Update: We’re delighted that Kimmortal will join us at this event, with Fanny Kearse as the host! Johnny MacRae and Jillian Christmas are unfortunately no longer able to join us.
Our Spoken Word event series, curated and hosted by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Jillian Christmas, is a highlight of our youth programming every year—and so popular that we offer two chances to hear it, both of which sell out long before Festival Week. This Word! features three exceptional performers: NASRA, a poet, musician, theatre artist and cultural worker who also plays Amina Abdullahi on CBC Gem’s highly celebrated television series virgins! ; Emilee Nimetz, who is known as both a poet and actor for their vulnerability, authenticity, and magnetic presence; and Anjalica Solomon, who blends their Desi roots and Pacific Northwest upbringing in art forms such as singing, songwriting, loop pending, poetry, and the spoken word. Grades 8–12.
Themes: Poetry, spoken word, performance, storytelling
Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts 8–9, Spoken Language 10–12
More information about the Festival:
Box Office | Accessibility | Venue Map
Event Participants:
JILLIAN CHRISTMAS is an artist, creative facilitator, curator, consultant, and arts advocate. She is the long-time spoken word curator of the Vancouver Writers Fest, and former artistic director of Verses Festival of Words. She is the author of The Gospel of Breaking, The Magic Shell, and My Sweet Baby Book.
NASRA is a queer Oromo-Somali poet, musician, theatre artist and cultural worker from Amiskwaciywaskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta). Since 2016, both their artistry and advocacy for marginalised people has named them Youth Poet Laureate of Edmonton and co-recipient of the Bp Nichols National Chapbook award (A God Dance in Human Cloth). With their most recent work against a backdrop of horror and the sky is stuck making the 2024 CBC Poetry prize Longlist. Currently, you can catch NASRA on CBC Gem's highly celebrated television series virgins! playing fan-favourite Amina Abdullahi. As well as on their debut EP “Salve”; a love letter to self-discovery through plant medicine and genre-bending sound. No matter the medium, NASRA’s work centres the healing and liberatory expression of Black/Indigenous Peoples everywhere.
EM NIMETZ (they/them) drifts fluidly between the stage, page, and screen, as a poet, playwright, actor, dancer, and filmmaker. They are a UBCP/ACTRA award nominated actor and a Van Slam Champion, with five poetry collections. This is their third time at Vancouver Writers Fest, arriving, as always, where the theatre and words holds their quiet, impossible magic.
ANJALICA SOLOMON is a genderfluid Desi poet, singer, songwriter, spoken word artist, organiser and multi-disciplinary performer. They blend their Desi roots and Pacific NorthWest up-bringing in art forms such as singing, songwriting, loop pending, poetry, and the spoken word. Anjalica is currently exploring new genres such as screenwriting, non-fic and playwriting as an MFA student in The School of Creative Writing at UBC.
