This is a showcase of the very best in contemporary spoken word \u2013 combining the raw, open-mic energy of Jawdance<\/strong> with UniSlam\u2019<\/strong>s spirit of competition, creativity, and community. It\u2019s a celebration of poetry that transcends boundaries and amplifies new voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hosting the event will be Apples and Snakes’ very own Associate Director (and charismatic performance poet) Ty’rone Haughton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ty\u2019rone Haughton is a poet, arts leader, and thought leader whose work centres on social justice, identity, and the power of lived experience. Born in Jamaica and based in Leicester, he is the founder of Literati Arts <\/em>and the Leicester Poetry Committee<\/em>, and is the Associate Artistic Director at Apples and Snakes, the UK\u2019s leading spoken word organisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An exponent of performance poetry, Ty\u2019rone is known for pushing boundaries to create work that is both emotionally resonant and socially urgent. His acclaimed poetry show Made You Look <\/em>exemplifies this, merging powerful storytelling with cultural critique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through poetry and public engagement, Ty\u2019rone continues to challenge narratives, uplift communities, and drive meaningful change.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Mr Shay<\/strong> is a Leicester based Poet & Rapper, titled Leicester\u2019s first Poet Laureate in 2025. Shay is influenced by social topics such as cultural heritage, immigration and identity. His poetry is a melting pot of intricate rap flows fused with South Asian roots. Off the stage, Shay works as a community arts practitioner, leading poetry, rap and music workshops with young people across the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some stand out poetry commissions include, Future Pathways (Thames Water), From Ratae to Leicester (Jewry Wall Museum) and Golden Mile (BBC Radio Leicester), which was nominated for the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry 2022. He has performed on stages across the UK including, Soul Revolution Festival (West Midlands), The National Justice Museum (Nottingham), Brighton Fringe (Brighton) and Shambala Festival\u2019s iconic, Phantom Laundry Stage (Northamptonshire).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram and X: @mrshay_artist Keisha Thompson FRSA is a Manchester based writer, performance artist and producer. She is currently the Programme Manager for Legacies of Enslavement Programme at The Guardian. She is a trustee for the Independent Theatre Council and Olympias Music Foundation. In 2024, she was the recipient of the DARE Art Prize 2024 from Opera North and the University of Leeds in association with National Science and Media Museum and Yorkshire Contemporary. Laurie<\/strong>\u00a0is a northern multi-award winning writer and performer. A previous Roundhouse Resident Artist and Barbican Young poet alumna, her debut pamphlet \u2018Humaning\u2019 was published by flipped eye. She was recently longlisted for the Bruntwood Playwriting prize and shortlisted for the Women\u2019s prize 2025.\u00a0Laurie<\/strong>\u00a0is co-editor of online magazine And Other Poems.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Never heard of it? Check out the video below to find out what Unislam is all about, and why it’s so important:<\/p>\n\n\n\nLine-up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/applesandsnakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-28-at-16.24.52-809x1024.png\")
<\/figure>Ty’rone Haughton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/applesandsnakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mr-Shay-_Dean-Leivers-681x1024.png\"){kind=spacer}
<\/figure>Mr Shay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Facebook: Mr Shay<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/applesandsnakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Keisha-web-resize.png\")
<\/figure>Keisha Thompson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/applesandsnakes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Headshot-Writing-Laurie-Ogden-scaled-e1770662082300-846x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>Laurie Ogden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is Unislam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n