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All Star SLAM

All Star SLAM

Slam is a poetic competition in which the audience rates each poem with a score of 1-10, just like in the Olympics. In this case, the judges are the students! And the poets? Former Canadian SLAM champ Brendan McLeod, Second City alum Justin Carter, and 14-year Shaw Festival veteran Julia Course. They present a wide-range of poetic styles and subject matter: high-octane original poetry, classical dramatic monologue, silly stand-up and improv. All Star SLAM is a supportive forum that introduces students to some great poetry and performance in an accessible manner that is interactive, engaging, hilarious, and deeply poignant. As one student put it: “It was better than Beyoncé!” (which is a stretch, but it’s what we’re aiming for).

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Booking Details
School In-Person Performance Fee: $1,220 + HST
Audience Size: 300
School Virtual Performance Fee: $972 + HST
Audience Size: 500
Virtual format: fully live
Grades: 5-12
Language: English
Availability: Spring 2025
Curriculum Connections
Literacy
Cross Curricular Connections
Experiential Learning
Teacher Resources
Study Guide
Tech requirements: Two microphones with stands
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About All Star SLAM
Brendan McLeod

Brendan McLeod is the host of All Star SLAM. He's the former Canadian SLAM champion and world runner-up. He was named Poet of Honour at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word for his contribution to the country's literary performance. He's also a JUNO-nominated musician, and the author of three books and six theatre shows. He thinks Messi over Ronaldo.

Julia Course

Julia Course is a classical actor based out of Toronto. She has performed on stages in Toronto, Winnipeg and Montreal, as well as spending 14 seasons with the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake. Julia teaches acting part-time at Sheridan College. She is a graduate of the Acting Program at The National Theatre School of Canada and holds a Masters degree in theatre from The University of Guelph. She doesn't think about Messi or Ronaldo.

Justin Carter

Actor, writer, and improviser Justin Carter has written and performed for stages across Canada and abroad. Highlights include The Second City Toronto Main Stage as an improviser. As a writer/performer his works include Welcome Home Mifflin Gibbs, My Father to Whom I am not Related, and his musical autobiographical story, Son of Africville. He thinks Ronaldo over Messi.
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