Call for Poets and Performers
Join RRCP's Spoken Word Event
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Voices of Us: A Journey Through Community and Identity with Maya Williams
Voices of Us: A Journey Through Community and Identity with Maya Williams
Calling all poets, performers, and storytellers!
Join us for Royal River Community Players’ Voices of Us spoken word performance, which we are developing for this year's Clam Festival! Led by our talented writer-in-residence, Maya Williams, this is your chance to share your voice and passion for creative expression.
Performers will meet weekly with Maya to craft and develop individual and group pieces inspired by the theme of community and identity. Together, we'll bring these works to life in a 50-minute performance for the community to enjoy.
Whether you're an experienced writer or just starting out, we welcome you to be part of this unique and meaningful project. Let’s create something unforgettable—together.
Workshops:
Saturdays, June 7 to July 12, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm, at The Playhouse
Performance:
Sunday, July 20th, 10:00 am, NYA Tent at the Yarmouth Clam Festival
FAQ
What is Spoken Word?
It's poetry performed out loud. It is an art form where poets share their work through performance, emphasizing rhythm, tone, and emotion. Unlike traditional poetry, it relies heavily on vocal delivery and physical expression to communicate its message.
What is the Clam Festival?
What began in 1965 as a local clambake has grown into Maine’s largest free-admission festival, drawing more than 100,000 visitors each year. Behind the scenes, hundreds of volunteers work together to create a weekend full of food, entertainment, and meaningful community impact.
Who is Maya?
Maya Williams is Portland's seventh poet laureate and has numerous achievements, including publishing and winning many awards. With extensive experience teaching spoken word and performance to both children and adults, Maya creates a fun, creatively safe environment where individuals feel free to take risks and express themselves.
Who should sign up?
This opportunity is open to all (ages 10+). It is ideal for kids and adults who love creative expression, storytelling, and performing. It benefits poetry enthusiasts, enhances public speaking and acting skills, and explores new ways to share ideas. You'll also have the chance to meet new people and gain fresh perspectives.
Maya Williams (ey/they/she) is a religious Black multiracial nonbinary suicide survivor who was selected as Portland, ME's seventh poet laureate for a July 2021 to July 2024 term. Maya received a MFA in Creative Writing with a Focus in Poetry from Randolph College in June 2022. Eir debut poetry collection Judas & Suicide (Game Over Books, 2023) was selected as a finalist for a New England Book Award. Their second poetry collection, Refused a Second Date (Harbor Editions, 2023), was selected as a finalist for a Maine Literary Award. Their third poetry collection, What's So Wrong with a Pity Party Anyway?, was selected as one of four winners of Garden Party Collective's chapbook prize in 2024. Maya was one of three artists of color selected to represent Maine in The Kennedy Center's Arts Across America series in 2020, one of The Advocate's Champions of Pride in 2022, and one of Maine Humanities Council's recipients of the Constance Carlson Public Humanities Prize in 2024.