As genial interviewer Damian Barr observed, the two talented early-career writers up on the Charleston stage had so many accolades that hearing their prizes and awards listed aloud as they were introduced made them both blush.

Kate Tempest writes plays and performance poetry, and stepped away from the formal podium to perform a section from Hold Your Own, her poetry cycle about sex-changing Greek tragedy prophet Tiresias.

As she moved through the shadows, reaching out to beat time to her incantation, the character’s physical transformation wracking her body, the power of the spoken word silenced the audience who listened, rapt, then burst into extended applause.

Hearing these creators performing live in such an intimate setting brought their surprising turns of phrase to life: Tempest’s Zeus watches helplessly as Hera blinds Tiresias in a fit of rage, his response an incoherent stuttering “Mate – aw, mate.”

Irish writer Colin Barrett read slowly, pausing to allow the black humour to emerge from Bait, his battle-of-the-sexes tale of small-town pool sharks.

Interrupted by extended mooing from outside the barn, he observed: “That’s a healthy cow. It’s very appreciative.”

“It’s the climax of the festival!” Barr interjected, to widespread hysteria.