Annie Crosswith previous winners Abíọ́dún ‘Abbèy Abdul (l) and Cara Thompson (r)
In a brilliantly competitive and energetic local heat hosted in association with Nottingham Trent University’s WRAP programme at Nonsuch Studios, Annie Cross was selected to represent Nottingham in the 2023 Slamovision Grand Final. Nottingham currently holds the Slamovision -the Eurovision for Slam Poetry – crown, having won it an unprecedented two consecutive times: with Annie Cross representing them, Nottingham is hopeful for a hat-trick.
Annie will be pitted against contenders from other UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world, including the best slam poets from Melbourne, Ljubljana, Reykjavik and all corners of the globe.
Our new contender, who also won a £100 prize for being selected, said “ It is very very overwhelming but I’m glad I came out tonight. I feel excited, and can’t wait to go into the finals in December: while the talent involved is immense I feel we have a strong chance of making it a hat-trick for Nottingham”
Paty Bennett, Manager of Nottingham City of Literature said: “Nottingham never fails in showing how it is such a city steeped in talent: tonight’s event showed that brilliantly. The sheer diversity and energy of slam poetry on display tonight shows how the scene is in such vibrant health, and while in Annie we have a worthy winner we are delighted to take into December’s Grand Final, tonight we saw so many poets with the potential to take their work to the next level, and in Nottingham being a City of Literature, they couldn’t be in a better place”
Rebecca Cullen from NTU WRAP said: “It was fabulous to see the wealth of poetry talent we have in Nottingham at the heats. Annie has immersed herself in the cultural life of the City and her compelling poem makes her a great choice as Nottingham champion.”
For more information on the Grand Final in December, please visit: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-