SPIN: Rhymes, Rhythms and Raps
Come for a spin with the word warriors of Apples and Snakes, including Joseph Coelho, as they share a fun-filled performance with raps, poems and stories.
Featuring performers Jan Blake, Joseph Coelho and Belinda Zhawi. Hosted by Kenny Baraka with DJ D’Vo aka Tilé Gichigi-Lipere.
Jan Blake is an internationally renowned storyteller, consultant, mentor and plenary speaker who has been performing worldwide since 1986, specialising in folktales and myths from the Caribbean, West Africa, North Africa and the Arab regions.
Joseph Coelho is a bestselling, multi-award-winning children’s playwright and author of over 45 books. He writes across several mediums for children including stage plays, picture books, non-fiction and middle grade. Coelho was the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, 2022 – 2024.
Belinda Zhawi is a literary and sound artist based in London. She is the author of Small Inheritances (ignitionpress, 2018) and experiments with sound/text performance as MA.MOYO.
Hosted by Kenny Baraka, a journeyman griot: born in Eritrea, raised in New York and residing in the UK, his work is a fusion of rap, poetry and storytelling.
Presented in collaboration with Apples and Snakes
Need to know
All adults and children need a ticket, except for babes in arms aged 18 months and under at the time of the performance who don’t need their own seat.
Smoke and haze may be used during this performance.
Access
This is a Relaxed Performance (RP). Relaxed Performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit during the performances. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are available for both adults and children. There are no adjustments to sound and lighting for these performances, and this event includes amplified music and flashing (not strobe) lighting.
For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.