The UK’s leading spoken word organisation, Apples and Snakes, has launched the country’s first Poetic Theatre making programme in partnership with The REP and partner theatres including the Royal Court, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Nottingham Playhouse

This brand new artist development programme seeks to amplify the work of Midlands based poets and theatre makers regionally and nationally by engaging with one of the country’s most vibrant poetry scenes.

Daniel Bailey, Associate Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre said:

“We are excited to be working with Apples and Snakes on their Poetic Theatre making programme.  Nurturing new voices and supporting theatre makers is at the heart of what we do and this new artistic development programme for Midlands based poets is unlike any other development programme in the UK currently and also complements our other programmes, REP Foundry and Write Away.”

The12-week artistic development programme stretches both art forms, whilst giving experienced artists the mentoring they need to develop their creative careers. The 6 chosen artists will focus on dialogue building and be exposed to theatrical and theatre making practices to develop their poetic writing styles, techniques and abilities within a new context.

The group will have weekly workshops led by professional theatre makers Chris Thorpe and Somalia Seaton. In addition, each artist will receive a paid residency at a national partner theatre. This is in a pursuit of giving artists outside of London the opportunity and access to often hard to reach institutions and resources. The programme aims to develop more resilient and experimental artists in the Midlands region and connect them to further opportunities nationwide by shining a light on the plethora of talent in the Midlands.

The course will culminate in a final showcase performed at The REP in 2019.

Applications are now until 22nd October, 8pm