17 April 2025
On a historic evening twenty years in the making, Aditya Narayan last night won the prestigious 2025 Roundhouse Poetry Slam, in partnership with Taylor Wessing.
Aditya, born and raised in India and now based in Edinburgh, was one of ten highly-talented young performers to make it through to the 2025 Slam Final on Thursday night in the Roundhouse’s iconic main space.
As well as impressing a stellar judging panel to be crowned champion, Aditya captured the attention of those watching in person and online to also win the popular Audience Vote. Londoner Shermya Modupe finished as the overall runner-up and Leeds student Ellie Rose Amit placed third.
A decade on from his own Slam Final success, Caleb Femi returned to the Roundhouse as part of an illustrious three-strong judging panel which included singer-songwriter Mahalia and rapper and writer Akala. The night was hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Vick Hope and award-winning poet Toby Campion.
Alongside the Slam champion title, Aditya takes home a cash prize of £2,500 following his two wins, a professional performance or commission opportunity via the Roundhouse, professional development support and mentoring from an award-winning poet.
Overall and Audience Vote winner Aditya Narayan said: “I am in disbelief. This feels similar to the feeling I had when I walked onto the stage for the first time – I was still in disbelief having qualified for the finals in the first place. It’s like that feeling but ten times more compounded. I have this incredible piece of validation for my passion and my heart and I can already tell that it’s going to change the course of my life.
“I hope that I can take my poetry from Scotland, where I originally performed and where I have lived for the last five years, to England and to London. I hope that I can bring my stories and the story of my cultural roots in India to the UK and tell more of my stories to the world. I hope I can find more people like me but also unlike me who connect with what I say. I hope to be an important contributing piece to the world that is poetry.”
Runner-up Shermya Modupe said: “It was phenomenal. I felt like I was living in a dream the entire night. It was so lovely and great to meet all the other poets – that was gorgeous. I wish I could do it all over again. It felt electric on that stage and when you step out you feel ready to go. It means so much to me to come and do this on such a big stage. It is mainly about the community and I feel like I have made some really good friends.”
Luke Callaghan, partner at Taylor Wessing, who announced the winner on the night said: “As a forward-thinking law firm committed to meaningful progress and responsible practice, our core values align closely with the Roundhouse’s mission. Witnessing this year’s Slam finalists was both moving and engaging – their powerful reflections on contemporary social and political issues highlighted an extraordinary level of poetic talent. We’re proud to continue our partnership with the Roundhouse, helping to provide even more exceptional wordsmiths with a platform to share their voices year after year.”
In 2025, the Roundhouse Poetry Slam is a part of Roundhouse Three Sixty, a brand-new festival of music and culture which runs until the end of April.
The 20th edition of the Slam saw a record number of entries from poets and performers aged 18-25, with 73 invited to perform at seven heats across the UK and online. The Final was broadcast live on the Roundhouse YouTube channel by young creatives participating in the Roundhouse Behind the Lens course in live TV broadcast and content creation.
Renowned for showcasing the best in emerging spoken word, the Roundhouse is committed to providing a platform for the most vital young voices to share their thoughts, experiences and perspectives.
The finalists of the 2025 Roundhouse Poetry Slam were:
Aditya Narayan (Liverpool heat)
Ellie Rose Amit (Leeds heat)
Shermya Modupe (London heat)
Sky Frances (London heat)
Thomas Egbujie (London heat)
Chloe Giles (Bristol heat)
Nathalia Khawand (Online heat)
Isobel (Biz) Bond (Leeds heat)
Astrid Solace (Bristol heat)
Flo Cornall (Online heat)
Picture credit: John Williams