Perth Poetry Festival 2025: All-Access Pass

We are excited to release a limited number of ALL-ACCESS PASSES for Perth Poetry Festival 2025. These passes grant entry to every major festival event: no need to book separately.

Seats are limited at many venues, and each event must also offer individual ticketing. Once events sell out, they may be removed from the All-Access Pass, so early booking is strongly recommended to secure the full festival experience.

Here’s what’s included:

Poetry Mosaic – Ink & Echo Showcase

Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Centre for Stories, 100 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge

A showcase of voices emerging from the Ink & Echo writing program, held at Centre for Stories. This event features bold new work from writers exploring identity, memory, and place. Reflective and resonant, Poetry Mosaic is a celebration of poetic growth and community craft.

The Dorothy Hewett Award from a Poet’s Perspective

Date: Tuesday, 19 August 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Venue: State Library of WA, 25 Francis Street, Perth

In celebration of the Dorothy Hewett Award’s 10th anniversary, five Western Australian poets reflect on their experiences with one of the nation’s most respected literary prizes. Whether as judges, winners or shortlistees, each brings a unique lens to the award’s impact on literature, publishing and poetic careers.

Featuring: Lisa Collyer, Shey Marque, Kaya Ortiz, Vivienne Glance
Hosted by: Caitlin Maling

Presented in collaboration with UWA Publishing

Rattle the Cage – Slam Poetry Showcase

Date: Saturday, 23 August 2025
Time: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Doors open 7:00 PM)
Venue: Rooftop Terrace Bar @ Universal Bar, 221 William Street, Northbridge

Rattle the Cage returns in 2025 as the festival’s unfiltered slam poetry throwdown. Expect rhythm, rebellion and unfiltered punchlines in this high-energy hour of spoken word.

Featuring: Niel, SPM, Sukhjit, Joni, Mena, Biddle, Kaya, Amber, Karen, Miriam, Jo, and Manveen Kohli (MC & performer)
Hosted by: Manveen Kohli

OUT of Line – Queer Poetry Showcase

Date: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Venue: Lawson Flats, 4 Sherwood Court, Perth WA 6000

A celebration of LGBTQIA+ voices in all their rawness and power. OUT of Line is a showcase of queerness in motion: joyful, messy, defiant, and free.

Featuring: Sarah Birch, Dorian Winter, Kaya Ortiz, Tanesha Bennell, Amber Clare, Dakota Howard, and Bron Bateman
Hosted by: Caitlin Kotula

Pentameters in the Past – Perth Poetry from the 1960s–1980s

Date: Thursday, 28 August 2025
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Vincent Library, 99 Loftus Street, Leederville WA 6007

Presented by Emeritus Professor Dennis Haskell, this panel explores the poetic voices, literary movements and influences shaping WA poetry from the 60s to 80s.

Featuring: Glenn Phillips, Nicholas Hasluck, Mar Bucknell, Shane McCauley

WA Poets Presents: Awards Night & Pathways Chapbook Launch

Date: Thursday, 28 August 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

Celebrate the winners and shortlisted poets of the Ros Spencer Poetry Prize and Poetry d'Amour, and the launch of the 2025 Pathways Chapbook.
Hosted by: Gillian Clark.

Perth Poetry Festival 2025 – Gala Night

Date: Friday, 29 August 2025
Time: Doors 6:00 PM, Show 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue: North Perth Town Hall, 26 View Street, North Perth WA 6006

The Hum of Our Universe comes alive on stage. Our 2025 Gala features standout performances by local, national and international poets in a night of celebration and connection.
🌍 International Guests: Tony Curtis (Irish poet)
🇦🇺 National Guests: David Stavanger, Magdalena Ball, Chloe Mayne, Thuy On, Toby Davidson, Paris Rosemont, Antonio Montaine, Sher Ting Chim
Western Australian Poets: Shey Marque, Karen Louise, Dakota Howard, Manveen Kohli
Keynote: Elfie Shiosaki
Hosted by: SoulReserve

Perth Poetry Club & Imagick Book Launch

Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue: The Moon Café, Northbridge

A special Perth Poetry Club edition with the launch of Imagick, a new poetic work from SoulReserve.

Featuring: Indrani Perera, Toby Davidson, David Stavanger, Karen Louise, Valentina Macias and Sari Bennett. Open mic included.
Hosted by: Christine Della Vedova

Grains of Sand – A Multicultural Soirée

Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Venue: City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

Blending cultures, languages and lived experience, this showcase features diverse poetic voices with a special presentation by The Writers’ Collective: More than a Lament, and appearances by Chloe Mayne, Sher Ting Chim and Lidya Pawestri. Hosted by Indrani Perera.

Saturday Night Poets

Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue: City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

A powerhouse evening of live poetry from across the country.

Featuring: Magdelena Ball, Paris Rosemont, Antonio Montaine, Tony Curtis and Liam Blackford.
Special Feature: Young Poets Showcase, curated by Zac Cawdron.
Hosted by: Samantha Melia

Dual Book Launch – Deanne Leber & Toby Davidson

Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Venue: Mattie Furphy House (FAWWA), Swanbourne

Deanne Leber launches How to Throw Stones with a live performance. Toby Davidson launches The Grand Reopening, introduced by Morgan Yasbincek. Two distinct poetic voices, one uplifting and unmissable afternoon.

Blak Ink – First Nations Showcase

Date: Sunday, 31 August 2025
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Venue: Mattie Furphy House (FAWWA), Swanbourne

Blak Ink returns with powerful new work from First Nations poets. Featuring Luisa Mitchell, Casey Mulder, Tanesha Bennell, Chloe Mayne and Festival Patron Elfie Shiosaki. Presented by: Casey Mulder.

Festival Finale & Micro-Residency Showcase

Date: Sunday, 31 August 2025
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Venue: Jonesway Theatre, 9 Scarborough Beach Road, North Perth

The final night of the festival features six standout performers and new work by three Micro-Residency recipients from The Wetlands Centre, FAWWA and KSP.
Featuring: Karen Louise, Antonio Montaine, Sari Bennett, Liam Blackford, Valentina Macias and Dakota Howard.
Hosted by: Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon.

Books and More: Rabble Books & Games is the official festival bookseller and will be present at select major events with titles from our performers.

Accessibility: Most venues are wheelchair accessible, and we are committed to making our events as inclusive as possible. Please reach out via the Humanitix or info@wapoets.com if you have specific access needs.

For individual event listings, workshop tickets, and full festival details, visit perthpoetryfestival.com.