There are still a few places left for would-be contestants for the Lamplight poetry slam at Stanley, Co Durham, presented by Leisureworks in association with Talking Pen and Lamplight arts centre. Up to 16 of the north-east’s finest spoken-wordsmiths will battle it out in the Auditorium bar of Lamplight arts centre in Stanley on 21 May for a cash prize. Those rhymers, ranters and monologists ready to perform in a series of three-minute bursts should contact Steve Urwin at steveurwin@talktalk.net, and bring at least five poems to compete. Entry: £2. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30. Map