Saturday April 1st at the Oxford Live Literature Arena

The list of acts appearing at the Live Literature Arena in Oxford at the start of April was recently described as a 'who's who of performance poetry'. This dynamic mini-festival constitutes a growing fringe to the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival and is being held over two days, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of April, in Iffley, Oxford.

Here are the Saturday live poetry & spoken word acts. Sunday listings to follow soon.

THE LIVE LITERATURE ARENA 2006

Organised by Hammer & Tongue, this is an extravaganza of hour-long poetry and prose shows that guarantee to elate, inspire and occasionally educate. It features some of the best performance poets and spoken word artists that the UK has to offer. With children's and adult only shows, and some of the best poets from the Oxford scene, there should be something for everybody.

12 noon - 10.30 pm Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd April at Grove House, Iffley, East Oxford


SATURDAY 1ST APRIL

12:00 noon - Nick Toczek’s Million-Miles-an-Hour show
A poetry show for children and adults. Writer and entertainer, Nick Toczek, presents his wonderful one-man show in which he chats and jokes, performs his snappy poems, does brilliantly baffling magic tricks, tells and acts out fantastic tales, and introduces you to some of his wild and wilful puppets... all at breakneck speed. Join in and enjoy it... OR ELSE! U

1:10 - The Oxford Voice
A showcase of some of the best writers and performers that make up the Oxford literature scene. Including regular performers at Hammer and Tongue, Hear The Word, Back Room Poets, The QI Cluband Sparky's Flying Circus. With Joe Butler, Laura Kingand reading from her translation of French novelette "Lobster" - the owner of Grove House, Polly McLean. PG

2:20 - Rachel & Liz
Let their emotions run away The true-life confessions of two peculiar women, Rachel Pantechnicon& Liz Bentley. Frenzied verse, steam-pressed stories, and ukulele. Liz won Poetry Idol in 2004, without having written any poems; Rachel won the Glastonbury Festival Poetry Slam, also in 2004, though she only entered for the experience and never expected to win. Help them re-live their glory year. ***** - Three Weeks, Edinburgh. U

3:30 - Steve Larkin
“Poetry for the club generation” "Part philosophy part hysterically funny humour"- Nightshift magazine. A monster show from an international slam champion. "One of the best things at the Edinburgh Fringe. Combining hip hop and stand up comedy" Paramount Comedy. A poet-philosopher disguised as a club entertainer. Lacing profundity with profanities, deep tracks with cheap gags, weaving comedy, politics and style to leave audiences laughing, thoughtful and infected. 15

4:40 - Kat Francois's One-Woman Show
A mix of dance, poetry and dramatic skill. Charting her journey through childhood to adulthood, the World and BBC slam champion presents a challenging piece of drama which stretches her performance skills and challenges the audience to face subjects that are usually hidden under the carpet. PG

5:50 - Rob Gee - The Verbal Dynamo
"Motormouth and stand up genius" - H C Magazine. From diabolical chat up lines to the end of the world, he insists the human tragedy is a gleeful comedy. Fast, furious and funny, Rob uses inventive wordplay, whiplash couplets and motored rhythm to tap into the world of chaos and adventure behind the veneer of everyday life. "Blissfully original"(Paramount Comedy Chl) 15

7:00 - From a Paralalia Universe
Two grown men trying to make sense of life, stuff and everything. Peter Hunter and David Johnson, fearless exploiters of rhyme and verse, are on a mission to entertain and engage. They have filled theatres, won poetry slams, toured the USA and written and performed for BBC Radios 4, 7 and Bristol. Special low-cost offer! See one, get one free! PG

8:10 - The New October Poets
Empowerment and amplification of often unheard voices and views. The New October Poets are a fast evolving group of poets, writers, performers and spoken word lovers. Mainly based in the West Midlands and from all cultures, the common thread being their love of live literature. Expect a vibrant interactive show led by Birmingham Poet Laureate DreadlockAlien and featuring award-winning story-telling poet Jane Holland. PG

9:20 - Luke Wright and Friends
Half Milton, half Ronan, half David Koresh. LukeWright is 1/4 of Poetry Boyband Aisle16 (Time Out Critics' Choice of 2005) and one of the stars of BBC3's Slam Poets. Performing extracts from his forthcoming solo show. He is joined by Channel 4's TimClare, chav-with-class ByronVincent, and fellow Aisle16-er JoelStickley. Expect fast-paced funny stuff from four of UK's best young poets. 15