Loud Poets

Aug 12 2025 | By Marion Geoffray More

★★★★★ Wordplay masterclass

Scottish Storytelling Centre (Venue 30): Fri 1 & 8, Thurs 14 & 21 Aug 2025
Review by Marion Geoffray

In the world of spoken word in Scotland, Loud Poets have become something of an institution, celebrating high-calibre poetry in all its forms while continually pushing the boundaries of live performance since 2014.

Kevin McLean, Mark Gallie, and Katie Ailes have been regular fixtures at the Fringe, but this year’s brand-new show – debuting at the Scottish Storytelling Centre – seeks to demonstrate the full range of what poetry can achieve. They explore the art form’s potential with both flair and imagination, through a clever blend of spoken word, live music, guest appearances and audience interaction.

Kevin McLean, Mark Gallie, Katie Ailes and Jack Hinks. Pic: Gilad Zinman.

The trio are accompanied by bard extraordinaire Jack Hinks, whose live musical compositions, written specifically for this production, add a rich, textured soundscape. Together, they demystify the genre, stripping away tired clichés and reimagining poetry as something immediate, dynamic, and resonant.

Gallie’s opening act cheekily warns us that poets cannot be trusted, yet he has the packed auditorium hanging on his every word almost instantly. The first half of the performance is unrelenting in pace, seamlessly shifting from intimate solo pieces to exuberant double acts—McLean and Ailes complement each other brilliantly in their verbal jousting—and lively participatory segments that prove poetry can be a truly communal experience.

adept language puppeteers

The three Loud Poets, adept language puppeteers, tug at heartstrings one moment only to hit with a punchline the next. Topics range from awkward teenage years, to heartfelt tributes; from loved ones, political commentary and Dungeons & Dragons all the way to tales of modern anxieties.

Kevin McLean and Katie Ailes. Pic: Gilad Zinman.

When Doric-speaking guest poet Lucy Beth takes to the stage, you can hear a pin drop as they embark on a captivating ballad in the Scottish wilderness. Their delivery is both soft and rugged, their body language graceful and controlled perfectly accenting their storytelling.

This is truly a multi-sensory production, the diversity of voices and accents adds further texture, drawing the audience into a mosaic of perspectives and worlds. A special mention must go to the simple yet striking lighting design, which subtly frames the performers and enhances the words without distracting from it. Projections are cleverly used to visually enrich the live stories and make the spoken words linger a little longer in the imagination.

a love letter to language(s)

Whether you like poetry or not, is beside the point—this show is a love letter to language(s) and human connection. It’s impossible not to be swept up in the sheer vitality of these performers at the top of their game. In this joyous smorgasbord of words, there truly is something for everyone.

Running time: One hour and 15 minutes (no interval).
The Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow), 43-45 High Street EH1 1SR (Venue 30).
Fri 1 & 8; Thurs 14 & 21 August 2025.
Selected dates: 8.30pm.
Guests: Thurs 14: Dean Tsang; Thurs 21: Kate Ireland.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.

I Am Loud website: www.iamloud.co
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