Apples and Snakes is the UK’s leading organisation that has been shaping the spoken word and performance poetry scene for over four decades. It took poetry out of traditional theatres and injected it into supermarkets, buses, and waiting rooms – places where the ‘word’ could find a brand-new audience. By working with poets from all backgrounds, ages, and experiences, the initiative has made poetry truly inclusive, accessible, and vibrantly alive. Read more on london1.one.
The Founding and Evolution of Apples and Snakes
The story of Apples and Snakes began in 1982. Mandy Williams, Pete Merry, and Jane Addison founded the initiative as a progression from the Worthless Words literary circle, which had been active in South London since the 1970s. While Worthless Words was primarily a platform for its members’ self-expression, the new organisation aimed to give a voice to emerging poets and create an open stage for creative experimentation. The first performances took place in the Adams Arms pub in the capital, hosting a weekly ‘Poetry Cabaret’. The atmosphere of these early events blended the literary with music, comedy, and performance art.
Apples and Snakes’ popularity soared rapidly, quickly necessitating a search for larger venues. In the mid-1980s, the leadership transitioned to Paul Beasley, and later to Ruth Harrison. During this period, they jointly launched the annual Apples and Snakes Jazz-Poetry Festival. In 1992, the success of the initiative inspired them to roll out the new Poets in Education Scheme, which extended opportunities for enthusiasts beyond the stage. Moreover, the structure of the organisation itself began to evolve from a purely volunteer-run initiative into a professional creative platform.
A new phase of development began in 1994 when Apples and Snakes relocated its headquarters to the Battersea Arts Centre. This move coincided with an explosive surge of interest in spoken word theatre – a format where poetry transcended the page to become a full-fledged theatrical event. Performers, actors, and theatrical poets increasingly joined the organisation’s programmes, gradually taking the spotlight from the more traditional comedians and jazz musicians.
As the millennium turned, Apples and Snakes entered a new era, cleverly blending poetic tradition with modern technology and a creative approach to public performance. Backed by support from Arts Council England, they launched their first website in the early 2000s. More significantly, the organisation was driven by a desire to take poetry out of conventional venues and prove that spoken word could thrive absolutely anywhere. Their Aisle 6 project, staged directly in Asda supermarkets, and Bus Jam, which gathered poets on London’s iconic double-decker buses, became brilliant examples of spreading verbal creativity to the wider public.
A genuine breakthrough for Apples and Snakes was its expansion outside of London. Although it always aimed for nationwide reach, most of its events until the early 2000s were either tours or one-off performances. This changed in 2002 when the organisation secured funding to establish its first regional office in the East Midlands. Soon after, other offices followed across different parts of England. Since 2013, Apples and Snakes has maintained a permanent office in every region supported by Arts Council England.
Recognition and Importance of Apples and Snakes
Apples and Snakes is frequently hailed as the principal national organisation that shapes, supports, and champions the art of the live word. Over its four-plus decades of activity, it has served as a launchpad for countless notable artists, including Malika Booker, Billy Bragg, Charlie Dark, Kae Tempest, Toby Jones, and many others. Its partnerships with leading cultural institutions such as the Battersea Arts Centre, Free Word, Tate, Nuffield Southampton Theatres, and Barbican Theatre Plymouth demonstrate a high level of trust and professional recognition. Furthermore, crucial support from Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the London Community Foundation has played a vital role in the continued development of Apples and Snakes.
