Queer Friendly Poetry and Performance
Assorted Sporks
Assorted Sporks is a bunch of queer friendly poetry and performance events in Footscray at Mamma Chen’s.
We are nolonger fortnightly, we are every 4 weeks, the 2 different gigs are combined, and the feature and theme gig now has music backing! Hosted by Quil. We have awesome feature poets, with a theme you can use a writing prompt (or not, it’s optional) plus an open mic. Hosted by Quil.For people new to poetry or experiencing a bit of writer's block, we have a poetry writing group/workshop on the second Sunday of the month with prompts, writing exercises, and feedback. Facilitated by Quil (aka Loran Steinberg and Es Foong (aka Waffle Irongirl).All events are friendly, supportive and we encourage people to be as weird and experimental as they want.
Poetry Writing Group; The Facilitators
The Assorted Sporks writing group facilitators:Es Foong is a brilliant poet, if you haven’t seen their poetry you really should, they also run solo workshops on both writing poetry and embodied performance in poetry. They are co-facilitator in the writing group and will be there for the giving of feedback and the providing of thoughtful words and writing exercises. I actually go to them every time I’m stuck on a poem. I find their advice absolutely priceless.
Quil, (me! who is writing this!) is good at prompts,exercises, inspiration, providing energy, impetus and encouragement, I’m also not bad at helping people find the strengths in their writing and pulling them to the front.
Es has a talent for really pinpointing the right word(s) or tone or emotion to really communicate the idea or sensation or central theme behind the poem.
These writing groups are priced to be accessible to anyone, and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Come along and write a poem. Search humanitix for tickets.
https://events.humanitix.com/assorted-sporks-poetry-writing-group
Musical Sporks
Musical Sporks,has been cancelled because I am tired. We will be bringing the tracks to the feature and theme gigs so you can still use them.We still have a menu of 16 backing tracks for you to choose from, at this point just give give us the vibe of your poem and we'll do our best to match it, all of the music is by George, AKA FluxOfHumour, you can also bring your own backing track, bring an instrument, or do something experimental.To have a listen to the music click here; https://www.soundclick.com/AssortedSporks/?content=songsIf you would rather perform with no music that is also fine, the open mic is still open for you to do whatever makes you comfortable. We will try out new backing tracks over time and are happy to get some feedback on moods and music you would like to pair your poetry to in the future.
Have some fun with this!
Assorted Sporks Feature and Theme
Assorted Sporks is a free, queer friendly regular poetry and performance night at Mamma Chen's on Thursday July 16
Featuring; Jasper Peach
Theme: Words I’ll never Publish
Themes are not mandatory, they are just to encourage you to experiment with your writing and improvisation. Feel free to make it weird.Jasper Peach is a trans, non-binary and disabled author. They are passionate about equity and inclusion, playing with dismantling misplaced shame across written word, visual and audio mediums.
Their first book, You’ll Be a Wonderful Parent (2023) was a groundbreaking and accessible parenting resource for rainbow families of all kinds. My Body is My Home (2026) is a picture storybook for young readers, illustrated by beloved Naarm artist Beci Orpin.
Published in The Guardian, The Australian Poetry Journal, The Big Issue, Powerd Media, SBS and ABC online, Jasper loves writing for all audiences. Currently working on a mosaic memoir, A Thousand Spinning Plates on Fire, Peach explores the intersections of queer, disabled, fat bodied, transgender, parent, non-binary, neurodivergent and activist identities. This work is presented in prose, poetry and visual forms.
Jasper can usually be found on Djaara Country in the beautiful chaos of life with their partner, children and pets.7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start, sign up will be available on the night.
5 minute limit. More information on Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/assorted-sporks-poetry-and-performance-featuring-jasper-peachEvent after that, August 13, feature tba, I got someone in mind, doing a double check.
Assorted Sporks
general info
Assorted Sporks is a free, queer friendly poetry and performance night every 4 weeks (alternating fortnights with Musical Sporks) at Mamma Chen’s in Footscray (42a Albert St). Hosted by Me, Loran Steinberg. I do my best to feature queer and gender queer poets and amplify queer voices. Feature performances go for half an hour, and there is also an open mic on either side of the feature (five minute limit to the open mic slots).
I really encourage people to read/perform on the open mic and I think everyone should get the chance to express themselves creatively and to hear an eclectic range of poetry.
This might be my own taste talking, but when in doubt, make it weird. I love the sincerity of poets, and the honesty, but I also love it when they are very, very strange.We have a no hate speech policy at all Assorted Sporks events, people doing hate speech will have their microphone turned off and will be asked to leave the stage. If someone does something that is in a grey area, I will have a chat with them. I am very willing to receive feedback on how I am handling things and whether things should have been dealt with differently or better. That said, the Assorted Sporks crowd is a friendly bunch, I would rather have a policy and not need it, then need it and not have it, and I want people to feel safe.On the subject of feeling safe, people can find the content of poetry confronting or triggering, and it's always best to use trigger warnings and content warnings when you are performing something that may cause someone distress. If you experience distress or even if you just can’t sit still anymore at any poetry reading or art event, you are always allowed to leave the room, grab a glass of water, walk around, stim, find a quiet corner and take a breath if you need to. You do not owe anyone an explanation.Mamma Chen's is a wheelchair accessible venue however, the lift to the stage is stored off site, to provide a wheelchair lift to the stage please contact us a couple of days prior to the event if you need it for one of our events.
Assorted Sporks would like to thank Mamma Chen's for being a fabulous venue to hold a poetry reading and a wonderful bar.Assorted Sporks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and the Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land, this land was stolen, never ceded, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
