It will be something different in terms of entertainment as Kyle Markewich performs what he is terming a 'Poetry Grind'.
"This is something I've come up with myself," he said. "It's me performing poetry not reading it."
Markewich, who took his high school in Yorkton, and is now employed with the Yorkton Film Festival after achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts, said the 'Grind' has him memorizing 28 poems, which will then "be performed in front of the audience."
The night of poetry will take place Friday, Aug. 26, at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in the city.
Markewich said the venue is ideal with its ongoing support of art and live music, adding he does believe "I'm the first spoken word performer to come to 5th I'm really excited to perform there."
The performance will be interactive in the sense those in attendance will be given a poem menu, and will be able to order the poems they wish to hear, said Markewich.
It's the performance element that sets what Markewich is planning from the usual poetry reading. He likened it to the difference between a comedian reading a joke, and one giving a stand-up performance.
"It's a pretty big difference, but it's pretty simple too Ultimately you can enjoy the poems a lot more," he said. " The audience can feel the works in a better way."
The performance aspect is a natural for Markewich who has performed with Globe Theatre, and was an actor in the first two editions of Yorkton's Shakespeare in the Park production.
The poems range from Shakespeare to Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson, generally falling into the category of works which have held Markewich's interest over the years.
As an example he pointed to 'The Bull Moose' by Canadian poet Alden Nowlan.
"I studied it in high school," said Markewich, adding it's one of the things which stuck with him from his school years.
Markewich said he recognizes part of what engages the audience with the show is the question "can he do it Will he drop the ball and fail."
As a performer that is a challenge he relishes, and has been memorizing the poems since early July in preparation.
"I'm very confident it's going to be a wonderful show," he said.
Markewich said he has been to poetry readings in coffeehouses in the past, but wanted to put his own twist on the idea.
"I'm really excited to be doing it," he said, adding he believes with a growing interest in live theatre in Yorkton it is time for something such as his Poetry Grind.
If successful Markewich said he would "love to take it on the road," but added that is not the focus at present. "I'm just wanting to get through this one," he noted.
