Catalyst Poetry Idol GRAND FINAL - images

Catalyst Poetry Idol 2006

Rebecca Reider

Runner Up 2006: Marissa Johnpillai

3rd place: Sam Warland

4th: Tim Wildermoth

5th: Ricky Madibela

There Can Be Only One...

Poetry Idol 2006 The Grand Final lived up to it's name with standing room only in the Wunderbar. (Perhaps that horse called poetry we've been flogging ain't quite dead?) As the anticipation built among the audience, the five finalists gathered before the stage for the traditional salute with a shot of Jagermeister and the draw to decide the order of the first set. As per the custom of Poetry Idol's Grand Final the poets would perform their first 3 poems and then after a break (wherein the hardworking audience of judges could quench their thirst) the poets would return in reverse order and perform their second set of 3 poems. A fabulous array of prizes awaited the poets - no-one would go home empty-handed. All finalists had already won $50 bar tabs from the Wunderbar for winning their heats (handy for impoverished poets to celebrate in style) and a poem to be included in Catalyst 6. As a special surprise they were also given a year's subscription to Catalyst. This year Poetry Idol received the coveted (and ever changing) Poetry Idol trophy, a $50 grocery voucher from Lyttelton Super Value as well as another $50 bar tab. Runner up received a $20 book voucher from Scorpio Books and a $20 voucher from Lyttelton Super Value. Third Place received an interesting bottle of wine courtesy of the Wunderbar A six pack for 4th (a beer for each poem!) and 5th received an industrial sized can of whole tomatoes and a small straw... all courtesy of the Wunderbar

Fabulous Prizes!

The poetry ran the gamut from epic diatribes, acapella song, political rant, new age symbolism to rap and feminism. And speaking of epic feminism a word must be said about the dynamic duo of co-hosts (us) who did their best to whip the audience into a frenzy of bloodlusting, poet-burning fervour. Alas, no poets were harmed in the making of Poetry Idol but do we know how to waffle on or what?!! Making a meal fit for a giant can of tomatoes, Doc and Kez announced the results after a vibrant open mic consisting of last years runner up, calypso singing and some earlier Idol contestants. And now, drum roll please...

The Results

Poetry Idol 2006 - Rebecca Reider

Runner Up - Marissa Johnpillai

3rd Place - Sam Warland

4th - Tim Wildermoth

5th - Ricky Madibela

Photos to follow!

And then there were 5...

Poetry Idol Grand Final - where the rubber meets the road.

Rounds 3, 4 & 5 were close fought affairs with plenty of drama, humour and a fair amount of paper dart throwing. Several poets came for a second and sometimes third attempt to make the final 5 and the competition was fierce. More photos are below of Rounds 4 & 5 but here is the list of the 5 brave poets who'll step up to the mic this week on August 31st.

Rebecca Reider

Ricky Madibela

Marissa Johnpillai

Tim Wildermoth

Sam Warland

The stakes are raised as the poets must perform twice with 3 poems in each set - so the audience can separate the one-hit-wonders from the true Poetry Idol.

To those who are about to recite, we salute you...

Poetry Idol Round 3 - Images

1st place: Marissa Johnpillai 2nd place: Ben Brown 3rd place: Barbara Strang

With many thanks to Pip for the photos.