BATH: Whistle, by Martin Figura

Wednesday, 20th March, 2013, 8pm, £12 (£10 concessions)

The Rondo Theatre

St Saviour’s Road

Larkhall

Bath

BA1 6RT

Whistle

Written and performed by Martin Figura

When the poet and photographer Martin Figura was nine years old, his father murdered his mother. This shocking event is at the heart of his powerful one-man show ‘Whistle’, but it is by no means the whole story.  

Set against a backdrop of family photographs, letters and documents, Whistle’ is a tour de force of poetry in performance. Martin Figura eloquently transcends the tragic details to deliver a coming of age story that is funny, moving and uplifting in equal measure. 

“Profoundly honest and at the same time joyfully entertaining” Independent on Sunday

“Martin Figura's riveting sequence of poems about his childhood, his father killing his mother, and the consequences of that upon the whole family is remarkable” Jackie Kay


Available from Bath Box Office. Tel: 01225 463362
www.bathboxoffice.org.uk  

BATH: Whistle, by Martin Figura

Wednesday, 20th March, 2013, 8pm, £12 (£10 concessions)

The Rondo Theatre

St Saviour’s Road

Larkhall

Bath

BA1 6RT

Whistle

Written and performed by Martin Figura

When the poet and photographer Martin Figura was nine years old, his father murdered his mother. This shocking event is at the heart of his powerful one-man show ‘Whistle’, but it is by no means the whole story.  

Set against a backdrop of family photographs, letters and documents, Whistle’ is a tour de force of poetry in performance. Martin Figura eloquently transcends the tragic details to deliver a coming of age story that is funny, moving and uplifting in equal measure. 

“Profoundly honest and at the same time joyfully entertaining” Independent on Sunday

“Martin Figura's riveting sequence of poems about his childhood, his father killing his mother, and the consequences of that upon the whole family is remarkable” Jackie Kay


Available from Bath Box Office. Tel: 01225 463362
www.bathboxoffice.org.uk  

CHELTENHAM: National Poetry Competition Reading

Wednesday, 10th October, 2012, 2pm, £6

Imperial Square,

Cheltenham,

Gloucestershire

GL50

Listen to the poems that won the Poetry Society's National Poetry Competition and be transported from Scott’s Antarctic all the way to Kashmir, via Virginia Woolf’s lighthouse, with readings from prizewinnersAllison McVety, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch and Zaffar Kunial. Chaired by competition judge Jackie Kay.

Booking: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/find-events/literature/l171-the-national-poetry-competition-winners

CHELTENHAM: National Poetry Competition Reading


Wednesday, 10th October, 2012, 2pm, £6

Imperial Square,

Cheltenham,

Gloucestershire

GL50

Listen to the poems that won the Poetry Society's National Poetry Competition and be transported from Scott’s Antarctic all the way to Kashmir, via Virginia Woolf’s lighthouse, with readings from prizewinners Allison McVety, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch and Zaffar Kunial. Chaired by competition judge Jackie Kay.

Booking: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/find-events/literature/l171-the-national-poetry-competition-winners

BRISTOL: Between The Lines

Tuesday, 25th September, 2012, 8.15pm

The Lansdown,
8 Clifton Road,
Bristol

Between The Lines

An event with a difference. The first half consists of performance and the second of readings and discussion. What is the life of an itinerant performance poet really like? Who or what is he inspired by? How did he get started and where does he feel he is going? As well as performing his greatest works, Ash Dickinson may be answering some of these questions and any others you care to bring along. 

PORTISHEAD: Ragged Stone

Wednesday, 19th September, 2012, 8pm

The Lock Keeper,
Portishead Marina,
Portishead

Ragged Stone

Ragged Stone returns at a new venue – The Lock Keeper on Portishead Marina – and to kick off the autumn schedule we have the king of surreal slam poetic comedy Mr Ash Dickinson so get your Slinky Espadrilles on and come and join us. Hosted as ever by Clive Birnie and Jo Carrington and featuring our usual mix of poetry and stories in an Open Mic.

BRISTOL: Between The Lines

Tuesday, 25th September, 2012, 8.15pm

The Lansdown,
8 Clifton Road,
Bristol

Between The Lines

An event with a difference. The first half consists of performance and the second of readings and discussion. What is the life of an itinerant performance poet really like? Who or what is he inspired by? How did he get started and where does he feel he is going? As well as performing his greatest works, Ash Dickinson may be answering some of these questions and any others you care to bring along. 

