BBC Words First

Contains Strong Language and BBC Introducing present the Words First Talent Showcase, celebrating the most talented emerging poets and spoken word artists from across the UK, hosted by Khadijah Ibrahiim. BBC Words First showcases selected talent from the 2023 cohort, with workshop support from Apples and Snakes and Young Identity. Congratulations to the eight selected to…

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PLOT17 @ Barnsley Garden Party

A hip-hop garden party for ages 7-11

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BBC Contains Strong Language

BBC Words First

If you’re a spoken word artist, a rapper, an MC, poet or performer – Words First is for you. This opportunity is now closed – we will update this page when we know more. BBC Introducing are collaborating with Contains Strong Language, the BBC’s festival of poetry and performance, to find the best and emerging…

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Wordcup2023: The Showcase

WORDCUP2023: The Showcase Catch the freshest new talent from across the country, as young poets aged 11 – 17 share their words in the final showcase of WORDCUP2023. Following a series of workshops back in their home towns, the teams have created team poems each that they will perform as part of this national showcase….

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Managers Match: WORDCUP2023

A stellar line-up of some of the UK’s finest poets who have been coaching the young poets for the WORDCUP national showcase. This event will be hosted by Jacob Sam-La Rose, and headlined by WORDCUP celebrator and Manchester’s Queen of Poetry Shirley May.  Featuring: Yomi Sode, Muneera Pilgrim, Reece Williams, Antosh Wojcik, Khadijah Ibrahiim &…

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All Stars

All Stars gig – evening event Doors 7pm, event starts 7.30pm To round up the Apples and Snakes Takeover, we’re hosting an absolutely stellar gig in the Main Space. Expect to see music, poetry and performances. We have newly commissioned works and a couple of extra surprises to throw at you. This event is included…

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Access Rider Workshop

Access riders are becoming more and more of a ‘thing’. But what do they look like? How do you write one? What happens next when you send one? Access riders are, quite rightly, becoming more and more of a ‘thing’. They allow performers with access needs – for example, someone with a disability, a chronic…

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Word’s A Stage 2.0

Word’s A Stage 2.0 is Apples and Snakes’ poetic performance development programme aimed at poets aged 18-25. The aim is to bring together emerging talent from this younger demographic to give them the skills and confidence to move forward in their writing and poetry careers. Over the course of eight online workshops participants will work…

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A man on stage, smiling with excitement. Words read Apples and Snakes Takeover

Apples and Snakes Takeover

Thank you to everyone who came 🙂 An epic all-dayer in celebration of 40 years of supporting the UK’s finest spoken word talent. We know this event is over, but we’re keeping it up for a week because we’re so proud and happy about the event we pulled together. We just wanted to stay in…

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Poetic Retreat at Lyra Festival

A one-day event for poets at all stages to refresh, reboot and connect. The retreat offers creative workshops, discussions, mentoring and practical advice to reenergise your practice, soothe your soul and leave you with a new spring in your step. Led by acclaimed poetry and wellbeing facilitators. Last year’s retreat sold out, and although places…

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Two older women in circles with a pink and purple overlay. Words read 'on our own terms'.

On Our Own Terms

‘On Our Own Terms’ is an in-person workshop of poetry-writing and portrait photography for women in our 60s and 70s, with spoken word poet Leah Thorn and photographer Anita McKenzie. This inclusive and dynamic workshop challenges our invisibility as older women by placing us centre stage on our own terms. It unites us across our…

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#ThisIsA(Rural)Poet

Apples and Snakes present #ThisIsARuralPoet. An hour of poetry and conversation exploring how growing up in rural Britain impacts your work when your cultural heritage has deep roots elsewhere.  How does growing up in rural Britain impact a poet’s work when their cultural heritage has deep roots elsewhere? Poetry organisation Apples and Snakes presents an…

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A group of poets, sitting on chairs in a row, looking at each other and laughing

Exploring Joy

Exploring Joy with Navkiran Kaur Mann Joy as an Act of Resistance!  How do we harness creativity to experience joy on the daily? How poetry can be a vehicle and a reminder that we all have the right to enjoy life to the fullest.  Join poet Navkiran Kaur Mann to tap into your own sense…

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A tree and a crane against the night sky. The tree and crane are bright yellow

