Poets Run This!
Ever wanted to tell your story with oomph, perform your poems with power or just deliver a speech without a slide-show clicker?
Word Travels presents Australian Poetry Slam (APS) Wordshops to help you select from the thousands of metaphors running through your head. Learn how to slam your poetry – how to move a live audience with your words.
Word Travels’ award-winning spoken word artist, John Englezos inspires you to get your thoughts on paper then rip scrawled leaves of passion from your notebook and ignite them on stage.
APS Wordshops empower you to do more than stream other people’s creativity. This is your chance to make your stories matter; to transform your introspective ideas into crowd roars and finger clicks.
Write new stuff or re-shape your existing work before you hit high scores from the judges in your local Australian Poetry Slam heat.
Whether you’re a quiet dreamer or an outspoken wordsmith, answer the call of a mic on a stand that’s been whispering your name since you were a kid. Join APS Wordshops and show the world how POETS RUN THIS!
Bookings required, recommended for ages 15+.
Want to sling your verse skills or watch local poets on the mic? Check out the Albury–Wodonga 2026 APS Heat.
About John Englezos
John Englezos is a spoken word poet and Melbourne’s 2015 Poetry Slam Champion. His work has been described as “Pixar in poetry” with his book If The World Were Upside Down centring around notions of hope, identity and wonder.
John was on the first team to represent Australia in 2017 at the National Poetry Slam Championships in Denver, Colorado USA.
John has been a presenter, speaker coach and host for Tedx, runs workshops and one-on-one sessions around poetry, performance and self-reflection, is an uncle to six amazing kids and a brother to many.
Content Warning: Most Poetry Slams are all ages and some content may not be suitable for children. Performances may include strong language and / or adult themes.
See www.australianpoetryslam.com for full 2026 details.
Head to www.wordtravels.info to find out more about how you can get involved with the not-for-profit organisation presenting the annual APS.
Australian Poetry Slam is presented by Word Travels. This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Also supported by Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Mumbai LitFest, Singapore Writers Festival and Byron Writers Festival.
APS 2026 artwork design: Rachel Stone Designs and DEFNE. Concept: Miles Merrill and the Word Travels team. Poem excerpt in design: APS Champion 2025 – Arantza Garcia