BRISTOL: Dead Poets Slam

Friday, 21st September, 2012, 8.15pm

The Lansdown,
8 Clifton Road,
Bristol (part of the Bristol Poetry Festival)

Dead Poets Slam

This event is now established as a Poetry Festival favourite. This year we will be graced by the surreal humour of Ash Dickinson. Ash will be performing his peerless performance poetry and acting as senior judge for the competition. Hosted by Trevor Carter.

PORTISHEAD: Ragged Stone

Wednesday, 19th September, 2012, 8pm

The Lock Keeper,
Portishead Marina,
Portishead

Ragged Stone

Ragged Stone returns at a new venue – The Lock Keeper on Portishead Marina – and to kick off the autumn schedule we have the king of surreal slam poetic comedy Mr Ash Dickinson so get your Slinky Espadrilles on and come and join us. Hosted as ever by Clive Birnie and Jo Carrington and featuring our usual mix of poetry and stories in an Open Mic.

LISKEARD: Grey Hen Press reading

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012, 3.30-4.30pm

The Bookshop

2 Barras Street

Liskeard

Cornwall

PL14 6AD

Grey Hen Press presents a reading from its popular anthologies, with Ann Alexander, Elisabeth Rowe and Liz Woods.

LISKEARD: Grey Hen Press reading

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012, 3.30-4.30pm

The Bookshop

2 Barras Street

Liskeard

Cornwall

PL14 6AD

Grey Hen Press presents a reading from its popular anthologies, with Ann Alexander, Elisabeth Rowe and Liz Woods.

BRISTOL: Ash Dickinson book launch

Friday, May 25th, 2012, 8pm, FREE

The Lansdown,
8 Clifton Road,
Clifton,

Bristol

After nearly two decades of writing, hundreds of shows and numerous awards, Ash Dickinson's wildly inventive and eclectic debut collection, Slinky Espadrilles, is being published by Burning Eye Books. To mark this event, Ash- a multiple slam champion, who has performed in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA- will perform and read from the book. Entry to the event is free.

“Brilliantly surreal invention...fabulous poems” - Edinburgh Evening News

"Impressive wordplay" - The Times

"Could do for poetry what Bill Hicks did for comedy" - The Skinny

"A very cool combination of rap, rhyme, repetition and wry wit...Dickinson proves not only to be an incredibly gifted poet, but also a great comedian with a sharp eye for social commentary" - Winnipeg Free Press

"Ash Dickinson is a Performance Poet for the Lost Generation. If you haven't seen him, you haven't seen performance poetry" - Federation Of Writers (Scotland)

CHIPPING CAMPDEN: Poetry and Pints

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, 9pm, £5

Church Rooms,

Chipping Campden

Chipping Campden Literature Festival 2012

Angela France is back by popular demand for a third year with Nine Arches Poets Daniel Sluman, Matt Merritt and Maria Taylor.

Open mic spots for audience members to read their own work, or much loved poems by others.  

Please sign up on the door.  

Book tickets: 01386 841 222

http://www.campdenlitfest.co.uk/contentok.php?id=88

CHELTENHAM: Nine Arches Poetry Jukebox

Saturday, 21st April, 2012 at 5pm, £6/£4

The Exmouth Arms,

Cheltenham

Cheltenham Poetry Festival 2012

Poetry Jukebox with Nine Arches Press: Luke Kennard, Daniel Sluman and Phil Brown

Nine Arches Press presents a poetry reading with a unique twist: the audience has a hand in choosing the themes of the poems. So prepare for work that touches on the big issues, and some of the little ones too – everything from love, death and madness to laughter, losing and being drunk...!

This promises to be a show full of surprises, with three poets who are among the most striking voices in contemporary British poetry.

http://www.cheltenhampoetryfest.co.uk/eventdetail.php?ID=31

CHELTENHAM: Grey Hen Press reading

Friday, 20th April, 2012, 2pm-3pm

The Frog and Fiddle,

313-315 High Street,

Cheltenham

Cheltenham Poetry Festival

With Alison Brackenbury, Ann Drysdale, Angela France, Joy Howard, Pat Simmons and Christine Webb.

Required reading for all ages but especially for the young-and-grumpy-in-heart. ‘This world’, say these poets, ‘is not a better place. Deal with it’, they say.  Then they show us how.  Penelope Shuttle (re Get Me Out of Here!)

