Poetry Jam is one of the longest-running monthly spoken word nights in the North East. Established in 2009 by poet Steve Urwin of Talking Pen, it meets at the Waddington Street Centre in Durham City on the first Thursday of every month except January. Each night typically pairs three booked guest poets with open floor spots, and it's billed as a safe space to read aloud - a good room for first-time readers as well as seasoned performers.
Format
Doors 7pm, with open floor spots from 7.30pm. It's an unamplified evening - no microphone - in the centre's small cafe lounge, with light refreshments and no alcohol.
Getting there
3 Waddington Street, Durham DH1 4BG - near the viaduct, about three minutes' walk from the bus station.
Waddington Street Centre is a community mental-health centre at 3 Waddington Street in Durham, a few minutes from the city centre. Alongside its support work it opens its doors for one of the region's most established spoken word nights.
Poetry Jam runs on the first Thursday of every month except January, with doors at 7pm and readings from 7.30pm. It is free and walk-in - poets and spoken word performers simply turn up and take a slot. The night has been running since 2009, making it one of the longest-running monthly spoken word events in the north east.
The room is warm and attentive, and new readers are actively encouraged alongside the regulars.
Run a Durham open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Waddington Street Centre Open Mic — Quick Facts
Waddington Street Centre Open Mic runs on the 1st Thursday of the month at Waddington Street Centre in Durham, starting at 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Waddington Street Centre is a community mental-health centre at 3 Waddington Street in Durham, a few minutes from the city centre. Alongside its support work it opens its doors for one of the region's most established spoken word nights.
Poetry Jam runs on the first Thursday of every month except January, with doors at 7pm and readings from 7.30pm. It is free and walk-in - poets and spoken word performers simply turn up and take a slot. The night has been running since 2009, making it one of the longest-running monthly spoken word events in the north east.
The room is warm and attentive, and new readers are actively encouraged alongside the regulars.
More open mic nights in Durham: Ye Old Elm Tree, Sherburn Village Working Men's Club, The Drunken Duck and 5 more - day and sign-up where listed.
Poetry Jam is one of the longest-running monthly spoken word nights in the North East. Established in 2009 by poet Steve Urwin of Talking Pen, it meets at the Waddington Street Centre in Durham City on the first Thursday of every month except January. Each night typically pairs three booked guest poets with open floor spots, and it's billed as a safe space to read aloud - a good room for first-time readers as well as seasoned performers.
Format
Doors 7pm, with open floor spots from 7.30pm. It's an unamplified evening - no microphone - in the centre's small cafe lounge, with light refreshments and no alcohol.
Getting there
3 Waddington Street, Durham DH1 4BG - near the viaduct, about three minutes' walk from the bus station.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemTBC
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Waddington Street Centre’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 3 Dec · 19:30Starts in 20d 11h 51m
Sign-up opensTBCNot confirmed yet
Kick-off19:30Every 1st Thursday of the month
Music endsTBCNot confirmed yet
Venue closesTBCNot confirmed yet
How often
Every 1st Thursday of the month
Coming up
Thu 3 Dec · Thu 7 Jan · Thu 4 Feb
First time here?
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
The nearest station is Durham (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. Waddington Street Centre is in Waddington Street, Durham — use DH1 4BG for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
How much should paid gigs pay you? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. A night in the Durham live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Durham's Waddington Street Centre open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Durham open mic nights for alternatives.
Waddington Street Centre has not listed its kit yet — ask the host before you go.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for Waddington Street Centre's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Durham open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Durham regulars across the Durham open mic scene. Durham open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Durham (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is DH1 4BG. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Durham open mics.
Venues Near Waddington Street Centre
No other gigs are listed at Waddington Street Centre in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
More live music venues: Bar Bianco Chester Le Street, Coundon WMC, Daleside Arms and 9 more - size, kit and live nights where listed.
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Waddington Street Centre open mic in brief. The Waddington Street Centre open mic runs every 1st Thursday of the month from 19:30 (no fee listed). Waddington Street Centre’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For another night this week, the open mics near Durham are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Durham? The GX Index publishes what UK gigs actually
pay, by city, band size and venue type, and the GX Index reports set out the methodology and the sample behind
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