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These are extracts from May’s Snakebaskets. Sign up here to receive the whole message!

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From London Coordinator Russell
elvis_100x100After a relatively quiet April, we’re back with a vengeance. Poetry, it seems, is bustin’ out all over. So what’s happening? Well, we’ll be back at the Canal Cafe in Little Venice again on the 16th, this time with that tartan toerag Elvis McGonagall. And over in Islington, the lovely Helen East will be pounding the pavements and propping up the bars, taking folk-stories back to where they belong (i.e: da people) – lots of dates for that, see below.

Yellow-Show-100x100On the 22nd, Jawdance will be opening its arms to those members of society that local newspapers like to call ‘budding bards’. Form an orderly queue, please. Getting the month off to a disturbingly odd close, we’ll be presenting Rob Auton’s Yellow Show on the 28th – in which the surreal wordsmith sings the praises of his favourite xanthic pigment. Well, not literally sing. We hope. All this, plus a SPIN on the 25th (part of Southbank Centre‘s always excellent London Literature Festival) and a Writing Room on the 29th with Malika Booker. Gosh, what a varied month. Aren’t we fantastic?

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From West Midlands Coordinator Bohdan
HtO_175x200Hello all! May! Things are growing. Things are blooming. Things are expanding. Oh, and nature is doing its thing too, or so I’m told. I wouldn’t know I’ve been busy marveling at all the poetry sprouting all around the region. A good place to take a look at West Mids talent will be the Artist Reveal Yourself Festival – if you want an overview of what’s been brewing in the region, the two free weekend sessions featuring up-and-coming and established poets are your answer. On Thursday 16th Hit the Ode continues its triumphant march, of course. You may or may not know that we have started filming the nights with an eye on editing a documentary. The short film will be as much about the audience as the guest artists. Show up if you want to be immortalized!

After a month-long break, Wordsmiths & Co. returns on Monday 20th with a wonderfully varied line-up. If you want to refresh your memories from previous editions, check out the series website – wordstmithsand.co. And finally – Poets’ Place is back, in the cozy and welcoming Yorks Bakery Café – that’s on the 4th and 18th.The sessions are going strong, and remain true to the night’s motto: write poetry. Share poetry. Eat biscuits! Join us live and/or online at facebook.com/placeforpoets. See you very soon!

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From North East Coordinator Kirsten
Hi everyone, here’s your exciting May right here… It’s Late Shows month of course, so we’re shifting Scratch Tyne to Saturday 18th and becoming part of Commercial Union House’s evening of wonderment. Expect roaming, floating and site specific poetics in amongst the theatre and visual art on every floor.

HC_100x100Then join us at Jibba Jabba on Thursday 23rd to see gorgeous Birmingham-based poet Jodiann Bickley, just one of the loveliest performers around. At 1pm on Thursday 9th you can hear the next of our radio commissions, the superb Bob Beagrie performing with bespoke music from his album Disendcha – listen online at basic.fm. Sound good to you?

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From South East Coordinator Pete
Hello, how much fun was April’s 451? An enthused audience heard, saw and experienced James Barnes, Megan Beech and Niall O’Sullivan following a top quality open mic. In the words of Megan: “Thanks for a great gig, best atmosphere I’ve seen in a long while.” And Niall said “I had a great time and the two other feature poets on the bill made me genuinely nervous at having to follow them.” And the audience said ‘Yay! and ‘Whoot!’ and clapped a lot.

BigTalk-Logo-100x100To May: on Friday 10th there’ll be an Archimedes Screw Showcase in Southampton, featuring World Slam Champ Harry Baker and then in Margate we’ll be listening to Stewart Taylor and Ray Antrobus amongst other voices at Big Talk on Friday 31st. All event details are below. Also look out for a special youth version of the annual Brighton wordfest Poets v MCs called Bite! featuring Dizraeli on Wednesday 29th. And a final word of congratulations to young Oxford poet and member of the One Way Ticket team, Azfa Ali, who won the 2013 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition for young writers.