Seven Poet Trees

Seven Poet Trees A performance installation co-directed by Ackroyd & Harvey and Zena Edwards with sound by Isa Suarez. Under the night sky and in the shadow of a big tree held high from a crane, young people and residents of Lewisham will perform poems exploring the connection between human beings, trees and the people…

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SPIN: About The Earth

SPIN: About The Earth

Spoken Word and Rap in Libraries Across Lewisham Join Apples and Snakes’ eco-‘word’- warriors for a fun-filled 45 minutes of raps, poems, stories & workshops about planet Earth, its creatures, the environment and how we can all help to make sure we keep it green. Featuring superstar storyteller Jan Blake, playful poets Adam Kammerling (22 Oct only) & Simon Mole (24/29/30…

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A group of poets of all race, age and gender in a blue and pink tint.

Hit The Ode XL

An XL line up for an XL Hit The Ode A little bit tongue in cheek, this Hit The Ode is coming at you with an enormous line up. Apples and Snakes has now entered it’s 40th year – XL for all the decades (or more so because it’s 40 in roman numerals. See what…

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Image of a man with shorts a shirt and a backwards cap standing on stage with his arm raised

Plot17 at Southbank

PLOT17 is a mobile block party traveling the world raising awareness, inspiring action and the message of ‘making things green’. Join underground hip-hop hero Kenny Baraka AKA The Green Man and his DJ, Conrad Kira as they work to save the environment one sick track at a time. PLOT17 is a mobile block party traveling…

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a collage of young adults of all genders on a yellow background

BBC Words First: Contains Strong Language

BBC 1Xtra: Words First Talent Showcase BBC Contains Strong Language and BBC 1Xtra present the Words First Talent Showcase, celebrating the most talented poets and spoken word artists aged 18-30 from across the UK. Special guest:  John Bernard and BBC 1Xtra’s Swarzy. Words First finalists 2022 Billie Meredith Eve Atkinson Charlie Staunton Indira Toussaint Annaliese…

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Image of three poets with blue and pink overlay with the Jawdance and bloomsbury logos

Jawdance X Bloomsbury

Jawdance comes to Bloomsbury Festival. This is your chance to own the stage alongside some of the biggest names in spoken word. An institution of the London spoken word scene, Jawdance comes to Bloomsbury Festival bringing you acclaimed feature acts alongside up-and-coming artists in poetry and music. The notorious Jawdance open mic is for poets,…

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A grey haired man in a green shirt, leans against a cream banister against a pink wall

Apples and Snakes X The Verb

Apples and Snakes X The Verb: 40 years and Counting This special edition of The Verb, hosted by Ian McMillan, celebrates the contribution and impact of Black poets on shaping the UK spoken word poetry scene over the past 40 years. From poetry legends Benjamin Zephaniah, Malika Booker* and Birmingham’s Poet Laureate Casey Bailey. Apples…

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A woman look slyly to the side, with dark hair tied up high and a black and white stripy top

Bad Poetry with Helen Seymour

This event has now sold out. We will be holding a waiting list, please contact [email protected] to join this. If you can no longer attend, please let us know on this email address as well so we can pass on the place to someone on this waiting list. If you want to be good at…

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A bald man in a leather jacket and patterned top, stands outside a regency style London building

Performance for Queer Poets

Pride month may be over for another year but we aren’t done yet. If you are an LGBTQ+ poet based in London, that would like to spend some time with other LGBTQ+ poets based in London, working on perfecting your performance skills for that one poem about your experiences as an LGBTQ+ person (based in…

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Image of a man with shorts a shirt and a backwards cap standing on stage with his arm raised

Plot17 at Family Dayz

PLOT17 is a mobile block party traveling the world raising awareness, inspiring action and the message of ‘making things green’. Join underground hip-hop hero Kenny Baraka AKA The Green Man and his DJ, Conrad Kira as they work to save the environment one sick track at a time. PLOT17 is a mobile block party traveling…

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Blue and yellow filtered image of poet Kayo looking to camera with the Apples and Snakes Jaw Dance logo in the bottom corner

Jawdance: May 2022

Join us at Richmix for the best spoken word night in town Our usual host Yomi Sode is back at Richmix this May, bringing you some incredible spoken word performances from: Kayo Chingonyi is the author of Kumukanda, which won the Dylan Thomas Prize and a Somerset Maugham Award and was shortlisted for the Costa…

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