Warminster’s Athenæum will host its first open mic night next week, offering something a little different for local performers and audiences alike.
The event, taking place on Friday 7th August, will welcome a wide range of acts including music, poetry, comedy and spoken word.
“The invitation couldn’t be broader: if you’ve got something to share, the stage is yours!” said one of the organisers Paul Barnes. “Music, poetry, stand-up, spoken word, a song you wrote last Tuesday: if you want to share it, there’s a stage waiting for you. If you’d rather just listen with a drink in hand, we’ve got you covered too. The format is genuinely open. There are no auditions and no set running order.”
Free tickets are available via the Athenæum website, or you can simply pick one up on the night. Doors open at 6:30pm, with the first performance from around 7pm.
“For a venue with such a rich history of live performance, an open mic night marks a new chapter,” added Paul. “While the Athenæum has long been home to theatre productions, film screenings, and visiting performers, this is believed to be the first event of its kind in recent memory; if not the first the venue has ever hosted.
“The aim is to create something different from a traditional show: looser, more spontaneous, and rooted firmly in the community the Ath exists to serve. And even if you’re not a performer, you’re just as welcome.
“The bar will be open and the atmosphere promises to be relaxed. This is as much about gathering together on a Friday evening as it is about the acts on stage.”
Organisers are hoping the night might become a regular fixture to provide a space where local talent can find its feet, and where audiences can discover something unexpected.
The Athenæum is at 18–20 High Street, Warminster.
