Tongue in Chic Poets - supporting performance of poetry and the spoken word.

We support all other writing and performing initiatives in and around Milton Keynes. From first timers to seasoned poets, we want to hear and share your work.

WARNING: INVASION OF CONCRETE COWS IS IMMINENT!

TONGUE IN CHIC ALL STAR SHOWCASE • BRIGHT AND SHINY RADIO SHOW • 16 – 18 July, 2010

YOU “HERD” IT HERE FIRST
Look out Buxton Fringe, you’re about to be invaded with not one but two shows from the land of the Concrete Cows. OK, perhaps Milton Keynes is not yet famous as a cutting edge of cultural and comedic talent but these two shows are planning to change your mind.
TELL US “AN UDDER”

TONGUE IN CHIC ALL STAR SHOWCASE

Described by John Hegley as “A very special Poetry Sunday”, Tongue in Chic brings the cream of the scene to the Fringe. Prize-winning poets will bring you humour, passion and much, much more. A changing show each day brings in guest poets: Danni Antagonist, The Antipoet, Jo Bell, Mark Gwynne Jones, Mac McFadden, Gerry Potter and Fay Roberts.

Founder and Host Mark Niel is excited by the prospect of appearing at the Fringe:
“This is our first time on the road and Buxton has a reputation as a friendly Festival so it seemed the perfect place to cut our teeth. We’ll have a different show each night with special guests. It promises to be funny, passionate and exciting.”

Mark is no slouch as a poet himself as a meteoric rise on the Spoken Word circuit has seen him move from Open Mic to Headliner in just a couple of years. This year he has already won Poetry Slams in London, Oxford, Birmingham and at the inaugural Wenlock Poetry Festival. His energetic delivery and genuinely funny poems have earned him stage time with John Hegley, Ava Vidal and Simon Munnery. He’s keen to give others the same chance he had himself:
“Each night, we give members of the audience a chance to shine. We’ll draw names and the fi rst three poets out of the hat get three minutes of stage time each. The audience will judge who is our “Lucky Dip Instant Star” of the night.”

The show lasts an hour from 7.30pm and will be on from 16 to 18 July.

Hold the front page!!!!

The Tongue In Chic Poets 2010 Anthology "Reflections from mirror city is here!

Launch night: 12 June 2010, Milton Keynes Central Library

“Reflections from Mirror City” is a new Poetry collection which features the best of the current scene in Milton Keynes. Tongue in Chic is a regular Open Mic Poetry event which acts as a showcase for local writers and brings in professional poets.

This same ethos is carried forward in the book as local scribes are found next to some of the country’s leading poets such as John Hegley, Zena Edwards, AF Harrold and Niall O’Sullivan.

Founder of Tongue in Chic, Mark Niel sees the book as a natural extension of the regular events held at Madcap:

“It’s been a privilege to watch local poets grow in confidence and stature over the last couple of years. The inspirational effect of watching the wonderful guest poets has been plain to see. MK Poets have upped their game and can now be seen regularly performing at different events and festivals all over the country. “Reflections from Mirror City” is both a testament and a showcase for their talents. I’d like to thank Arts Gateway MK for their financial support which has made the anthology a viable project”.

The anthology will be formally launched at the Central Library on 12th June, 2010 by the mayor of Milton Keynes as part of the annual MK Reads Together events, led by Milton Keynes Council, but involving schools, Age Concern and many others. MK Reads Together is a celebration of reading for people of all ages and the theme of this year is “Perform the Word” and there will be readings from local poets and other poetry activities throughout the day.

If you would like to buy a copy you can do so at the various events and performances from any of the featured poets as well as directly from the editor Mark Niel or you can click this link to purchase online from our approved distributor (this is their eBay shop link) the book is also available on Amazon from the same distributor.

Anthology Press Release: May 2010.
Click here for to download the press release as a Microsoft Word document or here as a PDF file

The adventure won’t stop there as Tongue in Chic is hitting the road over the summer when they take a showcase to the Buxton Fringe Festival from 16 to 18 July.

New Press Release: May 2010.
Click here for to download the press release as a Microsoft Word document or here as a PDF file

The next Tongue in Chic event

• TONGUE IN CHIC NEXT GIG SUNDAY 9 May 2010
• HEADLINE ACT IS Dizraeli
• "Poetry Exchange" Poetry gunslingers from London's "Bang Said The Gun" mosey into town

Described by John Hegley as “a very special poetry Sunday”, Tongue in Chic continues to bring the best Poets it can find to Milton Keynes.

Building on the success on January’s fantastic start to the year, we welcome poet, writer and musician TIM CLARE to headline on Sunday 14 March at MADCAP.

In only its second year, Tongue in Chic is now an established event with a growing reputation on the Spoken Word circuit. It has already earned the accolade:

“pound for pound, the best poetry/spoken word event on the Midlands circuit!”

While he would dispute that Milton Keynes is actually in the Midlands, organiser and host, Mark Niel is pleased that the event is making a name for itself.

“It is always nice to hear we’re hitting the spot. Tongue in Chic is an event that has impressed our guests and audience alike. The key to success has been the strength of local writers and performers who have delivered strong material in the Open Mic spots and long may it continue".

DIZARAELI COMES TO HEADLINE

On Sunday 9 May, we welcome headliner DIZRAELI a rapper, writer, poet and singer described as a hip hop tour de force. His work covers a wide range of subjects including politics, love, rain, supermarkets, grief, drug culture and masculinity. Diz won the Spirit of the Fringe award two years running at the Edinburgh Festival and his work is a rare hybrid of humour and directness that can make you wince. Diz has won major Poetry Slams including the BBC Radio 4 National Poetry Slam..

"Disraeli is a true folk hero"

"BANG SAID THE GUN" MOSEY INTO TOWN The Tongue in Chic Crew aren’t content to stay in Milton Keynes. They’ve reached out to the capital and beyond, making friends and impressing the hell out of them. Now it’s their turn to visit us. Tongue in Chic took a showcase slot on 15 April down in London and this is the return event. Daniel Cockerill, Rob Auton, Martin Galton and Sjanneke Milligan will be giving us a taste of their gunslinging ways as they shoot from the lip.



OPEN MIC SESSIONS
As ever, the real stars of the show are the local writers who turn up to take their three minutes of fame at the Mic.

ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH
Tongue in Chic enters the world of publishing with a “Yearbook” Anthology called “Reflections from Mirror City”. Local writers who supported the event in 2009 and Guest artists were invited to take part in the project and it is hoped the book will be ready for the first show of the year.

For more information on the show or Open Mic opportunities, email Mark Niel at markniel@gmail.com or call 01908 691755 to reserve tickets.

Tickets are £6 / £4 if reserved in advance or £7 / £5 on the door.

Madcap, Creed Street, Wolverton 7.30pm (Doors Open at 7pm) Sunday 14 March, 2010