Famous Last Words

In Famous Last Words, five contestants or provocateurs attempt to win their way into the heart of our master of ceremonies, Sara Bynoe, through games designed to test their literary and comedic merit. With the assistance of the audience and her trusty sidekick Uni the Unicorn , our master of ceremonies will decide who performs best while dolphining a balloon on their nose; whose picture of a puppy most looks like a famous poet and whose poem directed at another panelist is most provocative. There are 25 potential events so no two shows are the same.

For our debut of Famous Last Words New Westminster we are very proud to present poets Marlo Browne, Roger Blenman, Babaloluwa (Lolu) Oyedele, Neko Smart and SJ Valiquette.

Marlo Browne is a Barbadian poet and author who has self-published four books. All books are available on amazon and the UEL marketplace on Granville Island in British Columbia. The first three books are also located at Bean Around Books in Maple Ridge while his fourth book can be found at Massy Books in Vancouver. Some of his books can also be found in Well Read Books, Word Wealth and Windows eat Books on Nanaimo. They can also be found at The Creative Bookworm in Langley City while his book is now in Surrey Libraries.

His first book, entitled Pictorial: Writing for Stars that want to return to Constellations was published in 2019 and received 5 star reviews on Amazon. His second, entitled Marlo Browne presents: The Young and Gifted, published in 2021, also received 5 star reviews. His third, entitled Thoughts of a Mature Mind was published and released in 2022. His fourth and latest book, entitled The Life and Times of a Poet was published and released on August 28th 2023 and has also received a 5 star review on Amazon.

Marlo is a very versatile poet who has been featured many times online. His work spans several topics such as social injustice, mental well-being love, race, health disorders and many more. Marlo has also performed at several open mics and events in Langley, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Surrey, White Rock, Granville Island, North and East Vancouver. Marlo has also participated twice in author showcases at the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library and he also did a reading at the Strathcona branch.

He also performed at this year’s Verses Festival at the Wise Hall in Vancouver. He also performed at the ACCESS festival in Surrey in August 2024. His business, A Pint of Knowledge, was also nominated in the best solopreneur category at the Black Excellence Awards in 2023. As a film maker, he is the co-author of the short film ‘I’m Sorry’ which placed second in the short film category at the Langley City Film Festival. He is also a member of several literary associations such as the Delta Literary Arts Society and the Federation of BC Writers. Marlo is also the current Poetry slam champion of Da Luv Jones Poetry Showcase and was a part of the inaugural Da Luv James Book Festival.

Roger R. Blenman is an Afro-Caribbean-Canadian poet, novelist (Dead’er), playwright. He enjoys travel, languages, and outdoorsy stuff. He spends too long wondering if he spends too long wondering. He makes a living teaching science and coaching adults.

Babaloluwa (Lolu) Oyedele

Meris Goodfellow has traipsed the theatrical trails for eons, circling ever closer to the fey and wild skylands.

Channeling Uni is an honourable inner sanctum to breach, especially alongside such wild and amazing creatures as grace the stage with this production.

You may also recognize Meris from backstage at some show you were in, OG Dusty Flowerpot productions, smashing bronze with Gamelan Gita Asmara, or wondering why that person walking on Commercial Drive has such an epic RBF.

Neko Smart is a recent graduate of UBC’s BFA Creative Writing program. As 2020 Victoria City Youth Poet Laureate, they emphasized the importance of cultivating open dialogue about mental health in order to reduce stigma and increase safety, particularly for youth. They carry this value with them in all their artistic and leadership endeavours: as a member of the organizing committee for the 2020/2021 Victorious Voices youth arts festival, as a member of the Wordplay poetry workshop facilitation roster, and as former slam coordinator for the UBC Slam Poetry Club.

They were a finalist in the 2023 and 2024 Canadian Individual Poetry Slams. They are currently sitting as Van Slam Champion.

Sara Bynoe is an actor, writer, and comedy show producer who is best known for her shows Teen Angst Night, Say Wha?! Readings of Deliciously Rotten Writing, and for appearing in commercials as the frazzled woman in need of a product.

The Georgia Straight called her “charismatic” and the WestEnder twice included her in their list of Vancouver’s funniest people. Her comedy shows have made many lists of “things you should do tonight” and toured to Toronto, Seattle, Portland and the UK. She has appeared at the All Jane No Dick Comedy Festival, The Vancouver Comedy Festival, Verses Festival, The Vancouver Poetry Festival, The PuSh Festival, The Olio Festival, Latitude Festival, and Bumbershoot.

She is a graduate of the acting program at Studio 58 and has an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London. Her column The Environmentalist from Hell appears in Asparagus Magazine where she writes about sustainability and environmental matters. She recently returned to professional theatre in a run of Mom’s The Word at Theatre North West.

SJ Valiquette (she/ they) is a poet, photographer, actor, arts administrator, and apiratist from Treaty 7 Territory. They have been a member of the spoken word community for over a decade competing at CIPS and the Bigfoot Regional Slam. She has studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Banff Centre for the Arts, the University of Victoria, and the Honeybee Centre.

Their next collection knick-knacks/ things no one is saying is coming out in 2024 with Nightingale and Sparrow. She will absolutely help you set up beehives in your backyard.