Stephen James Smith in association with First Fortnight presents an evening of spoken word with visiting and local performers and open mic opportunities at the Wexford Arts Centre. This month will feature special guest Raymond Antrobus and music from Basciville.

Raymond Antrobus was born in Hackney, London, England to an English mother and a Jamaican father. He is the recipient of fellowships from Cave Canem, Complete Works III, and Jerwood Compton Poetry. He is one of the world’s first recipients of an MA in Spoken Word Education from Goldsmiths, University of London. Antrobus is a founding member of Chill Pill and the Keats House Poets Forum. He has had multiple residencies in deaf and hearing schools around London, as well as Pupil Referral Units. In 2018 he was awarded the Geoffrey Dearmer Award by the Poetry Society. He is the author of ‘Shapes & Disfigurements’, ‘To Sweeten Bitter’, ‘The Perseverance’, and ‘All The Names Given’. In 2019 he became the first ever poet to be awarded the Rathbone Folio Prize for best work of literature in any genre.

Stephen James Smith is a Dublin poet and playwright central to the rise of the vibrant spoken word scene in Ireland today. His poetry videos have amassed over 2.5 million views, and will be performing a fully immersive show at the Wexford Arts Centre.

Basciville are brothers Cillian and  Lorcan Byrne, composers and producers based in Wexford.

So Say So – Therapy Sessions Wexford is programmed as part of First Fortnight. First Fortnight hosts an annual mental health, arts and culture festival throughout January, throughout Ireland. Throughout the year, First Fortnight utilises arts and culture to challenge mental health stigma while supporting some of Ireland’s most vulnerable people through creative therapies.

To find out more about First Fortnight, visit firstfortnight.ie. For more information about So Say So – Therapy Sessions Wexford, visit wexfordartscentre.ie.