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From South West Coordinator Gina
May_100x100It’s May! I’m delighted to welcome Forked back on the 23rd with outstanding new-comers, hysterical Poetry Bingo and the gorgeous Salena Godden, it’s going to be a fantastic ride, jump on board! Get your tickets now for Folly on 6th June, a beautiful spoken word and live music score from Sally Jenkinson.

This month, The Abyss Theatre Company present The Roving Theatre Poetry Festival and a new production Lucifer Saved! It’s an exciting 3 week Theatre and Poetry residency in Exeter, involving tons of Poetry performances, workshops and discussions, all with regional poets and supported by Apples and Snakes, details can be found here. Cheerio!

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These are extracts from April’s Snakebaskets. Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting spoken word stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

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These are extracts from April’s Snakebaskets. Sign up here to receive the whole message!

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From London Coordinator Russell
Apr-100x100I can never get used to early Easters. I missed Pancake Day because it was so early. Now I have to wait a whole year for the next one. And what about Easter Monday coinciding with April Fools’ Day? What sort of message is that sending out? Anyway, to April! Our work with Heart ‘n’ Soul continues with Allsorts on the 4th, and then we help Occupy Platform on the 6th and 7th. More on those below. Later in April, Jawdance continues to fine-tune itself into the well-oiled poetical juggernaut that we always knew it would be. It even has a new logo. But, of course, it’s not about marketing, it’s about poetry [can I say that, marketing department?], and we’re always looking for new poets and new poetry-films – so come along and add your artistry to the, ahem, ‘rich mix’ on Wednesday 24th!

deadpoetsThe Writing Room continues with Mark Grist and Mixy (AKA Dead Poets) on Thursday 25th – so if you’re aged 18-25, make sure you sign up – more info on the Facebook Page! SWITCH reaches its heady culmination on Friday 29th (also at Rich Mix) where poetry and climate-change finally swim into one another’s ken. Be there. A smattering of things to pique your interest. Oh, and we’ve got some hefty projects up our sleeve for later in the year. Can’t say any more – I’ve said too much already.
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From West Midlands Coordinator Bohdan

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Hello all! April is the cruelest month, they say, but like many pieces or received wisdom, I find this an unlikely proposition.. Let’s see if we can undermine this. It shouldn’t be too hard: Hit the Ode continues with another powerful line-up on the 18th, include a collective, a multi-talented film/poetry artist, and an Australian slam champion. Level UP, Birmingham’s unique poetry night for young people, returns for a second instalment on the 26th. This time, it will feature the mighty Polarbear himself, alongside Dan Cullen and, well, possibly you, on the open mic. And Poets’ Place, now settled in the new venue, awaits your arrival with impatience on the 6th and 20th. And coffee.

Wordsmiths & Co. is taking a break this month. Don’t worry, we’ll be back in May and June with some more incredible line-ups, but in the meantime, why not visit the brand new website for the night? Go to www.wordsmithsand.co to relive some of the night’s most exciting moments on video or in podcast form.  Find out more about what’s going on in the region after the jump. See you very soon!

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From North East Coordinator Kirsten

Jean-Binta-Breeze-100x100It’s here! She’s here! It’s the big one!! Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze heads up a classy playlist at Radikal Words, on the 10th at Northern Stage – book tickets NOW to avoid disappointment! And, natch, there’s a great little Scratch Tyne on the 21st, all about the new poetry, with music from Miss Danby and Stephen Frizzle. Come as a punter to the performance bit, come as a poet to the rehearsal bit – and if you’re still not ready for the stage, come as a writer to our monthly Writing Poetry For Performance drop-in session!

Bob Beagrie heads up our series of guest performers at NeST Gallery in Barnard Castle with Inscapes, a workshop and performance based on connection with place on the 14th, and… Massively exciting news –the first broadcast of our new spoken word show on www.basic.fm, taking the Home Cooking brand onto the airwaves with a series of creative commissions cooked up at the kitchen tables of ten north east poets. First one from me, featuring tidbits from performers I have programmed over the last two years – tune in at 1pm on 11 April, with repeats every Wednesday.

