ESA industry Partnerships to look out for in 2026/27 - PART 3
ESA and Apples and Snakes bring you the best of UK Spoken Word plus new artist documentaries showcasing the work of our technical and creative production trainees
We are so proud of our partnership with Apples and Snakes. They are such a brilliant grassroots arts company. They’ve been faithfully serving the UK Spoken Word scene for decades. I was even one of their artists in my youth - some 25 years ago! We have been partnering with them on their ‘BlackBox’ series for over 5 years now. During that time, we have showcased the work of more than 100 poets including 2 TS Elliot award winners and acclaimed authors including Joelle Taylor, Roger Robinson and Zena Edwards. This year we’re building on this work together to develop new ‘Behind The Scenes’ BlackBox documentaries of Apples and Snakes Featured Artists.
“Try and read three times as much as you write”. [Debris Stephenson, 3 times Apples and Snakes BlackBox feature]
There are a number of wonderful things about this partnership, it’s a real innovative leader:
It platforms ‘up and coming’ talent alongside heavy weights of the live literature scene.
It is a talent incubator of both spoken word performance talent and also below the line production craft and crew talent. More than 500 young people have developed camera, sound, light, set and production experience on this partnership including those underserved and often under represented in our industry.
Poetry is both culture and its about learning. It showcases oracy, curiosity, confidence, compassion and communication.
As the quote from Debris above makes clear, this project demonstrates the value of reading and the power and art of language.
Powerful, sometimes controvercial, always vital topics and ideas are explored from politics and faith to justice and inclusion - the fundamental values of learning and citizenship are at the heart of this project.
We can’t wait for the developments to come in this exciting partnership. Watch past BlackBox productions HERE and we will update you with our new productions as soon as they are out in the new year!
