DIZRAELI (www.myspace.com/dizraeli)

There will be short talks from the following leading charities on the issue of CONFLICT (the socially-engaged subject of the first event):

LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM, TRAID, OBJECT, MAG International and PEN

The spoken word performances will be devised in response to each charity.

This event will be unlike any other spoken word event in London:

• Collaborative
• Theatrical
• Inspiring

Venue:     SOUND in Leicester Square
Date:        FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER from 7pm-10pm
Tickets:    £3 in adv http://rhymeswontwait.eventbrite.com £5 on the door

Rhymes Won’t Wait is funded by: Ideas Tap www.ideastap.com

Please contact Sabrina@timewontwait.com / 07944 361 750 for further information on the event and interviews/workshop access/press passes for the event.

Bios of artists:

LEAD ARTISTS (Performance and Content):

Hollie McNish
Since her first nervous reading just two years ago, Hollie has gone on to win the 2009 Glastonbury Poetry Slam and two UK Slam Championships. She’s recently performed at schools across the UK and alongside the likes of Kat Francois, Richard Blackwood and Serenah Cole. Her spoken word ranges from political, sexy, feel good, furious and pure comedy. She can't really believe it, but now just hopes to carry on what she's doing. Hollie is hoping to finish her first poetry CD before she gives birth!

Deanna Rodger
At just 19 years old, Deanna was the 2007 UK Slam Champion. She has since become a multiple Farrago poetry slam winner, seasoned spoken word performer and poetry workshop student turned facilitator, co-hosting ‘Lyric Lounge’ with Dean Atta.

"Deanna’s poems take listeners on a journey, much of the time, they don't realise that they are on; meaning is disguised through specific words used, semantic fields and imagery- so listen carefully. She speaks HER truth no one else’s"  Writer’s Block

Catherine Brogan
Catherine recently represented London in the BBC Radio 4 UK Poetry Slam and participated in the European Poetry Slam days in Berlin. She has supported Atilla the Stockbroker and Scroobius Pip. She won numerous slams in London and Oxford as well as the Belfast poetry cup.

Catherine focuses on story telling, her poetry is personal, yet universal, trying to ask questions, discover answers and create connections. Her unique voice and stage presence brings life to her rhymes, which are written to be heard.

Dean Atta  (Creative Director)
Award-winning 25 year-old poet, singer, performer and all-round creative Dean wrote and produced the critically acclaimed urban musical, Scratched Out, for the London stage. He was commissioned to write for Maya Angelou’s birthday gala and for the Gay Icons exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery. Dean won the Black LGBT Community Arts Award 2008. He also hosts Lyric Lounge at The Lyric Hammersmith. He has just been short-listed for a London Spirit: Achievement through the Arts Award.

Sabrina Mahfouz  (Creative Producer)
Sabrina performed her first poem 7 months ago, winning the March Farrago Slam. Since then her poetry has been published in a number of magazines; she’s been interviewed and read poems on BBC Radio 1 and 1xtra; she’s just finished the Young Writer’s Programme at The Royal Court Theatre and has performed her work across the country.

‘Sabrina freeze frames the banality and eccentricities of everyday life and replays it, in hyperbole multi-coloured glory’ Writer’s Block
‘Energetic and smart’ The Economist, Intelligent Life.
‘Lyrically gifted girl-about-town’ Apples & Snakes

SUPPORTING ARTISTS (Performance and Content):

Camila Fiori
After winning a LifeFm/ Young Creatives writing competition and radio reading last year, Camila gradually started performing her poetry and playing with different ways of sharing it – through interactive performances and installations based on the poems. From the London Poetry Festival to the Whitechapel Gallery, Southwark Playhouse to underground bars; 
‘Camila’s work speaks of mischievousness, attention to detail & fantastic showladyship… breathtaking. Experiencing one of her performances is a true immersive pleasure.'  Sarah Grainger-Jones & Lili Spain- curators of the Red Velvet Curtain Cult

Rumi Begum
Rumi is a Bangladeshi born and London raised young published poet. She has recently just finished the Unheard Voices Young Writer’s Programme at The Royal Court Theatre.

Karis Halsall
Karis is co-artistic director of New Fangled Theatre. Karis has had her first play, The Killing Moon, produced at the legendary Roundhouse as well as winning the Ideas Tap ‘Brave New Poet’ competition and being part of the Royal Court’s Young Writer’s ‘Supergroup’.

Chimene Suleyman
Chimene Suleyman is a writer from North London. She has worked in press and communications since graduating with a degree in English Literature. There’s a frequent interest in incorporating themes of cultural and sexual identity in her work, which has been published in Trespass Magazine and online.

Haseeb Malik
Haseeb is currently training to become an actor. Earlier this year he was published for the first time in ‘A Guiding Light’ (United Press). Haseeb is absolutely thrilled to be involved with Rhymes Won’t Wait and hopes it will serve as his springboard into the spoken word scene – he has aspirations of being a Slam Champion.