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From South East Coordinator Pete

451_100x100In March we witnessed the birth of 8 new poetic pieces aimed at 8-11 year old audiences from emerging artists, as the One Way Ticket workshops lead by Rosie Harris came to fruition in Brighton. There was also a special event in Totton where Jonny Fluffypunk lead proceedings as the Headway Biscuit Poets presented their hard-bitten (see what I did?) words to a wrapt audience as part of a fundraising showcase. Voices were raised (in a good way) in Canterbury as Patience Agbabi shared her performing poetry wisdom to a full workshop, all of whom have promised to show their faces with their new-found skills at an event near you soon (possibly).

At March’s Archimedes Screw Showcase, James Barnes performed his way into a slot at April’s 451 - that’s on on the 15th! Joining him this month in Southampton is one-time poet-in-residence at Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Niall O’Sullivan, who will be tossing a few poetry balls into the air and serving aces at the audience, whilst Slambassadors champ Megan Beech tells it like it is and James Barnes battles with his prose/poetry/prose for your entertainment. It’ll be great, but I would say that; but then again I would say that, because it’ll be great.

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From South West Coordinator Gina

graphic 100x100Greetings fine fellow wordsmiths and word lovers. April is a month of contemplation for Apples and Snakes SW, with preparations well under way for a busy summer – though we do have The Rememberers coming to Arnolfini on the 27th! FORKED will be back in May, with a very exciting line up including Poetry Bingo (and yes, that means getting involved), local heroes and the utterly fantastic Salena Godden, who performed at the first ever FORKED many moons ago! Early June see’s the delightful and beautiful Folly debut in Devon, think smooth, witty stories perfectly complemented with gentle guitar. More to follow on this in next month’s Snakebasket

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These are extracts from April’s Snakebaskets. Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting spoken word stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

Read More

These are extracts from March’s Snakebaskets. Sign up here to receive the whole message!

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I don’t know about you, but I feel like things are constantly speeding up in the poetry world. Wouldn’t you agree? Take a look!

Level-Up-Logo-100x100The big news this month is the launch of Level Up on the 28th in collaboration with Write Down Speak Up and with the support of a grant from the Birmingham City Council. It’s a quality spoken word night aimed squarely at young people – if you’re aged between 12-19, this is your chance to make your voice heard… And to meet some of the country’s best performers. We haven’t published the full line-up yet, but because it’s you, I’ll give you some names: Polarbear. Hollie McNish. Dizraeli. Kate Tempest. Dreadlock Alien. I know, right? More good news: Poets’ Place returns in a new venue – so once again you can use your Saturday afternoons to chat, write, and share tips with fellow poets. That’s the 9th and 23rd!

Word-Smiths-175x200After a successful run of 7 workshops, Power Plant has come to an end. If you attend one or more of the sessions, I’d love to hear from you – tell me what you thought of them, whether you think the series was useful, and what you would like future masterclasses to focus on. Let’s make the second season even more powerful. And, er, plant-like, I guess. There’s more – a very special Hit the Ode on the 21st, Wordsmiths & Co. featuring Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze and Daljit Nagra on the 13th, and some real gems in the “recommended” section – but you can check all this yourself after the jump.

See you very soon!
Bohdan Piasecki, Apples and Snakes West Midlands Coordinator

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March is chock-full of events and opportunities from Apples and Snakes, so please excuse the less-than-ambling preamble and allow us to sprint straight to what’s happening this month.

Two workshops in March to put you on the path: this very Friday (the 1st) the masterful Steve Tasane leads our Poetry Toolkit masterclass in being a performance poet – and he should know, having made a living from it for 20 years. A month of back-to-basics, then, as we explore all things digital on the 28th with Charlie Dark and our very own Digital Marketer Dan Simpson at our Social Media for Beginners workshop.

