Laurie Bolger (born Lauren Bolger, 10 July 1989) is an English poet, stand-up and presenter[1] based in London. In 2014 she was shortlisted for Young Poet Laureate of London. She currently tours her writing including her debut pamphlet collection Box Rooms, published by Burning Eye[2] and one woman show Talking to Strangers[3] as well as hosting Bang Said the Gun.[4][5][6]

Bolger has performed at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Old Vic Theatre and St Pauls Cathedral as well as being Poet in Residence in various public spaces such as libraries, community centres, pubs and the Queen Elizabeth's Olympic Park.[7]

Early life

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Bolger was born in London W10[8] and spent much of her school years on the South Coast of England with her parents and younger sister.

Bolger attended Bath Spa University to study Creative Arts and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick to study English and Irish Literature,.[9][10]

Career

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Bolger began to perform her poetry after leaving university where she toured with a punk band speaking poems at the start of gigs.[11][12][13] She then went onto before at various events starting with Bath Lit Fest.[14][15] Since then she has received national airplay on the BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and BBC Radio 3's The Verb.[16][17][18]

Laurie was shortlisted for Young Poet Laureate of London, performing at major London venues and has also performed at festivals across the UK including Glastonbury,[19] Camden Lock Live Festival & Lovebox,[20] Camp Bestival,[21] Citadel,[22] Cheltenham Lit Fest,[23] Kaleidoscope Festival,[24] and Oxford Festival of the Arts.[25] In 2014 she performed as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival as part of Pagematch.[26]

Bolger was part of the Voices Nationwide Campaign[27] in 2017 featuring young and promising performance poets from the UK. She has also written for many major brands, campaigns and independent businesses globally since 2014 and was involved in Belfast Poetry Competition, officially opened by Nationwide in 2017.[28]

Her debut collection Box Rooms was published by Burning Eye and launched at an event at The Roebuck, South London. It includes the poems Carrot Mash, Tea and Bill Bailey, Public House and Slippers.[29][30][31] Bolger has recently started in the world of Stand-Up.[32]

Bolger has also worked in radio, presenting the award-winning Round @ Laurie's on Roundhouse Radio between 2014 - 2016.[33]

Awards

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  • 2014 - was shortlisted for the Young Poet Laureate of London[34]
  • 2015 - she won both Best Presenter and Sound of The Roundhouse for her radio show Round @ Laurie's judged by Gemma Cairney and Roundhouse[35]

Publications

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  • Box Rooms
  • Verse Matters
  • The Best Poetry Book in the World

References

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  1. ^ Laurie Bolger (14 April 2018), Laurie Bolger Presenting Showreel, retrieved 9 October 2018
  2. ^ "NEW TITLE: Box Rooms by Laurie Bolger". Burning Eye Books. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Laurie Bolger: Talking to Strangers". Inn Crowd. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Bang Said The Gun | GANG". www.bangsaidthegun.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  5. ^ "London's Most Raucous Poetry Night: Bang Said The Gun Is Back". Londonist. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  6. ^ "JULY'S POET OF THE MONTH – LAURIE BOLGER". applesandsnakesblog.org. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  7. ^ "JULY'S POET OF THE MONTH – LAURIE BOLGER". applesandsnakesblog.org. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Laurie Bolger | Media". lauriebolger.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Laurie Bolger | Media". lauriebolger.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Laurie Bolger on Box Rooms, GCSE English and cups of tea". James Reviews. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  11. ^ "NEW TITLE: Box Rooms by Laurie Bolger". Burning Eye Books. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  12. ^ The Skinny (24 September 2014), Laurie Bolger at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2014 | The Skinny magazine, retrieved 9 October 2018
  13. ^ "June 2017 – Poetry&Words at Glastonbury Festival". poetryandwordsblog.wordpress.com. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Get into Spoken Word with Roundhouse Radio -". www.roundhouse.org.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  15. ^ Laurie Bolger (11 April 2013), Laurie Bolger - Drunk Dialling, retrieved 9 October 2018
  16. ^ "Laurie Bolger - Words First: The launch event - Words First - BBC Radio 1Xtra". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Chest of Drawers, The Verb - BBC Radio 3". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Words First Live - BBC Radio 1". BBC. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  19. ^ "June 2017 – Poetry&Words at Glastonbury Festival". poetryandwordsblog.wordpress.com. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Resident Artists: Discover Fresh Talent This July -". www.roundhouse.org.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Professor Green announced for The Den at Camp Bestival posted on Wed 1". www.festivalsforall.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  22. ^ "Citadel 2016 Clashfinder". Clashfinder. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Inua Ellams R.A.P Party - London Bridge Revealed". London Bridge Revealed. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  24. ^ "further creative performances & more for new Kaleidoscope Festival". eFestivals. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Poetry Live with Laurie Bolger - Oxford Festival of the Arts". Oxford Festival of the Arts. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  26. ^ The Skinny (24 September 2014), Laurie Bolger at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2014 | The Skinny magazine, retrieved 9 October 2018
  27. ^ "Voices | Nationwide". www.nationwide.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  28. ^ "WHAT DO OUR KIDS LOVE ABOUT BELFAST? - POETRY CONTEST LAUNCHED". LoveBelfast. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Box Rooms by Laurie Bolger #bookreview". Bookish Lara. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  30. ^ Bolger, Laurie (2016). Box Rooms. Burning Eye. ISBN 978-1909136786.
  31. ^ "Poetry Live with Laurie Bolger - Oxford Festival of the Arts". Oxford Festival of the Arts. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  32. ^ Laurie Bolger (29 July 2018), Laurie Bolger SYC Standup Soho Theatre, retrieved 9 October 2018
  33. ^ "Get into Spoken Word with Roundhouse Radio -". www.roundhouse.org.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  34. ^ "CITYSHOWCASE.CO.UK". www.cityshowcase.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  35. ^ "Roundhouse Radio Celebrates Second Roundhouse Radio Awards -". www.roundhouse.org.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.