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Praveena: Library Takeover

This week we talk to Praveena, a student participating in Library Takeover – an exciting new training programme for aspiring event producers aged 11-18 year and creative library staff.

I found out about the Library Takeover project via an e-mail from Croydon Library. The aim of Library Takeover is to encourage teenagers to visit the library more frequently, by producing an event in a library. I decided to apply because, the scheme offered me a chance to work with professional creative producers as well as other young people.

The first …

Forked: A Review

A review of the poets who performed at the last “Forked” at the Barbican, Plymouth – written by Tara Pilkington…

Hidden away within the cobbled streets of the Barbican in Plymouth is a small venue called The B-Bar, which is the location for the spoken word event ‘Forked’. Forked is a bi-monthly event hosted by Apples and Snakes but this is the first evening that I have attended. Inside of the B-Bar there is a purple-hazy-glow that only a place that hosts a poetry night could have and the atmosphere …

Picture the Poet with Roundabout, by Sai Murray

Poet Sai Murray talks to us about Picture the Poet and working with youth organisation Roundabout.

It was a real pleasure to work with the youth organisation Roundabout and to help uncover some of the creative talents that the young people possess. After over-coming the ‘poetry boundary’ – the traditional hurdle of poetry being viewed as something to be studied in books rather than a fluid, live, interactive medium of expression – we enjoyed conversations that ranged from blokes and banter, to loneliness, hostel life and biscuits.

In the process, …

Performance Poetry: Where We Belong by AJ McKenna

The Apples and Snakes Poet of the Month position is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase some of the very talented poets that we work with. October’s Poet of the Month is the multi-slam winning AJ McKenna. Here, AJ shares her thoughts on the position of trans people within the performance poetry scene.

How do you feel before going to a poetry night? As an audience member, do you worry about the quality of what you’re going to see? As a performer, do you hope for a receptive audience? …

October Snakebasket Extracts

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. Sign up here to receive our monthly Snakebaskets!
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From London co-ordinator Russell

The fallen leaves that jewel the ground,
they know the art of dying
and leave with joy their glad gold hearts
in the scarlet shadows lying.

Incredible String Band there with ‘October Song’, pop-pickers.

Hey, now that’s poetry. And October, of …

Raymond Antrobus: in Praise of Michael Rosen and the Truth

The ‘Poet of the Month’ position is a chance for Apples and Snakes to create a little extra attention for those talented poets and poetesses across the country whose work deserves to be circulated and celebrated.

This September our Poet of the Month is Raymond Antrobus, spoken word poet, photographer and educator, and co-curator of popular London poetry events Chill Pill and Keats House Poets. Here’s Ray’s Poet of the Month blogpost, in praise of Michael Rosen and the truth…

“Open the gate of your soul and get …

SPOKE: Earth

Our year began with a great second season here at SPOKE, a series of varied and engaging community events culminating in the opening of the south part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 5 April. As 2014 hurtles on and our third season comes to an end, we take a moment to reflect on how our year kicked off.

SPOKE: Earth brought together top UK poets to engage with enthusiastic, inspiring young people through four ambitious spoken word projects across East London in and around the Olympic Park.…

June Snakebasket Extracts

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. These are extracts – sign up here to receive the whole message!

“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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From London Coordinator Russell

And the main news: no Jawdance at …

Knoxville Poetry Slam!

21 year-old English & American Literature student Lora Christy is currently studying abroad at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She keeps us in the loop as she explores the spoken Word world US style, and her discovery of the Knoxville Poetry Slam!

When I arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee, the first thing I wanted to know was if it had a poetry scene, and I haven’t been disappointed. Once a month, local poets gather at The Well, a basement bar just outside the city centre that regularly hosts …

March Snakebasket Extracts

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. These are extracts – sign up here to receive the whole message!

“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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From London Coordinator Russell

There, I knew it was a mistake …