Since “stumbling” into Edmonton’s theatre scene in his early 20s, Steve Pirot has gained a wealth of experience on and off the city’s stages, writing, directing and acting, as well as building relationships and learning the business of theatre among its administrative shadows. But over the last few years, he’s become more involved in Edmonton’s spoken-word poetry scene, and he’s found one major difference.
“The microphone,” says Pirot, the Edmonton Poetry Festival’s new executive director. “In many ways, I think that spoken-word poetry shares more in common with microphone-oriented performances, like stand-up comedy, or even music. No fourth wall is being constructed, you’re just standing there, alone, facing an audience and talking right at them. When I first went up to do some open mic events, it was mostly about learning how to work a microphone, because it was a performance muscle I had never worked out.”
The spoken-word artists at this year’s Edmonton Poetry Festival have worked out their mic muscles over many years, and most of them completed their literary reps in or around Edmonton. The festival, which started in 2006, has historically brought in national and international performers. But this year, organizers have doubled down on showcasing local talent — including the festival’s founder, Alice Major, and Dwennimmen (aka Shima Robinson). It’s something Pirot, who became executive director in March, wants to triple down on going forward.
“We’re certainly not opposed to out-of-town artists, but, especially in an art form like poetry, you’re more likely to get traction with local audiences if you’re working with local artists,” he explains. “I might be excited about a particular poet that’s coming out of Halifax, but I’m a specialist. I think it’s more exciting for a typical Edmonton audience to know that there’s an event happening that features their friends and neighbours rather than some cat that they’ve never heard of before.”
The festival runs April 21 to 28 in venues around the city, some of which are hidden gems that would be new even to some Edmontonians. Thinking back to his early festival days as a fan, Pirot says he recalls the intimate venues, and the collective feelings in the rooms, more than the specific poets that created them.
This year, “we start in CKUA’s building, in their theatre space. Then we move them to the Aviary, which is one of my favourite dirty theatres in town — and I use that term lovingly. Then we go to a brand new space in the Foundry Room, which is in the Oliver Exchange Building. It’s bright and shiny with floor-to-ceiling windows. And we’ll close off at another great community space, CO*LAB,” Pirot says, adding that smaller performances will also take place in libraries and other satellite venues.
Never been to a poetry reading? Pirot says that while the mic-oriented performance is similar to stand-up comedy, the audience input is more generous than a stand-up crowd (no hecklers allowed), and that supportive spirit lets the poet take the “audience on a really good ride.”
“Give it a chance. I compare it to jazz, where some people say ‘I love jazz, or I hate jazz,’ but ‘jazz music’ is so broad. Some poetry is very accessible, and some is pretty niche, so take a look at what’s going on in the festival. You’re probably going to find something that appeals to you, because there are a lot of different human voices that live in the community you inhabit.”
Hear the poets’ calls all around the city, April 21 to 28.
