The Roundhouse has been proudly championing spoken word performers in the UK for a decade and The Last Word festival is a flagship of its annual programme.

Now in its 11th year, the festival has spotlighted exceptional voices, topical work, and discovered emerging talent as it celebrates the power of words through storytelling, poetry, theatre, podcast recordings, film screenings and gigs.

It runs this year at the Chalk Farm venue from 6-30 June and includes the Roundhouse Poetry Slam final - the biggest event of its kind in the country for ages 18-25.

Ham & High: Jessica Fatoye's play Does Your Heart Have Bone is performed as part of the festivalJessica Fatoye's play Does Your Heart Have Bone is performed as part of the festival (Image: The Roundhouse)

Past festival performers have included Jack Rooke, Holly McNish, Kae Tempest, The Guilty Feminist Deborah Frances-White, and young people's laureate Caleb Femi.

This year's line up draws writers from diverse backgrounds and experiences and includes Inua Ellams, Tolly T, Isiah Hull, Jessica Fatoye, Rob Auton, and 15 writers from the Roundhouse Poetry Collective.

Poetry Slam heats take place in Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds and London ahead of the final on June 1 when poets battle it out for the cash prize and coveted title.

There's also a RAP, or Rhythm And Poetry party, where 10 writers share work with songs linked to their poetry.

And there's work in progress comedy The Eyes Open and Shut Show from Rob Auton.

26-year-old Mancunian Isiah Hull has supported the likes of Kae Tempest, Skepta and Sampha and explores the extremes of self in electric live performances that combine honest lyricism with expansive, raw instrumentals.

Barbershop Chronicles playwright Inua Ellams runs multiple sessions including a Twitter Poetry Workshop - a mass participation real time creative writing exercise - and one on Blackout Poetry, where text is redacted from a book, newspaper, or magazine to reveal hidden verse.

He's also holding a 'search party' where he performs a poem or extract of his work prompted by audience suggestions.

Also on the bill is writer Tolani Shoneye, (or Tolly T) best known as one half of The Receipts Podcast, who will share how she started out and became one of the most well-known voices in podcasting.

Ham & High: Disabled performer Jamie Hale who asks what if the NHS decides it costs too much to keep you alive in Quality of Life is Not A Measurable OutcomeDisabled performer Jamie Hale who asks what if the NHS decides it costs too much to keep you alive in Quality of Life is Not A Measurable Outcome (Image: Courtesy of The Roundhouse)

Plays include Tife Kusoro's exploration of Black girlhood, super stardom and a mysterious mass disappearance in Last Black Girl on Earth, and disabled performer Jamie Hale who asks what happens if the NHS decides it costs too much to keep you alive? in Quality of Life is Not A Measurable Outcome?

Their play in English and BSL is a multi media work fusing poetry, monologue, film, and theatre about a profoundly disabled person who survived critical illness, but is faced with the loss of a care package that keeps them alive.

Jack Prideaux, Senior Producer at the Roundhouse said: "For over a decade The Last Word Festival has provided a platform for some of the most exciting voices in poetry, theatre, music, podcasting, film, comedy and beyond to celebrate the power of words; their ability to bring us together, highlight our unique perspectives and reflect the world we live in.

"Featuring established names alongside remarkable emerging artists, the festival invites audiences to participate in thought-provoking, joyful, challenging, inspiring conversation and storytelling."