The 2023 First Citizens National Poetry Slam (FCNPS) has moved into the semi-final round and 30 poets have made the cut.
The three-day hybrid auditions showcased performers of all ages. The line-up of hopefuls included veterans, past winners, and newcomers. The event was streamed live on the National Poetry Slam's Facebook page and the Bocas Lit Fest's YouTube channel.
After 72 auditioned in person and via Zoom before the judging panel of David Roberts, Nehilet Blackman, Jayron “DJ Rawkus” Remy, Lawrence Arjoon, and head judge Elisha Efua Bartels, the Slam team told Newsday this year's competition is off to an exciting start, which was evident in responses online.
[caption id="attachment_1005608" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Vilma Seusankar was the oldest performer to audition for the First Citizens National Poetry Slam on February 26 at The Writers Centre, St Clair, Port of Spain. Seusankar said she always wanted to audition and doing just that was all she wanted to do. She said she was happy to have found the courage to take centre stage. - Photo courtesy FCNPS[/caption]
In a release, the National Poetry Slam said semi-finals will be split into two rounds, scheduled for March 25 and 26 at the Little Carib Theatre, White and Roberts Streets, Woodbrook. Tickets will be available soon at select outlets and online at https://www.bocaslitfest.com/poetry-slam/.
The National Poetry Slam said, "The Wild Cards element – a crowd favourite – is being reintroduced."
This element will give four poets whose scores fell slightly short of qualifying to compete in pairs, on each semi-final day, for the chance to join the finalists.
[caption id="attachment_1005609" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Derron Sandy -[/caption]
"The poets now in contention will vie for a chance to perform at the finals on April 30, as the First Citizens National Poetry Slam returns this year to its traditional place as the popular concluding event of the 2023 NGC Bocas Lit Fest."
NGC Bocas Lit Fest is the largest annual literary event in the anglophone Caribbean and will run from April 28-30, entailing a diverse programme of readings, performances, discussions, workshops, and more.
Head judge, writer, performer, teacher, director and stage-manager, and a founding member of Metamorphosis Dance Company, Bartels said, “I love that the hybrid format exists.”
[caption id="attachment_1005610" align="alignnone" width="829"] Deneka Thomas -[/caption]
She said she appreciates this new way of operating “because it opens up more access to competitors and audiences.”
The audition performances explored a diverse array of thought-provoking topics, from migrant exploitation to crime and comedic stories of struggles with dieting.
Bartels also commented on the quality of audition pieces witnessed by the panel.
[caption id="attachment_1005611" align="alignnone" width="683"] Seth Sylvester -[/caption]
“We saw a wide range of performances that varied in content, tone, style, and delivery, which shows great promise for the elevated stand
