Do you have an idea for a spoken word piece?

New Word Order, Newcastle's spoken word project, is offering an open commission to a poet, writer, stand up, storyteller or other spoken word artist.

We've been awarded an £11,630 Arts Council grant to fund spoken word workshops, gigs and commissions over the next year.

We've decided to make one of our commissions open to anyone with an idea for a 30/40 minute spoken word piece. It should be innovative in some way, might involve artistic collaborations or cross artform working and fusions and should help develop your individual practice. By spoken word we mean simply someone speaking their own words.

For an idea of what we're looking for, check out our website and come to our gigs, particularly 31st March at the Dog and Parrot in Newcastle when Teesside poet Jo Colley has the Newcastle premiere of her Hydrogen Jukebox commissioned poem for three actors, Electric Ladyland, the Cluny in Newcastle on 13th April, when Claire Morgan premieres her Handbag Voodoo multi media, performance poetry project, or 28th April at the Dog and Parrot when Andy Willoughby has the Newcastle premiere of his epic poem with music, The Twocca Crow King.

To apply send a proposal for the piece, examples of your previous work (if relevant) and a CV to:

31 Beverley Terrace
Cullercoats
North Shields
NE30 4NU.

Deadline: 1st April 2005.

We aim to stage the commission in the autumn.
This is open to any North East resident with a good idea for a spoken word piece.

New Word Order is supported by the Arts Council North East. For further info, email thenewwordorder@hotmail.com.