Description
July’s bringing the heat, but don’t worry – we’ve got the air-con sorted.
So if London decides to turn into a sauna again, come spend the evening with us in cool comfort and let the poetry do the heavy lifting.
Jawdance returns on 22 July with host Kat François alongside guest artists Gecko, Zena Edwards and Tawhida Tanya Evanson for another night of spoken word, storytelling and unforgettable live performance.
Open Mic is back too. If you’ve got something you’d like to share, put your name in the hat when you arrive and you could find yourself on stage. Whether it’s your first time performing or you’re a seasoned poet, Jawdance is a welcoming space where audiences come ready to listen, connect and champion new voices.
Together, we gather to witness the power of live poetry.
A note on phones
We know performing can feel vulnerable, especially when it seems like every moment might end up online. We also know that some of the most powerful moments happen when we’re fully present in the room. That’s why we ask audiences to keep phones away during performances. We’ll have a videographer capturing highlights from the evening, so you’ll still be able to revisit those moments. Feel free to take photos before the show, during the interval and after performances – and do share your experience with us.
For the performances themselves, we invite you to watch with your eyes, not through a screen. Settle in, be present and enjoy the vibe.
On the line-up:
Kat François (Host) is a poet, performer, writer, comedian and educator whose practice spans poetry, movement and theatre. A BBC TV and World Poetry Slam Champion, Kat has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, Saturday Live and Woman’s Hour, as well as on BBC television and Sky. Her acclaimed work includes solo theatre shows, comedy performances and award-winning fiction. Alongside her writing, Kat continues to explore the relationship between poetry and movement, incorporating physical theatre, dance, hula hoop and roller skating into her work. She is also an experienced facilitator, leading creative writing and performance workshops across the UK and internationally.
Gecko is a South London-based singer and storyteller whose songs approach life’s big questions with humour, warmth and curiosity. From dogs in space to forgotten figures in Renaissance paintings, Gecko’s work finds extraordinary stories in unexpected places. He has performed internationally, appearing at Glastonbury, Latitude, the Edinburgh Fringe, on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, and on the BAFTA-winning Sky Arts series Life & Rhymes. His songs have also found a wide audience online, attracting millions of views across TikTok and Instagram.
Tawhida Tanya Evanson a poet, novelist and interdisciplinary artist whose work moves across literature, music, film and performance, drawing on African diasporic traditions, Sufi mysticism and decolonial thought. Born and based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal with roots in Antigua, her award-winning body of work includes the novel Book of Wings, alongside multiple poetry collections, audio works and videopoems. Over a career spanning more than twenty-five years, she has performed at festivals around the world and recently wrote, performed in and produced the multi-award-winning Afrofuturist concert film CYANO SUN SUITE (2024).