Spoken Word Saturday is a showcase of the amazing Spoken Word Poetry talent that can be found from coast to coast. You can find a playlist of all Spoken Word Saturday curations on the League’s Youtube channel!

Johnny D. Trinh

Johnny D. Trinh’s poem “Ferry Man” won the Vancouver Poetry House’s Vancouver Poetry Slam. Please note this poem contains explicit language.

Johnny D Trinh is an interdisciplinary and spoken word artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Exploring the use of spoken word, music, video, social media, movement, theatre, and creative technology- Johnny’s practice integrates the multi-layered realities within which we exist to create immersive spoken word experiences. Johnny’s pedagogy is rooted in the constant goal of fostering a sense of empowerment, agency, and compassion through socially engaged, community based art. Johnny recognizes that many of us are uninvited guests on this indigenous Turtle Island, and continually works to negotiate that through accountability, solidarity, and integrity in practice. He creates opportunities to support marginalized communities cultivate their voice: “It takes a community to build an artist… whether we are nurtured by it, or resist against it.” 

Johnny D Trinh is a member of the League of Canadian Poets, and holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Theatre & Creative Technology. Johnny’s research focuses on autho-ethnographic performance, and spoken word as a primary method in community-engaged art.

Johnny D Trinh is an award-winning playwright, and author of several chapbooks. Johnny’s first audio album #undeniable was released in July 2017.

Johnny is currently the Artistic Director for Vancouver Poetry House and Interim Executive Director for Historic Joy Kogawa House.

Johnny is also the Founder and Artistic Producer of Stage to Page Performance Society, a masterclass workshop series that brings Poets/Writers, Publishers, and Theatre Makers together to support folks spoken word poets looking to publish their work. We apply contemporary play development/scriipt development frameworks to spoken word, and explore how these techniques can help spoken word poets translate their performances to the printed page.

The Vancouver Poetry Slam has been wowing audiences and supporting spoken word artists since 1996, making it the longest-running poetry slam in Canada. VanSlams are include a featured poet, an open mic and a slam competition. Our featured, live spoken word performances bring outstanding International and Canadian Poets to stages in Vancouver, BC.

Vancouver Poetry House is the largest spoken word organization in Canada. VPH is dedicated to bringing poetry from diverse oral and literary traditions to Vancouver and British Columbia. VPH oversees three programs: Vancouver Poetry Slam, a weekly community stage with a headlining performer; WordPlay Poets, an outreach program that offers workshops and performances in schools and communities around BC; and Verses Festival of Words, Canada’s largest, annual spoken word festival.

---