Thu 21 May
|The Straw Yard
Cabaret of Words
An Open Mic Night for Writers & Lovers of the Spoken Word
Time & Location
21 May 2026, 19:00 – 21:30
The Straw Yard, The Straw Yard, The Barracks, Parade, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1DF, UK
About the event
DOORS OPEN: 6:15 PM
START TIME: 7:00 PM
FINISH TIME: 9:30PM
*The bar will be open afterwards
Writers, performers, and lovers of the spoken word, welcome back to Cabaret of Words!
ABOUT THE EVENT
Writers, performers, and lovers of the spoken word, welcome to The Cabaret of Words.
This popular open mic night is your chance to take the stage, share your original writing, and soak up the electric atmosphere of live literary performance. Whether you are a seasoned wordsmith or trying out new material for the first time, this is a welcoming space to bring your words to life.
May’s Cabaret will take place indoors at The Straw Yard, with seating at tables and a relaxed, intimate atmosphere that invites listening, connection and conversation.
Every Cabaret of Words event has sold out in advance, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Come to perform. Come to listen. Come to be part of a community that loves words as much as you do.
HOW IT WORKS
8 performance slots (10 minutes each)
To secure your performance slot, you’ll need to provide your name, email, mobile number, and a brief note on what you plan to perform (poetry, short story, memoir, etc.) when booking. Performers will receive full event details via email.
Prefer not to read your own work? You’re welcome to nominate a reader. Just be sure to book one Participation Ticket for yourself and one General Audience Ticket for your speaker.
To give space to a wide range of voices, we encourage performers to book a 10-minute slot at every other event, rather than every time. This helps us share the mic and celebrate the diversity of our writing community. Wildcard slots remain open to all, every time.
2 wild card slots on the night (5 minutes each)
For the last-minute scribblers, the spontaneous souls, and those who want to see how the night unfolds, you’ll have a chance to step up and share your work in the moment.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS
Book your ticket, settle in with a drink, and enjoy an evening of varied live performances in an informal and friendly setting.
OPTIONAL DONATION
Cabaret of Words is free to attend, but this event includes an optional donation option. Audience members can choose to donate £5, £10 or £15 in support of the Berwick Literary Festival, helping us sustain and grow literary events in the town.
About the Berwick Writers’ Forum
Cabaret of Words is part of the Berwick Writers’ Forum, a year-round initiative of the Berwick Literary Festival.
The Forum exists to support, connect, and celebrate writers at all stages of their journey, from established authors to emerging voices, through events, information, networking and mentoring.
📩 For more information, get in touch at:hello@berwickwritersforum.com
Tickets
Audience Ticket
This ticket is for audience members only. If you would like to share your work at the event please select and book a Participant Ticket.
From £0.00 to £15.00
£0.00
+£0.00 ticket service fee
£5.00
+£0.13 ticket service fee
£10.00
+£0.25 ticket service fee
Participant Ticket
This ticket is for those wishing to participate by sharing their work. If you wish to attend as an audience member then please book an Audience Ticket.
From £0.00 to £15.00
Sold Out£0.00
+£0.00 ticket service fee
£5.00
+£0.13 ticket service fee
£10.00
+£0.25 ticket service fee
Total
£0.00