ROMP

This is the ROMP blog where we post words from and by the ROMP community. 

Visit our website at: www.romp.org.uk

ROMP on Facebook

Rotherham Open Mic Performance [ROMP] is the brainchild of Rotherham performance poet, Gav Roberts. Although Gav’s always been a bit of a scribbler, it wasn’t until 2010, when he had started writing more regularly, that he realised he was frustrated that there was nowhere in his hometown to actually share words out loud.

Marrying together his two big loves - poetry and a good pint, Gav started putting the word out for people to join him in a quiet pub on a Friday night once a month. Almost 3 years later, and ROMP has two well established nights and has become one of the best loved most lively spoken word happenings in South Yorkshire with people travelling from all over the region to attend.

Not only has ROMP and Gav’s infectious belief in the beauty of democratic and free creativity got people writing and performing who never thought they would, ROMP has witnessed some of the finest wordsmiths grace its stage, from Manc legend Mike Garry to American slam poet, Buddy Wakefield.

And it doesn’t stop there, since ROMP picked up momentum the word revolution in Rotherham is evident across a wide range of creative and social gatherings and beyond. Never mind Rotherham being the home of KP nuts, ROMP has become the best local protein for the soul! Come join us… more to follow…


ROMP ethos...

• Everyone is welcome at ROMP, both established and non-established writers and performers. We love to see people of all ages, backgrounds and interests in the spoken word.
• We understand that places where people read poetry can sometimes be a bit intimidating and dry and ROMP aims to take these barriers away through a friendly atmosphere, particularly encourage those who haven't had a go before.
• Our nights operate around 'names in the hat', which is basically a democratic way of giving everyone the chance to take to the stage equally. That said, if people have traveled a long distance to come, or need a particular slot, they are welcome to speak to Gav or whoever is hosting the night to work something out.
• At ROMP there is no hierarchy. Gav Roberts set ROMP up as an event that allows all people to be heard in the spirit of the socialist values passed on from his biggest inspiration in the area of democracy and fairness, his father.

The Romp Committee

In line with it's social aims, Romp has recently set up a committee. As Romp expands, the aim of the committee is to.........

Committee members: Gav Roberts, name, name, name, name etc.

Contact us
Want to know more about Romp? Come and perform? Set up something similar? have your say? Feedback? Offer ideas? You are more that welcome! Contact Gav and folks at:  rompeteers@gmail.com

Thanks to continuing support from: Staff at the Bridge Inn and Snafu Rotherham, Hot Beanz, Rotherham Young Writers, WordLife Poetry, Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance [ROAR], Open Minds Theatre, Folk at the Market Gallery, Signposts Writing Project and many other individuals how are too mumerous to mention.

Also thank you to all the individuals who've helped to shape Romp into what it has become. To all those who have helped us go the extra mile and every ROMP performer and every audience member, thank you. We've only just started!

See links for pages we recommend you check out.

Romp founder, Mr Gav Roberts: