“Williams has been breaking ground since his debut album, Amethyst Rock Star, was released in 2001. After gaining global fame for his poetry and writings at the turn of the century, Williams has performed in over 30 countries and read in over 300 universities, with invitations that have spanned from the White House, the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, The Louvre, The Getty Center, Queen Elizabeth Hall, to countless villages, townships, community centers, and prisons across the world.”
His most recent work is Martyr Loser King (2016). "Written and recorded between Senegal, Reunion Island, Paris, Haiti, and New Orleans and New York, Martyr Loser King is a multimedia project that engages the digital dialogue between the 1st and 3rd Worlds, and the global street sounds that yoke the two." (saulwilliams.com)
Other works: US(a.) (2015), The Dead Emcee Scrolls (2006), Said the Shotgun to the Head (2003).
We are honoured to host him as one of our performers and facilitators in this year’s festival.

$40 advance /$50 door
You can get your advance tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2915711

This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist in our goal to increase accessibility to Verses events, please do your best to be aware of this and join us in reducing the impact of personal scented products (such as perfumes, scented oils, etc.) in our festival spaces.

Accessibility Info for Wise Hall:
You’ll note on arrival a set of 10 railed stairs leading into the Hall. The wheelchair accessible entrance is around back. For certain events there will be someone posted at the door throughout the event and/or a bell system will be rigged up to ensure no one has to wait out there to be let in. If this has not been clarified by organizers already, please consider contacting them for details.

Once inside, you’ll find a spacious wood-floored hall, open concept, tables and chairs set up throughout. The stage (accessible only via stairs) is to your left, and the washrooms towards the back of the hall. The washrooms are currently gendered, but sometimes will be marked “gender neutral”. There are two sets of washrooms. The one to the left of the bar is currently marked “men” is on the same level and is now wheelchair accessible, with 2 urinals and one wheelchair access stall and one non-wheelchair access stall. The one to the right of the bar, currently marked “women”, is wheelchair accessible with no urinals and one additional stall.
*update as of June 2013
Read the Radical Accessibility Mapping Project’s WISE Hall overview or complete audit.
2013: please note that a new, wheelchair accessible men’s bathroom has been created. The finishing touches are still being added, and the door has been adjusted to more easily fit wheelchair/scooter users, but overall the space is great.