WaS-100x100Event-wise, we’ve something for everyone this month. If you find yourself around St. Thomas’ Hospital on the 11th then you’re in for a treat, as Zena Edwards and Hollie McNish perform some Spoken Word at Lunch – sort of a Mother’s Day / International Women’s Day special, that one. We’re supporting new work too, with Si Mole and John Berkavitch scratching shows on the 15th at that fancy new Culture Space in Canada Water, before The Word’s a Stage on the 20th at the Gallery Café sees four exciting poets each perform a new 20 minute piece they’ve written for the occasion. Is that enough newness?

thumb100x100No? Well how about our two participation projects, SPINE and SWITCH? If you (or someone you know!) are aged 12-19, you get to work with Malika Booker and be part of Vauxhall Voices – that’s SPINE! As for SWITCH, 15-18 year olds write with Charlie Dark in bringing spoken word and climate change together. And then there’s The Writing Room for 16-25s on the 28th, this month led by Inua Ellams – find out more on our new Facebook page! All exciting projects – email Daisy (daisy@applesandsnakes.org) to find out more or to take part!

Two regular events at Rich Mix too: StoryCraft for the 2-5s is happening on the 18th, plus our big open-mic night Jawdance rounds off the month, this time hosted by Paula Varjack – usual day (4th Wednesday of the month = 27th), usual place (Rich Mix – but you know that by now, right?). And lastly, Apples and Snakes has been awarded a grant from the Clore Poetry and Literature Awards Duffield Foundation in order to deliver a series of storytelling and creative writing sessions to young patients at The Royal London Children’s Hospital in Whitechapel, together with Vital Arts, the arts organisation for Barts NHS Trust. Look out for that later this year!
Russell Thompson, Programme Coordinator for London

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This March a spoken-word spring is … er …springing, with performance poetry events popping their heads above the soil all over the place like bright little croci. February’s 451 was packed out (apologies to those who turned up and couldn’t get in) and rocked to the sound of the open mikers, the Fairbridge Collective, Stewart Taylor, Michael James Parker and Joelle Taylor.

BigTalk-Logo-100x100March brings a flurry of new events around the region alongside the regular open mics and slams; including a new slam in Tunbridge Wells and a veritable spring blossoming of spoken word in Southampton with both Mark Grist and Steve Larkin performing one-person shows and the Biscuit Poets of Totton performing their first ever poetry show with Jonny Fluffypunk on the 15th. There’ll also be Big Talk at the end of the month (the 29th!) in Margate with the brilliant Francesca Beard and young slam-champ Tom Sissons – see events below for details.

And don’t forget that the deadline for Glastonbury Festival poetry falls on 10th March, so if you haven’t sent your CV and samples in to them, get sending!
Pete Hunter, South East Coordinator

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Hello my lovelies! You won’t believe how much great stuff I’ve got for you …

Amuse_Bouche_100x100Amuse Bouche comes to Live Theatre on the 19th, so all you Tynesiders can get a free dose of specially selected spoken word from Andrew Sclater, Elaine Cusack and Rowan McCabe. Scratch Tyne on the 17th is a party with Material Magazine launching their March edition AND celebrating their first birthday – expect a new poets, live music from Miss Danby and Dead Peasants, and a truly bizarre and kitch post-show playlist if current Facebook track suggestions are anything to go by. And Black Light Engine Room on the 22nd gets their first dose of Apples support as we bring the wonderful Anita Govan down from her native Edinburgh to headline this Boro institution!

Nice. HEADS UP!  THE LEGENDARY DUB DIVA JEAN BINTA BREEZE M.B.E. PLAYS RADIKAL WORDS AT NORTHERN STAGE ON 10 APRIL, GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY AS IT WILL SELL OUT!!!
Kirsten Luckins, North East Coordinator

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May_100x100FORKED is back on the 21st with another great line up, including Exeter Poetry Fest 2012 Slam champion, Robert Garnham, young gun Ben Norris and Bristol poet Liz Greenfield. Keeping you on the edge of your seats the headline act is still to be confirmed! You will just have to turn up and find out who will complete your poetry plate this month, or keep an eye on facebook!

