7th July 1996. Everyone remembers where they were when it happened. Kylie Minogue, the Poetry Olympics, I Should Be So Lucky – need we say more?

Yes? Oh. Well then: some 28 years ago, after being introduced by friend, fan, collaborator and countryman Nick Cave, Kylie Minogue took to the Royal Albert Hall stage in front of poetry’s brightest lights (including John Cooper Clarke, Simon Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy) to deliver a wonderfully ‘poetic’ spoken-word rendition of I Should Be So Lucky – and it’s fair to say the poetry world has never been quite the same since.

This year, to celebrate Kylie’s birthday, we’ll be hosting the Kylie Minogue (Poetry) Olympics on 28th May, 6 – 8pm at Manchester Poetry Library. An open mic in the truest sense of the word, we want you to interpret Kylie’s words / music / existence in whatever way you see fit, be it poetry, music, dance, performances… all are welcome at the Kylie Olympics. Just keep the set-up simple, please – we’re poets, not engineers, after all.

You can either sign up in advance, or just come along on the day. To express your interest (or for any other queries), please email j.fedrick@mmu.ac.uk. Padam.