Written and Performed by RJ Hunter

Composition by Robyn Lawrence

Dramaturg/Access Support by Indra Wilson

Maintaining the evolving legacy of Scottish Spoken Word, which no doubt aided in securing them the title of Loud Poet’s Grand Slam Poetry Champion last year, writer, composer, and spoken word artist RJ Hunter changes the dynamics of the spoken word arena with smatterings of cabaret, jester-esque comedy, and only a couple of costume changes… 

Embarking on a new show, Stupid Sexy Poem Show is a spoken word show like no other – fusing elements of stand-up, variety, and plenty of cabaret. Hunter’s freshest work punctuates the spoken word genre with their stamp of agency. This is an RJ Hunter show, and no one would make the mistake of confusing it with another. Projected above, feedback from their past performances, presented in varying shades of constructive to abusive, Hunter performs a selection of their spoken word pieces about each of the titular ‘buzz words’, some as silly, some are short (a terrific one-word delivery being a highlight of the night), and plenty of them fall into that second category.

So, Stupid? In moments. Sexy? Enough to make a nun blush. Poem(s)? Duh. Now, the ‘Show’. This is the only element where the cracks can be noticeable, though come the final flourish and tying together of the narrative elements, Stupid Sexy Poem Show pulls out an absolute blinder of locating the clarity within the cacophonous chaos which cascades around. Promising a poetic and evolving journey, Hunter collects all the children of the world in their grasp: femininity, transness, masculinity, self-identity, queerness, sex, androgyny, and the obliteration of the binary norms—a whole array of therapy bills for the ages.

It makes for an exceptionally quick-paced and raucous show where emotion is stitched into the tempo and delivery – it would be impossible to separate. Each spoken word segment is performed with deft and investment from Hunter, all leading to a powerful finale, a cutting one which ties together every element Hunter has carried along the way – often reinforced by Robyn Lawrence’s composition or additional lighting and costume changes (okay, well maybe there’s more than three).

Their spoken word abilities have been tested and awarded, and Hunter’s charisma benefits Stupid Sexy Poem Show’s crowd control and rhythmic delivery that finds cadence of delivery to hit the highs and share in the lows without too heavy a melancholy. It can be harrowing, hilarious, haughty and hedonistically delicious, but beneath it, all, Stupid Sexy Poem Show rings with a necessary voice and one we need more of – one which speaks to trans and queer communities with a fresh and dynamic voice.

With these moments, Stupid Sexy Poem Show is an emerging piece, though Hunter’s ‘youngest’ child project is still finding a firm footing in pacing and the balance of spoken word and comedic routine, which right now leans a touch more into the cabaret than the poetic. There’s no real issue in this, especially if looking to make the next generation of spoken word, though the spacing between spoken word elements slows the pacing, but come in assertive droves towards the finale.

Stupid Sexy Poem Show, in many ways, is the future voice of the medium of spoken word. Hunter’s ability to side-step the boundaries and channel a clear and distinctive voice through the audience is encouraging. And what certainly helps, a great deal, is the star quality of their performance and writing and an influentially charismatic stage presence to flow over the bumps in the show. Whatever the future is going to look like, it’s likely not what you expected. And that’s precisely what we need.

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