printed copy of your ticket ready on arrival along with a valid photo ID. Acceptable ID includes a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence, State Approved ‘Proof of Age’ card or Passport.

The Brunswick Ballroom strives to improve our practices when it comes to sustainability and to reduce our carbon footprint. We don’t sell or provide plastic water bottles.

VENUE INFO 

THE BALLROOM MENU
The kitchen will be serving The Ballroom Menu for this show.
You can view the delicious offerings available by clicking here.

ACCESSIBILITY
The Brunswick Ballroom is Accessible.
The Brunswick Ballroom has made significant improvements to accessibility by installing an Acorn Chairlift. (Model: New Acorn Indoor 180 Curved Stairlift.)

VENUE FAQS
To find out more about the venue, FAQs can be viewed by clicking here.