Wash Away the Stains
Emma Callaghan and Mark Raffills (Mohua Golden Bay)
“Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness.” American poet and civil rights activist Alice Walker
Inspired by the long shadows of Walker’s ideals, Golden Bays poets Emma Callaghan and Mark Raffills join forces to paint, via the spoken word, their own revolution, to name the unnameable and to wash away the stains that blot our landscape.
Emma Callaghan – Representing Golden Bay/Nelson in the NZ National Poetry Slam, Emma made it through to the second round in 2022 and on the way won the ‘Spirit of the Slam’ Award. She placed second overall in 2023. Emma’s performances are inspired by life experiences and observations as a mixed-race woman living in Aotearoa. Her poems speak to white privilege, Afro hair, reggae music and the African diaspora. Check out Emma’s website.
Mark Raffills – “The live poet is obvious; the words have both a lyrical and rhythmic quality. There is a depth to the poetry but at the same time, its heart is on its sleeve.” Matt Bowler, Nelson Mail. Raffills has toured and performed throughout NZ including Waitaki and Nelson Arts Festivals, NZ and Nelson Fringe Festivals and Poetry Live. He has been a finalist in NZ Poetry Slams, self-published three books of poems, while his weekly video poems on Facebook have attracted over 120,000 views in the last five years. Check out Mark’s website, and Facebook.
World Premiere!
One Night Only!
Mark Raffills is also appearing in The Word, The Reckoning & The Rose on Tues 19 March at 7:30pm.
Read a review: Theatrereview
