Spoken Word at the Festival spans bush poetry, sharp social commentary, humour and storytelling from across the globe: ​

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• Tug Dumbly, the 2025 Reciter of the Year, returns with his trademark sharp comic work and will judge this year’s competition at the daily Poets’ Breakfast.

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• Begin each day with the Poets' Breakfast. Anyone can sign up on arrival to share their words and be in the running for Reciter of the Year or the Blue the Shearer Award.

 

• Festivalgoers can also join Katharina at the Open Mic Poetry Slam or take part in workshops to develop new skills.  

 

• Hear highlights from the Spoken Word program at Saturday’s Potpourri concert featuring the Spoken Word artists.

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• Don’t miss the perilous stories from Australia’s past with Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky and Penny Glass.

 

• Or Peter Pentland’s celebration of Me Beaut Little Fergie Tractor, a song that once took the Australian folk world by storm. 

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• For families, Deelightfultales brings Indian epic narratives to life through puppetry, music and participation.

 

• Join a range of Spoken Word artists questioning “Should parents vote like their children?” at the ever popular Great Poetry Debate. 

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Learn about these Festival Artists and more: