Wednesday 14 February 2024 6:45 PM – 9:30 PM (UTC+08)
Bushland Amphitheatre – The Wetlands Centre Cockburn
184 Hope Rd, Bibra Lake WA
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/love-poetry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/324382289951468
Join Us Under the Celestial Canopy for
a Mesmerizing Night of Poetry and Music
This Valentine’s Day, embark on an enchanting journey under a celestial canopy at our exclusive “Love Poetry Under the Stars” event, where the allure of poetry, the harmony of music, and the magic of love intertwine in a mesmerizing symphony under the night sky.
Nestled in a quaint open-air amphitheatre, cradled by the lush Australian bushland, our event promises an evening drenched in romance and wonder. As night falls, the sky transforms into a glittering tapestry, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration of love.
Date: Wednesday, 14th February 2024, Valentine’s Day
Time: Arrive by 6:45 pm for a 7:00 pm start. Event will continue up to 9:30pm with a 15 minute break in between.
Key Features:
- Performances by Talented Artists: Enjoy the captivating performances of Elizabeth Lewis, Jake Dennis, Gillian Clark, Chrissy Madison, Patrick Gunasekara, Rachel Hull, Vuma Phiri and emcee SoulReserve.
- Open Mic & Mega Love Poem: In a unique collaborative experience, we invite you to contribute to our ‘Mega Love Poem’ during the open mic segment. Here, every voice becomes a thread in the tapestry of a grand poetic masterpiece, celebrating the myriad hues of love.
- Intimate & Enchanting Setting: The cozy amphitheatre offers an intimate setting for a night of emotional depth and connection under the starlit sky. A night catered to lovers and romantics, combining the beauty of nature with the allure of poetry and music.
Additional Details:
- Age Limit: This event is for individuals 18 and older, creating an adult-friendly atmosphere.
- Seating: Bring picnic blankets, beach mats, camping chairs, or other comfortable seating to create your perfect romantic spot under the stars.
- Food/drinks: Feel free to bring your own wine and snacks; make it a magical and romantic picnic under the stars.
- Insect Precaution: Surrounded by pristine bushland, we advise bringing insect repellent to enhance your comfort.
- Accessibility: Please inform us of any accessibility requirements you may have.
- Public Transport Info: For those arriving via public transport, Murdoch train station is the nearest, with bus 514 from Murdoch to Cockburn being your gateway to the nearest drop-off point, a 10-15 minute walk from the venue. Let us know if you plan to use public transport, and we can assist with carpooling options.
Poet Biographies
- Elizabeth Lewis is a published poet and poetry teacher living in the Boorloo/Perth Hills. She holds a BA in Writing from ECU and has worked in the book industry for 23 years. Former Chair of the KSP Writers’ Centre, she continues to serve on their Literary Committee. Elizabeth writes about trees, birds, everything connected and big love.
- Vuma Phiri (she/they) is a Zambian-born storyteller. Their poetry has been published in the anthology, Under the Paving Stones, the Beach, Black Ballad UK and SBS Voices. Vuma is among the 2023 recipients of the Centre for Stories Writing Traineeship, as well as assisting with the Centre’s story training program. She is also a performing poet who has performed and read her work for audiences throughout WA.
She can be found on Instagram: @diaspora_reader, and @afroheritagebookclub. - Romantic Burmese-Australian entertainer (singer, poet, actor) Jake Dennis believes nothing’s more important than love. Published last year in Cuttlefish, Crow, Into the Wetlands, Mekong Review, and Suspect NY, Jake’s performing jazz-swing and pop-soul classics at the Kalamunda and Koorliny Performing Arts Centres this year. Follow @PoetOfJazz on YouTube, Facebook, etc.
- Gillian Clark is a WA based poet, writer and performer with a NIDA Acting background. She has had inclusions in poetry anthologies and had residencies with WA Poets Inc and Albany’s VAC and KSP. With her love of words, she wants to spread the joy of poetry in performance and on paper to more and more people.
- Rachel has been writing stories for as long as they can remember and enjoys time spent near water and trees. For Love Poetry Under the Stars they will be incorporating speaking, singing and music to share works about love for friendship, appreciation of little things, identity and connectedness with nature. – @rachelhull.music
- Patrick Gunasekera (he/him) is a poet, memoirist, playwright and arts journalist of Sri Lankan migrant heritage, living in Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. His work explores care and agency from marginalised positions, and the ways violence is normalised and resisted in unequal societies. His writing has been published and performed widely.
- Chrissy Maddison is a poet, singer and musician from Balingup, Bibulmen/Pibulmen & Kaneang Country.
Chrissy blends spoken word poetry with soulful singing and piano. With heartfelt lyrics & folk-inspired melodies, Chrissy’s poems and music resonate deeply with listeners, evoking a sense of melancholic beauty. Chrissy is honoured to be performing at Love Poetry Under the Stars! - Lakshmi Kanchi, pen name SoulReserve, is a Western Australian poet of Indian descent. Her debut collection, “Lakesong,” explores themes of love, nature, and culturation. She won the 2021 Pocketry Prize and 2023 Ros Spencer Poetry Prize and was shortlisted for SCWC Wollongong’s Poetry Prizes for two years in a row. She was the inaugural Poet-in-Residence at The Wetlands Centre Cockburn through 2022/23 where she worked on her mission of—making poetry accessible to everyone in the wider community.