Ignite the East: A People’s Ode
When: Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: BLOC, ArtsOne Buildin, Mile End
Speaker: -
An evening of poetry, spoken-word and musical performances in the spirit of the original People’s Palace at Queen Mary University.
In 1887, an educational and cultural centre called 'The People’s Palace' was opened, serving as a space for creative expression and performance. For nearly half a decade, the People’s Palace was a truly unique venue that helped the impoverished workers of East London to learn, think and feel.
In 1931, it was burned to the ground.
Ignite The East: A People’s Ode is an evening of artistic performances that honour the spirit of the original People’s Palace—a space for creativity, expression, and community. Showcasing a diverse lineup of London-based poets, spoken word artists, and musicians, this event celebrates the power of art to inspire, to inform and to unite. More than just a performance, we will attempt to interrogate and reimagine the importance of accessible creative spaces—where artistry belongs to everyone, and everyone can be heard.
With performances by freelance artists as well as members of the Queen Mary student body, we offer a glimpse into the kinds of perspectives and artistic expressions that once fuelled the creative heart of the People’s Palace. Our goal is not only to honour that legacy, but to reignite the communal passion that made it so vital.
The evening will run from 6 PM until 8 PM on Wednesday, 5th March in the Pinter Studio on QMUL’s Mile End campus. Everyone, from every walk of life, is welcomed and encouraged to attend, to play a pivotal role in a re-imagination of the possibilities of boundless creative expression, no matter the source.
Curated by students on the Assistant Producers Scheme in the Queen Mary Centre for Creative Collaboration working with poet and facilitator Mr Gee.