The line up for this year's Last Word Festival, the annual celebration of spoken word held at London's Roundhouse, includes Sabrina Mahfouz, John Hegley, Tongue Fu, Salena Godden, Nikesh Shukla, Jack Rooke, Debris Stevenson and Apples and Snakes.
In addition, there are Roundhouse resident artists and last year's Poetry Slam Champion Caleb Femi.
The 9 Poetry Slam Final takes place on Election Night, making this a truly politically-charged The Last Word festival.
Rachel Nelken, The Last Word producer, said, "I'm incredibly excited about this year's The Last Word festival, which is fast becoming a key event in the UK arts calendar. The festival this year sees spoken word in all its forms; everything from one-person stand-up theatre shows to a full-on garage music rave in the Roundhouse's iconic main space.
"The 2017 festival explores some really topical and important themes: migration, identity, gentrification, truth in a post-truth world, grief, loss and mental health issues. An annual highlight is our established Poetry Slam featuring the most amazing new poets in the UK. Also this year, we'll be featuring some great new 'gig theatre'—for those who like their music gigs with a theatre twist."
The programme in brief:
| 25/26/27 May | Poetry Slam |
| 28 May | The Things I Would Tell You — Sabrina Mahfouz |
| 30 May | Last Night What We Leave Behind — Erin Bolens |
| 31 May | Stairs & Whispers — Raymond Antrobus How to Survive a Post-Truth Apocalypse — Francesca Beard |
| 1 June | Mrs Death Misses Death — Salena Godden Daniel Piper's Day Off |
| 2 June | My Beautiful Black Dog — Brigitte Aphrodite |
| 3 June | Surge: Side A— Jay Bernard John Hegley (Gently) Rocks The Roundhouse (Studio) Poet in Da Corner — Debris Stevenson |
| 4 June | My Sapphire Laced Scars– Tristen Fynn Aideunu White — Koko Brown Elsa — Isobel Rogers Tongue Fu For Kids — Tongue Fu Tongue Fu Open Mic Night — Tongue Fu |
| 6 June | Everything Is Going to Be Fine — Sophie Fenella Happy Hour — Jack Rooke Poetry Double Bill — Spit The Atom & Roundhouse Poetry Collective |
| 7 June | The Privilege Show — Testament The Good Immigrants Presents Nikesh Shukla |
| 8 June | Trailers— Apples & Snakes COAT — Yomi Sode Poetry Slam Final |
| 9 June | Taking Doorsteps Showcase and Lunch With A Little Bit of Luck — Sabrina Mahfouz |
| 10 June | Talking Doorsteps: Lunch & Performances Massive Sense of Urgency — Madi Maxwell-Libby Goldfish Bowl — Caleb Femi SEXY — Vanessa Kissule |