Spoken Word Showcase - The FOLD
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Home Festival & Events The Festival of Literary Diversity Spoken Word Showcase

Spoken Word Showcase

Session Description

The annual spoken word showcase returns to the Rose Studio for an evening of powerful, unforgettable performances curated by Patrick de Belen. Featuring a dynamic lineup of poets and performers, this event celebrates voice, rhythm, and the electric connection between artist and audience. Join us for a night of bold storytelling and live expression.

This event takes place at the Rose Theatre. Free underground parking is available at the venue (1 Theatre Lane).

$12/person.

Featured Speaker(s)

Britta B_Headshot
Britta B.
Bio
Akil Elijah_Headshot
Akil Elijah
Bio
Desiree Mckenzie Headshot - Anthony Gebrehiwot CREDIT
Desiree Mckenzie
Bio
Black and white photo of Southeast Asian man with a mustache, wearing a white shirt and black blazer, silver necklace and rings, tattoos on his hands, sitting back in a chair, gazing up.
Patrick de Belen
Bio
Britta B_Headshot

Britta B.

Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Britta B. (she/her) is an award-winning artist, public speaker, and poet living in Toronto. Her debut poetry collection and audiobook, Wires that Sputter, was a Trillium Book Award Finalist for Poetry and shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Memorial Award and the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. She’s currently serving as the Poet-in-Residence for Poems in Passage (responsible for the poems millions see on their daily TTC commute), and was a juror for the 2025 CBC Poetry Prize. Britta holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Guelph and teaches at many schools and universities.

Akil Elijah_Headshot

Akil Elijah

Based in Toronto, Akil Elijah (he/him) is a breath of fresh air for Rap and Hip Hop. His journey as a rapper, poet, and creative director is not only extensive; but extremely well versed. With a focus on perfecting his artistry Akil continues to challenge the peers of his city with an intense combination of flow, musical dynamics, and intricate writing to shine as a recording artist and creative. With this, Akil hopes to connect with every voice in every city while expressing a story that is relatable and easy to listen to.

Desiree Mckenzie Headshot - Anthony Gebrehiwot CREDIT

Desiree Mckenzie

Desiree Mckenzie (she/her) is an award-winning poet, arts educator, & national poetry slam champion living in Toronto. Her poetry and voice have been featured in works for CBC’s Poetic License series, When Sisters Speak, Clearco Financial, Button Poetry, Kids Help Phone and Home Depot. She facilitates a range of community poetry programs for organizations such as JAYU, VIBE Arts, Unity Charity, and Poetry in Voice. She is currently an MFA candidate in the University of Guelph Creative Writing program and working on her first book of poetry.

Black and white photo of Southeast Asian man with a mustache, wearing a white shirt and black blazer, silver necklace and rings, tattoos on his hands, sitting back in a chair, gazing up.

Patrick de Belen

Patrick de Belen is a poet, filmmaker, educator and storyteller of many other mediums. His poetry, films and other projects often explore themes of mental illness, the Filipino-Canadian experience, liberation, grief and healing.

When he isn’t onstage, or writing, he is an educator and community builder, partnering with many institutions like addiction centres, mental health focused organizations, libraries, schools, jails and more – advocating for social change and storytelling platforms in as many spaces as possible. Follow his storytelling journey at @patrick_debelen

The FOLD is a remarkable and wonderful event for authors and attendees alike. What an amazing community, dedicated to the vital need for inclusive stories and the critical role they play in building a better world.

Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her

Field Guide to the North American Teenager is my first novel and FOLD was my first Canadian literary festival. While American and Canadian culture overlap quite a bit, especially when it comes to bookshelves, Canadian literature is unique and I was very heartened by to be embraced by that community I consider home despite residing in the US. It was a homecoming I didn’t know I needed!

Ben Philippe, author of Field Guide to the North American Teenager

The Festival of Literary Diversity was an absolute joy–the organizers thought of *everything* and by anticipating authors’ needs, they freed us to focus on connecting with the audience and each other. There was no pretension, no posturing–just very genuine conversations with invested writers and engaged readers.

Zetta Elliott, author of Dragons in a Bag

I have been to a lot of writers festivals and the FOLD is definitely near the top of the list of those I want to be invited back to.

Harold Johnson, author of the memoirs Clifford and Firewater

Being part of such a clearly diverse, inclusive and mutually respectful group was thrilling and inspiring: a glimpse of a better world.

Kathy Page, author of Dear Evelyn, winner of the 2018 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize

Wherever I go in Canada and find another writer of colour, we eventually end up gushing about how great the FOLD is, how by normalizing diversity it liberates us to talk to audiences about craft. It’s hard to imagine the literary landscape returning to a prehistoric pre-FOLD era.

Ian Williams, Author of the Giller Prize-winning novel Reproduction

FOLD is a festival experience unlike any other I’ve had. The FOLD team strive to create a space that’s welcoming and engaging, while allowing for curiosity, ingenuity and the fostering of real community – and they succeed, every year.

Alicia Elliott, author of A Mind Spread Out On The Ground

The FOLD is one of the most important literary events on this continent. By focusing on diverse voices and giving authors space to share their stories and speak their truths, it is revolutionizing the writing and storytelling realm as we know it.

Waubgeshig Rice, author of Moon Of The Crusted Snow

Being part of the FOLD community has provided me with a strong sense of belonging. Sharing diverse stories and listening to different voices that broaden my understanding of the world has impacted me as a person and motivated me as a writer.

Ann Y.K. Choi, author of Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety

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