ABSTRACT
The first few decades of the twenty-first century have seen a monumental rise in the consumption of performance poetry, be it at live events across the UK, or via digital media platforms. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book looks at the place of spoken word against the background of post-industrial upheaval in The Black Country, notably Liverpool, Middlesborough, Manchester, Luton, and Birmingham and how poets have reacted to Britain’s changing socio-political landscape. It focuses on the significance of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen, and its 17-year history supporting and nurturing writers in the UK. The book explores how more poets and performers of colour are entering the mainstream scene in spoken word. It examines a brief background to spoken word in print and explores Clive Birnie’s decision to set up Burning Eye Books in 2012.