Seriously good poetry…the fruit of long-life experience – brave writing, full of love and subversive wit and lyricism. R V Bailey (re Cracking On)

‘Nothing mimsy about these poems by older women. Fierce, funny, disturbing and fairly vicious. Lovely’. Michele Hanson (re A Twist of Malice)

CHELTENHAM: Grey Hen Press reading

Friday, 20th April, 2012, 2pm-3pm

The Frog and Fiddle,

313-315 High Street,

Cheltenham

Cheltenham Poetry Festival

With Alison Brackenbury, Ann Drysdale, Angela France, Joy Howard, Pat Simmons and Christine Webb.

Required reading for all ages but especially for the young-and-grumpy-in-heart. ‘This world’, say these poets, ‘is not a better place. Deal with it’, they say.  Then they show us how.  Penelope Shuttle (re Get Me Out of Here!)

Seriously good poetry…the fruit of long-life experience – brave writing, full of love and subversive wit and lyricism. R V Bailey (re Cracking On)

‘Nothing mimsy about these poems by older women. Fierce, funny, disturbing and fairly vicious. Lovely’. Michele Hanson (re A Twist of Malice)

BATH: Neil Astley and Sara-Jane Arbury

Saturday, 14th April, 2012, 7.30pm, £8/£6

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

16-18 Queen’s Square

Bath

BA1 2HN

Staying Alive, Being Alive and Being Human

Poetry Reading by Neil Astley of Bloodaxe Books, with Sara-Jane Arbury

Poet and editor, Neil Astley and poet, Sara-Jane Arbury, present poems from Bloodaxe Books’ recent best-selling anthology Being Human. They will talk about the anthology and read a personal selection of thoughtful and passionate poems about living in the modern world; poems that touch the heart, stir the mind and fire the spirit; poems about being human, about love and loss, fear and longing, hurt and wonder.

Topping & Co will be selling copies of the anthologies at the event.

Tel: 01225 463362
www.bathboxoffice.org.uk  

BATH: Getting Your Poetry Published: A Seminar Session with Neil Astley of Bloodaxe Books

Saturday, 14th April, 2012, 10.30am–12.30pm, £10/£8

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

16-18 Queen’s Square

Bath

BA1 2HN

 

Getting Your Poetry Published: A Seminar Session with Neil Astley of Bloodaxe Books

Neil Astley, Editor and Managing Director of Bloodaxe Books offers a nuts-and-bolts examination of the whys and wherefores of getting poetry published in books and magazines. Neil has published hundreds of poets but has also had to reject many more. He offers an informed, insider’s view of poetry publishing and bookselling. This session will offer a general reality check as well as giving attention to particular concerns and questions.

Tickets: £10 full price, £8 concessions from Bath Box Office. Tel: 01225 463362
www.bathboxoffice.org.uk  

BARNSTAPLE: Hip Hopping Speaks

Friday, 2nd March, 2012, 7pm, £12.50 / £8 (young person)

Studio@QT,

Queens Theatre,

Boutport Street,

Barnstaple

EX31 1SY
www.applesandsnakes.org / www.northdevontheatres.org.uk / 01271 32 42 42

Apples and Snakes presents
HIP HOPPING SPEAKS

Start your evening with the superb sounds of 7-piece band The Breaks Collective followed by the intense and powerful spoken words of Toby Thompson. Topping things off is the infamous Dizraeli and the Small Gods, bringing their fresh new take on hip hop to North Devon. Stay after the show for a post show discussion with the artists and find out what gets these poets and musicians out of bed in the morning!

BARNSTAPLE: Hip Hopping Speaks

Friday, 2nd March, 2012, 7pm, £12.50 / £8 (young person)

Studio@QT,

Queens Theatre,

Boutport Street,

Barnstaple

EX31 1SY
www.applesandsnakes.org / www.northdevontheatres.org.uk / 01271 32 42 42

Apples and Snakes presents
HIP HOPPING SPEAKS

Start your evening with the superb sounds of 7-piece band The Breaks Collective followed by the intense and powerful spoken words of Toby Thompson. Topping things off is the infamous Dizraeli and the Small Gods, bringing their fresh new take on hip hop to North Devon. Stay after the show for a post show discussion with the artists and find out what gets these poets and musicians out of bed in the morning!