The project has been reimagined in 2020 to reach more poetic seniors who are ready to step up to the soap box and slam – slam poetry, that is. This year, seniors from New South Wales and Queensland went head to head after attending virtual poetry masterclasses under the guidance of poets Sarah Temporal and Luka Lesson. The culmination of these classes – a slam-off, if you please – streamed live on 27 November 2020.
Gran Slam is a collaboration between Feros Care and performance producer Everybody NOW, an organisation that shares our commitment to smashing stereotypes and supporting communities to live bolder lives.
Behind the scenes
The poets behind Gran Slam show us that people from all walks of life can express their voices through slam poetry. Through poetry, some find parts of themselves, while others lose themselves in the craft. These incredible Gran Slammers are not afraid to dig deep, and to show the world what they’re capable of.
Team QLD
Beyond The Storm
Listen up and Listen deeply. This rousing poetry film clip was created as the culmination of an 8-week online poetry program where seniors from across Queensland were mentored by spoken word artist and writer Luka Lesson. They crafted individual poems using the metaphor of a boat which Luka then beautifully curated together into a stunning poetry work, full of moving and powerful lines about life.
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The original music for the clip was created by Australian composer Gordon Hamilton who is currently living Berlin (in lock down at the time of making this piece). Although he has some serious credentials having composed and conducted for orchestras such as Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, WDR Funkhausorchester and the Göttinger Symphony Orchester to name just a few, it is the unlikely collaborations that really get the creative juices flowing. Gordon has collaborated with Slam Poets, beat box and hip hop artists before but never quite like this!
Created by Gran Slam Participants 2020 with lead poet Luka Lesson
Original Music Composed and Produced by Gordon Hamilton
Performed by Federico Bresciani – Viola and Jenny Smoak – Horn
Filmed by Raw Mint and QLD Live Streaming.
Editing by Raw Mint
Produced by Kate Baggerson: Everybody NOW!
Gran Slam © Everybody NOW!
Team mentor
Luka Lessons
Luka Lessons
Team QLD Workshop Mentor
Luka Lesson is an Australian poet of Greek Heritage, his work engages with the mythology of his Greek homeland, the fiercely political and the vulnerably self-reflective. Luka is an Australian Poetry Slam Champion, has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and has poems being studied in curriculums and educations programs across Australia. Luka has toured with Akala (UK), Nahko and Medicine for the People (USA), Tiki Taane (NZ) and Dr Cornel West (USA).
Luka Lessons
Team QLD Workshop Mentor
Luka Lesson is an Australian poet of Greek Heritage, his work engages with the mythology of his Greek homeland, the fiercely political and the vulnerably self-reflective. Luka is an Australian Poetry Slam Champion, has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and has poems being studied in curriculums and educations programs across Australia. Luka has toured with Akala (UK), Nahko and Medicine for the People (USA), Tiki Taane (NZ) and Dr Cornel West (USA).
Team QLD Workshop Mentor
Gran Slammers
Aaron Blomeley, 80
Kat Adams, 66
Kathryn Boorman, 73
Lilith Rocha, 78
Anne Carlin, 66
Barbara Hamilton, 80
Louis Weir, 72
Margaret Clifford, 74
Margaret Sparks, 77
Daniele Lamarche-Sarvia, 66
Robbie Wesley, 73
Jan Flower, 81
Margo Knox, 71
Axel Bosselmann, 71
Valerie Frost, 71
Julie Crow, 78
Team NSW
The Citizenry
This anthemic poetry film clip was created as the culmination of an 8-week online poetry program where seniors from across New South Wales were mentored spoken word artist and writer Sarah Temporal. Together they crafted a poem to smash apart labels and stereotypes of aging – to tell their story in their words.
Read more
The original music for the film clip was created by one of Australia’s greatest beat boxers, Tom Thum. Armed with just a microphone, Tom Thum has become known a creative force to be reckoned with, pushing the limits of the human voice as far as inhumanly possible.
Created by Gran Slam Participants 2020 with lead poet Sarah Temporal
Original Music by Tom Thum
Filmed by Raw Mint and QLD Live Streaming.
Editing by Raw Mint
Produced by Kate Baggerson: Everybody NOW!
Gran Slam © Everybody NOW!
Team mentor
Luka Lessons
Sarah Temporal
Team NSW Workshop Mentor
Sarah Temporal is a prize-winning poet and educator from the Northern Rivers NSW. Her work combines the immediacy of slam poetry with finely-honed craft and sensitivity. She has performed poetry Australia-wide and has delivered workshops and poetry slams at schools, festivals and online. Sarah initiated and runs Poets Out Loud, a community arts initiative which empowers people of all ages through the spoken word. Her debut poetry collection is currently in development.
Luka Lessons
Team QLD Workshop Mentor
Luka Lesson is an Australian poet of Greek Heritage, his work engages with the mythology of his Greek homeland, the fiercely political and the vulnerably self-reflective. Luka is an Australian Poetry Slam Champion, has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and has poems being studied in curriculums and educations programs across Australia. Luka has toured with Akala (UK), Nahko and Medicine for the People (USA), Tiki Taane (NZ) and Dr Cornel West (USA).
Team NSW Workshop Mentor
Gran Slammers
Max Harris, 65
Beth Jessup, 70
Joy Griffin, 82
Peggy Mills, 87
Margaret Cunningham, 71
Helen Amos, 83
Rob Gibson, 70
Nina Milenko Marzi, 99
Amber Alley, 66
Juliet Thomasson, 70
Alan Harkness, 88
Wendy Chub, 89
Ann White, 84
What last year’s gran slam poets had to say
I can’t stop writing – the words just keep coming to me! You don’t know yourself what you can do until you participate in a project like this – and that is an important discovery!
Nina Marzi, 98 years
I couldn’t find fault from start to finish. The experience was something I will always cherish & am sincerely grateful to be given this amazing opportunity!
Ruth Savage, 72 years
What a growth Gran Slam has added to my life! I am able to see poetry in everything. I lost so many inhibitions and have emerged so much braver and ready for anything.
Wendy Taylor, 80 years
The whole Gran Slam experience was very, very special. I don’t know when I last felt so nurtured and cared for.
Robby Wesley, 72 years
This project gave me a voice. What a wonderful opportunity for learning new skills and challenging myself to overcome fears.
Julie Crow, 77 years
