Internationally renowned spoken word artist, poet and author returns to the East Coast with shows in Moncton and Halifax.
Just months after he brought laughs and tears to a packed house during Shivering Songs 2016, celebrated spoken word performer Shane Koyczan will return to the East Coast in April as part of a national tour.
Koyczan is an internationally renowned spoken word artist. He has emerged as a creator of poetry that dares to belong to the people and speak directly to them in their own voice. In 2013 he collaborated with animators to make the anti bullying viral video To This Daywhich has now had over 18 million views. He performed a customised version For The Bullied and the Beautiful to acclaim at the 2013 International Ted Conference in California.
His first published collection of poetry, Visiting Hours was the only work of poetry selected by both the Guardian and The Globe and Mail for the Best Books of the Year lists in 2005. He followed up this success with Stickboy a novel in verse that chronicles the dark and lonely journey of a bullied child gripped by helpless rage. Koyczan shines a light into the bleak world behind some of the most incomprehensible acts in our culture, and also shows the healing power of love. Destined to become a classic, it was written for anyone who has ever been a child, Stickboy continues to be hailed by teachers, academics and mental health experts alike for its deft handling of the subject of bullying.
In 2014 Shane released Silence Is A Song I Know All The Words To, his first graphic novel. Shane once again covered many beautiful and thought provoking pieces relevant to our time. Troll, a poem about cyber bullying and the challenges of managing and understanding this new breed of abuse by critically examining the deep and hurtful wounds of participating in this digital generation. Silence Is A Song graphic novel is accompanied by a collection of songs of the poems featured in the novel, an astonishing musical collaboration with Cayne McKenzie of We Are The City and Hannah Epperson.
Shane however, is best known for his award winning spoken word performances. With his rhythmic verse in high gear, he navigates his audience through social and political territory with a furious honesty and a tender humanity that has brought audiences to their feet in New York, London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Stockholm and LA to name a few. He has received five star reviews for his performances around the world. Koyczan is truly an extraordinary talent that has blown the dust off the traditional designation of “Poet”.
Shane Koyczan Tour Dates:
APR 1 – CALGARY, AB – KNOX UNITED CHURCH
APR 2 – ST ALBERT, AB – THE ARDEN THEATRE
APR 3 – LETHBRIDGE, AB – GEOMATIC ATTIC
APR 5 – SASKATOON, SK – THE BROADWAY THEATRE
APR 8 – GUELPH, ON – RIVER RUN CENTRE
APR 12 – TORONTO, ON – WINTER GARDEN THEATRE
APR 13 – ST. CATHARINES, ON – FIRST ONTARIO PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
APR 15 – MONTREAL, QC – L’ASTRAL
APR 18 – HALIFAX, NS – ST. MATTHEW’S UNITED CHURCH
APR 19 – MONCTON, MB – TIDE AND BOAR
APR 21 – BARRIE, ON – L3 WRITER’S CONFERENCE
