Speech Bubble

Come along for a relaxed and friendly evening of performance poetry showcasing the best spoken word talent on campus, plus a special guest performance from Rachelle Foster.

Organised by LU Arts, Speech Bubble is a long-running, relaxed, and friendly evening of open mic performance poetry at Loughborough Students' Union. Open to students, staff, and the public, it showcases the best spoken word talent on campus through open mic slots and often features a professional poet.

Whether you're performing or simply enjoying the show, Speech Bubble offers an inclusive and supportive space to celebrate creativity and the power of words.

About the guest performer

Rachelle Ruby Foster (she/they) is a writer, journalist and educator based in Nottingham. She is a second-generation GOBS Collective member whose work focuses on mental health, mortality and relationships. One of her biggest achievements to date is having won PoENtry Slam's year-long poetry tournament in Barcelona, ending in 2020.

She has performed her work in Brighton, London, Nottingham and Barcelona, headlining shows such as Hammer and Tongue, Cellar Door BCN, Speech Therapy, Hockley Hustle, and Duende Sessions. Her work has also been published in magazines For Women Who Roar, the PoENtry Slam collections, Nottingham's Word Walk zines, and GOB's Full Moon & Earth showcase zines and performed on BBC Radio Nottingham.

Visit Rachelle's website.

Open mic opportunity

Any Loughborough University student or staff member can perform at this event, but please book a slot in advance as places are limited. All abilities are welcome, so it doesn't matter if you've never performed your work before. We welcome performers from all backgrounds and you can expect a friendly and supportive audience on the night. The deadline for registering your interest via a short online form is Friday 14 November 2025.

Register your interest in an open mic slot