The culmination of Word Play is happening too - The Thing Is… showcase will see participants who have been work-shopping with poets over the last few months come together and demonstrate their new found writing and poetry skills, in an array of interesting ways.

Until next month!

Gina Sherman, South West Programme Coordinator

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These are extracts from March’s Snakebaskets. Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting spoken word stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

Read More

These are extracts from February’s Snakebaskets. Sign up here to receive the whole message!

From all at Apples and Snakes
Did you catch When Words Collide on BBC1Extra on Sunday? It’s a documentary about spoken word, including Kate Tempest, Scroobius Pip, Polarbear and more! Plus, clips from the Shake The Dust Finals. Essential listening – catch up on iPlayer HERE before it disappears! Lastly, Apples and Snakes is delighted to announce that we’ve secured funding for core costs from the Garfield Weston Foundation, enabling us to continue the work we do in England.

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From West Midlands Coordinator Bohdan
HtO_175x200Hello all! Ah, yes, February. I have always felt this was an under-appreciated month: it gets fewer days than the others, and has a gloomy and cold reputation. Let’s see what we can do to change this! A quick look at the line-ups for the upcoming events (after the jump) should be enough to convince you. We have Malika Booker leading a Power Plant workshop on Saturday 2nd. We have M’sieu Dam, the French slam champion, performing at Hit the Ode on Thursday 28th.

And we have Kate Tempest and Patience Agbabi sharing lyrics and thoughts at Wordsmiths & Co. on Monday 18th, one of the most exciting double bills I’ve had the pleasure to announce in this newsletter. One important piece of news: you will note that there are no dates for Poets’ Place this month. Not to worry: we are close to finding a new venue for our fortnightly meetings while the Central Library closes in preparation for their big move to new premises. For up-to-the-minute news, consider joining the Poets’ place FB group here! facebook.com/placeforpoets

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From London Coordinator Russell
JH100x100
Hello there. And in a packed programme this month, we bring you a whole host of verbal sweetmeats. There’s our Writing Room workshop for you under-26s on the 7th – this time featuring the dubtastic Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze. And, speaking of workshops, Steve Tasane will be presenting his perennially popular Performance Poetry Toolkit on 1st March. That’s open to everyone – even really really old people of, like, 27.

Jawdance will be [insert own dental pun] once again on Wednesday 27th, after a dynamic return in January. And elsewhere on the calendar, there are two shows featuring the poetic demimonde’s favourite speccy entertainer, John Hegley: the 13th at Lunch at Guy’s Hospital, and on the 28th at our new West London night Gongoozled at the Canal Cafe Theatre. Meanwhile, down in the badlands of Wimbledon, Alex Gwyther is presenting his new show Truce, which is great, and which you must catch before it’s snapped up by the sort of venues where you have to pay £5 for an ice-cream.

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From South East Coordinator Pete
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Hello, 451 in Southampton is coming up on Monday 18th and as well as featuring Joelle Taylor and Michael James Parker there will be local lad Stewart Taylor who gained the audience vote at January’s Archimedes Screw and a special performance by a group of young poets from the Princes Trust.

February is the shortest month, but it’s chock full of potential – look at the call out for poets to perform at Glastonbury 2013 in the opportunities section, and then there’s the chance to see rap-battling poet Mark Grist doing his one-man show in Southampton on 7th March (as well as entering the open poetry slam) and I mention that now because there’s currently an early-bird ticket offer available here. There’s also an emerging artist development programme starting up in the South East this month called One Way Ticket, in which writer Rosemary Harris will be mentoring a selection of young poets interested in developing shows for children.

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From South West Coordinator Gina
Shoot-from-the-Lip-175x200
This month starts with the amazing show: Pete The Temp Vs Climate Change plus some wonderful support acts. Wherever you reside in Devon, be sure to head to this multimedia extravaganza as it hits Exeter on the 4th and Barnstaple on the 5th with a bang.

I’m thrilled to have programmed a 2 night festival of spoken word and music, I am calling Shoot From The Lip! Taking place at the cozy and cool Bike Shed Theatre on the 22nd and 23rd of this month. Jam packed with regional and national spoken word artists and musicians you are sure to be entertained and astonished. See you there folks!

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From North East Coordinator Kirsten
big-heart-100x100We survived January! Brrr, well done us – and though it’s somehow still not spring yet, I have a lovely load of spoken word to warm your cockles this month. I’m very excited to bring you the truly lovely Richard Tyrone Jones, who has a Big Heart. His one-man show about his personal experience of heart failure is coming to the Lit & Phil the day after Valentine’s Day – just our little joke! Despite the serious subject matter, and the satisfyingly geeky science he explains, this is a funny and positive show featuring anecdote, poetry and animation. Well worth a night out, and the only spoken word show I know to be sponsored by the Wellcome Trust and reviewed by New Scientist.

Then of course we have Scratch Tyne on Sunday 17th, the free monthly helping of new poems and new poets eager for your feedback, this month featuring the launch of Material Magazine, so expect new faces and some music too. And finally we have Read Our Lips takes on Articulate on Wednesday 20th a special night of live lit and filmpoems at ARC, featuring Rowan McCabe, Jenni Pascoe, Allison Davies and Amir Darwish all talking about the purpose and future of poetry. Plus one lucky poet will win £100 in our Filmpoem Competition – those are being made on Saturday 2nd!

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These are extracts from February’s Snakebaskets. Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting spoken word stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

Read More

These are extracts from January’s Snakebaskets. Sign up here to receive the whole message!

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From London Coordinator Russell
Gosh, can you believe it’s 2013? When I was a lad, there was a TV programme called Space: 1999, in which glamorous aliens underwent full-body molecular transformation in the time in takes you or me to make a cup of tea. A neat link, there, to The Rememberers, Kenny Baraka’s spectacular sci-fi spoken-word show. Imagine if you knew all the accumulated knowledge of your ancestors. (Think how full your head would be: never again would you be able to say ‘Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.’). Imagine a streetwise New York storyteller projecting you into a future where such stuff is not only reality, but the very key to Earth’s survival. Stop imagining, and get yourself down – deep down – to The Old Vic Tunnels, London’s artiest catacombs between 15 – 18 January.

Who turned up for Jawdance in December? Y’ daft wazzock – that was Boxing Day. It returns to Rich Mix on Wednesday 23 January, with more open-mic slots than you can shake a mixed metaphor at. But you still have to arrive early to get one. Oh, and to help the bairns over their post-Christmas comedown, StoryCraft is back on Monday 21st. Any feedback, email me at the usual address, with ‘Space: 1999 – factual inaccuracies’ as the subject line.

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From West Midlands Coordinator Bohdan
Hello all! Welcome to the new year. See any changes? Broken any resolutions? Me, I’m looking forward to what promises to be another great year for poetry, whatever the world at large might decide to throw at us. Power Plant continues on its mission to turn us all into consummate poetry pros, this time with Tim Wills addressing the seemingly unanswerable question on Saturday 12th: how does one make a living as a poet? I expect this one to be pretty crowded, so book your (free!) place early.

The world’s first live poetry chat show, Wordsmiths & Co., has been booked for another run of three fantastic nights of poetry, and we dive straight in with a show on Monday 21st featuring Inua Ellams, Jess Green, Ruth Larbey and Chris McCabe. And trust me, we have more incredible poets lined up. Hit the Ode returns from its brief hibernation on Thursday 31st, with Brummie-as-can-be Al Hutchins, the wonderful Rosy Carrick, and Ireland’s own reluctant bard, Stephen James Smith, and the usual open mic slots and shenanigans.

I can now reveal that in March, we will launching a new series of events in collaboration with Write Down Speak Up Level Up! A special evening of poetry aimed at younger people, a place where they can listen to top poets from around the country and showcase their own writing and performance skills. Much more to come on this very, very soon – watch this space! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

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From South East Coordinator Pete
Hello, 2013 is upon us, an auspiciously good year for poetry methinks, but 2012 went out with a double bang as first Big Talk at the Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate drew it’s biggest audience to see Adam Kammerling and Paula Varjack, plus a very high standard open mic. Then at 451 in Southampton we saw Tim Clare, Katie Bonna and plenty of exciting new-to-451 voices fill a rapt audience with poetic joy.

Big Talk coming up on Friday 25 January witnesses the arrival in the South East of Mark Gwynne Jones from the North West, bringing a performance style that will probably burst out of the Tom Thumb and spill onto the Margate seafront. It’ll be well worth the journey. And don’t forget Archimedes Screw at The Art House in Southampton on Friday 11 January, where Rhian Edwards will be headlining and YOU get to vote on which local poet appears at February’s 451. See you there.

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From South West Coordinator Gina
Happy New Year my spoken word lovelies, January 2013 sees Apples and Snakes South West emerged in stage 1 of Word Play in Somerset. The project known as ‘maybe it’s…,’ will begin with the brilliant Rob Gee’s master-class on mental health and will help support our fantastic lead poets and shadows on their journey. Find out more at Take Art. FORKED will be back on Thursday 17 January to dazzle, demand and deliver you from post festive hangovers. The line- up is tasty, fresh and packed full of flavour! Get those tickets today and I’ll see you there forkedites!
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From North East Coordinator Kirsten

Hooray, it’s a shiny new year to play with! LOTS going on, we’re hitting the ground running – if you missed Simon Mole’s brilliant show Indiana Jones and the Extra Chair at Live last November, you can catch it again at ARC on  Tuesday 29 January, with a new supporting cast of young writers bringing you their unique takes on the highs and lows of families and food. Come and enjoy a meal with the show, and find out why every family meal needs a hero… The very next night, on Wednesday 30 January, we have a special guest at the fabulous Trashed Organ – double Farrago Slam champ Martin Daws will bring you musicality and lyricism as he explore life, nature, and who the hell we think we are anyway!

Plus as ever we will be bringing you the new poets and new poems of Tyneside at our monthly Scratch Club on Sunday 20 January, now with open slots for acoustic singer-songwriters to try out their work – free, fun, informal and open to all, so why not join us? EARLY HEADS-UP – we will be running our last ever 24-Hour FilmPoem Challenge on Saturday 2 February in Stockton – a must for anyone wanting to enter our superb filmpoem competition…

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These are extracts from January’s Snakebaskets. Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting spoken word stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

Read More

This is an extract from December’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

How did we get to December already? It’s been an exciting year and this month it’s all about planning for a fun-filled 2013.

Our partnership project Word Play, launches this month with an innovative and inclusive new workshop series in Somerset. We have a team of outstanding South West poets and shadows ready to deliver, keep your eyes peeled for that. If you’re an early bird you can get your tickets for January’s Forked which will see a special guest host as well as the delectable Lucy English and The Destroyers front man Paul Murphy rock your socks.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Gina Sherman
South West Programme Coordinator

This is an extract from December’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

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This is an extract from November’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes are celebrating turning 30! Look out for 30 Events in 30 Days taking place all over the country this November – or see the list here! Do also check out the blog, where some of our artists are writing about how they\ve worked with Apples and Snakes over the years.

In the South West, we have commissioned the beautiful language spinner that is Sally Jenkinson to create a poem based on our birthday theme: Poetry in 2042. Her poem, along with an array of other fantastic commissions will be performed at our sparkling birthday bash.

