The collaboration between Arlo Parks and the England Red Roses has produced a short spoken word film that centres on the idea of unapologetic strength. Working at Allianz Stadium, Parks and players including Sarah Bern, Marlie Packer, Abi Burton, May Campbell and Connie Powell shaped a piece that asks what it really means to be yourself under public scrutiny. The project blends the artist’s poetic voice with the lived experience of elite athletes to create a work that is part portrait, part manifesto and part communal reflection on identity and power.
How the film came together
The creative process began with conversations on the pitch that were deliberately open and unscripted, allowing a mixture of stories, jokes and serious reflections to surface. Out of those exchanges Parks and the Red Roses developed a spoken word text that treats unapologetic strength as both a personal ethic and a team value, and rehearsed it in the stadium environment where so many of their identities are on display. The film captures rehearsals and candid moments, juxtaposing athletic training sequences with quieter, confessional imagery to highlight how public performance and private courage overlap.
Artistic intent and themes
At the centre of the film is an exploration of what strength looks like when it is self-defined rather than imposed by expectation: strength that refuses to apologise for difference. Parks has said the collaboration emerged from honest dialogue about being strong on one’s own terms, and the players contributed stories about pressure, pride and belonging. The film deliberately foregrounds visibility and authenticity, using spoken word as a form that can be intimate while also resonating across stadium-sized platforms.
Sporting success and a wider context
The Red Roses arrive at this artistic collaboration after winning the 2026 Rugby World Cup, a campaign that culminated in a 33-13 victory over Canada and drew a record audience of 5.8 million viewers in the UK for the final. That tournament also highlighted growing diversity in the women’s game: at least 54 openly LGBTQIA+ players took part, an indicator of the sport’s increasing role as a space for inclusion. The film positions the Red Roses’ competitive achievements alongside their function as cultural figures who can influence conversations about identity, representation and strength.
Player perspectives on identity
In an exclusive reflection, Sarah Bern spoke about how being part of the LGBTQIA+ community has fuelled a form of unapologetic resilience, saying that community networks have helped her feel accepted and brave. Rather than a single testimony, the film stitches together multiple voices to show how collective support can turn vulnerability into confidence. The players’ contributions underline that sporting success and personal honesty are not mutually exclusive; instead, they can reinforce one another when athletes are permitted to express their whole selves.
Timing, releases and ways to engage
The film’s arrival coincides with busy weeks for both collaborators: Ambiguous Desire, Arlo Parks’s third album, is due for release on 3 April, and a special evening hosted by O2 at The O2 on 10 April will offer Priority fans previews from the new record alongside an installation presenting the poem created with the Red Roses. For supporters of both music and rugby, the timing amplifies the conversation about identity as the Red Roses open the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on 11 April 2026. These linked moments are intended to build momentum around the film’s central message.
How audiences can take part
Beyond screenings, the project encourages public engagement: the O2 event invites attendees to share their own responses to the film’s themes, while media coverage and social channels are expected to circulate excerpts and reflections. The collaboration also connects to ongoing support for queer media, with outlets such as DIVA—now published by the DIVA Charitable Trust—continuing to spotlight women and gender-diverse creators. Together, the film and related events offer multiple entry points for audiences to consider what it means to be unapologetically strong in sport, art and everyday life.