Show Ponies exploded onto the Aotearoa literary scene for National Poetry Day 2019, in an event hailed by Ben Fagan of Motif Poetry as “a watershed moment for poetry in performance in Wellington.” The project has since performed sell-out shows at Verb Festival, Featherston Booktown, Brisbane Writers Festival, New Zealand Young Writers Festival, and Samesame But Different with Auckland Pride.

Led by Freya Daly Sadgrove, the concept of Show Ponies is simple: it’s poetry with the volume right up and the vibes off the scale. Aotearoa’s most engaging live poets perform their work in outrageous costumes, amongst bright lights, beats and backup dancers. The project puts poetry at the centre of a carefully orchestrated medley of dance, music, and theatre, and the result is freakin electrifying.