Come listen, dance and be delighted on the 8th with poetronica outfit The King’s Will and hip hop poet Jack Dean. Expect drum and bass beats, powerful spoken word and awesomely lyrical poems in the Studio at Queens Theatre, Barnstaple!

And come learn about Safeguarding for Arts Practitioners  in workshop settings at our partnership training event in Somerset on the 13th – important stuff!

Enjoy!

Gina Sherman

This is an extract from November’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

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This is an extract from September’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Hi there, South Westerners, how goes it?

I was going to start this month talking about the end of ‘summer’ but it’s glorious and bright here in the South West. You never know when it might turn though so it’s brollies and sunnies a go go! One thing you can rely on is some sumptuous spoken word antics seeing you through well into the Autumn season.

If you are in Bristol at the end of September, be sure to check out the Bristol Poetry Fest vs. Apples and Snakes Next Generation Slam. Here you will find the amazing voices of young poets from across the country competing against the crème de la crème of Bristol talent. Each poet will blow you away and although my loyalties are torn, being that Bristol is my region and is full of great spoken word people, I will be cheering for Hay Brunsdon, representing Apples and Snakes SW. Go Hay!

This week tickets go on sale for Exeter Poetry Festival, now in its third year and attracting some big names in literature, there will be plenty to see and do. Apples and Snakes have organized the Page to Stage workshop with Lucy English, which will equip you with the skills to get up and perform your poetry. If you are looking to bring a poem to life, meet like minded writers and give performing a go, get your ticket today.

Finally, thanks to all who attended last month’s FORKED, it was a brilliant evening – and judging from Facebook you all had a blast too. Keep up the comments and remember get your tickets for October’s FORKED at the B-Bar now!

Gina Sherman
Programme Coordinator

This is an extract from September’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

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This is an extract from August’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Summer is here at last! So to make the most of it, sing from the roof tops, dance in the streets, drink cider in a bus or at the very least put pen to paper and see what happens!

One such way to get writing is to attend an Apples and Snakes development workshop where you can work with the very best professional poets out there. If you’re a young poet or writer aged 14-25 interested in developing your skills make sure you register for a place  on our exciting workshop with Kat Francois this month.

If, like me, you are way past 25, do not despair for on that very same night Kat Francois will be taking to the FORKED stage for a special extended headline slot. Kat will showcase samples from her solo show Raising Lazarus as well as her brilliant back catalogue of performance pieces. She will be joined by the lovely Bard of Bath Thommie Gillow and cool cat Joe Selby.

So before I head off to the beach (yeah right!) a quick moment of reflection to all the wonderful young people who took part in the South West regional Shake The Dust project and well done Stoke Dameral for representing us so well in London.

Keep poetry live and loud!

Gina Sherman
South West Programme Coordinator

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader

This is an extract from August’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

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This is an extract from June’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

June! The long anticipated month is upon us. This is the month of our Shake The Dust regional final, taking place at The Barbican Theatre on Friday 15 June. Five youth slam teams from across Plymouth will be going head-to-head after months of practice and creativity with our poet coaches.

The teams are in for a treat I tell you, with a day packed full of workshops, open mic opportunities and plenty of rehearsal time before taking to the stage. We also have some fantastic regional and national judges, plus guest poets to tantalise and inspire!

The winning team will be heading to Southbank Centre for our Shake the Dust National Final Weekend, spread over three days from 5 to 7 July. Massive place on the South Bank. Why not make a weekend of it and head to London for what is set to be a most memorable jam-packed event?

With all the excitement of Shake The Dust, events are taking a small rest over July. This is short lived and we will be back rocking your literal world in August for FORKED, with none other than Kat Francois! More to follow in next month’s addition.

Finally, a big thanks to all the poets and audiences who made FORKED and Gallery Sessions in May such a success. My favorite bit of feedback: “That made we want to start writing”. Well, what are you waiting for?!

Gina Sherman

This is an extract from June’s South West Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reade

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