Events
TONGUE IN CHIC POETS : DETAILS OF OUR NEXT POETRY EVENT FOR MILTON KEYNES ARE ON THE "WELCOME" PAGE:
Details of our most recent event:Tongue in Chic March 2010
Building on the success on January’s fantastic start to the year, we welcomed poet, writer and musician TIM CLARE.
Tim has appeared on BBC2, Radio 1, 2, 4 and 6 and written for the Guardian, the Times and the Independent. Tim is a regular performer at many festivals including Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading, and Latitude. As he geared up for his first ever solo show to take to Edinburgh you can could have caught him early with us and saved the train fare!
LOCAL FEATURED PERFORMER this month was Richard Frost. Richard has a growing reputation with his unique mix of humour, wordplay and oblique world view.
Previous Events
January 2010. The new season kicked off with David J. – vocal pugilist. David’s performances at Latitude and Glastonbury have made him a legend on the poetry circuit.
David won the Choice FM Battle Rap Competition back in 1992 and his unique style of delivery is heavily influenced by his hip-hop origins. David J has been described as a verbal gymnast. Using powerful verbal trickery his words seem to go forwards then flip backwards. At other times it’s like he’s scratching words instead of vinyl and it often appears there is more than one person speaking onstage.
David’s appearance at Tongue in Chic was part of his warm up for a tour of the US later in 2010.
LOCAL FEATURED PERFORMER was Danni Antagonist. Since dipping her toes in the water of performance poetry in London in 2005, Danni has performed in Milton Keynes and beyond. Danni combines driving rhythms and rhymes with uncompromising words to produce poetry with a unique urban edge. Danni won one of the Open Mic sessions at the prestigious London-based gig “Bang said the Gun”
Our 2009 Season Finale on 8 November, 2009 with special Guests Simon Munnery and Paul Lyalls and local story tellers “A Word in Edgeways”
Simon Munnery has graced the world’s premier comedy festival and has attracted nominations at most of them. Frequently described as a comic genius, Simon now includes into poetry as part of his set. This is a chance to see one of the country’s most inventive comic minds at first hand. For local writers, Simon also held a Comedy Writing Workshop on the same day.
"One of the most original and talented comics in the country"
- The Observer
Paul Lyalls is the star of BBC2's/CBBC's 'Big Slam poetry House'. His poetry is funny and moving and his poetry workshops produce extraordinary poems from children of all ages. Paul has also performed at 10 Edinburgh festivals, 1 Eton College, 5 Glastonbury's and on a 73 Bus, which made the and finally...bit of the 6pm national news.
"Extremely good poetry but smiles too much"
- John Hegley
Local Storytelling legends “A Word in Edgeways” also brought their unique talents to the Tongue in Chic stage
Tongue in Chic September 2009
ZENA EDWARDS, STEVE LARKIN, FAY ROBERTS
Everybody stopped breathing for about 30 minutes when Zena Edwards began her act - "absolutely amazing". Fay Roberts; local hero(ine) and Poetry Kapow! wrangler was just perfection and Steve Larkin, well, a man armed with a mandolin and a rapier wit and attitude is a force to be reckoned with. Quality and depth in turns from our performers.
Sunday, 19th July with Special Headline Guest John Hegley ably supported by Richard Tyrone Jones and Milton Keynes Poet Ian Barker.
It was an amazing night! MADCAP packed to the rafters; ten local poets given their turn in the spotlight and John Hegley in fine form and declaring Tongue in Chic to be “a very special poetry Sunday”
It’s hard to believe this was only Tongue in Chic’s fourth gig and yet an audience of one hundred and ten gathered on a Sunday night to listen to poetry and spoken word.
Sunday, 10 May with Special Headline Guests Liz Bentley and Niall O'Sullivan with Yaw Asiyama from Milton Keynes supporting.
Sunday, March 2009: What another fantastic night! 21 Open Mic readers and terrific sets from headline guest Rachel Pantechnicon and featured MK Poet Matthew Michael Taylor.
MMT performed his turrn early so he could then chill out and enjoy the gig and is was great to hear some of his "rarities".
Rachel enchanted us with poems about cheese-grater leg-iron lion, geography teachers turned decorators and shelves for elves. A surreal, inspired mixture of comedy, poetry and silliness.
There wasn't a dull moment as the Open Mic zipped along with eight readers making their TiC debut. You will all have your own favourites but highlights for me were Judi Moore with her poem about brussels sprouts; Ian Barker with a moving poem about facing up to the diagnosis of cancer; Alex Toms and her "Rapunzel" and Fitzgeorge with his cricket poem performing in his pristine cricket sweater. A full list of participants is below.
Open Mic performers were:
Leslie Jeffery, Ian Barker, Billy Dillon, Dianna Moylan, Dick Skellington, Frank Lowe, Danni Antagonist, Ian McEwen, Steve Allen, Judi Moore, Mawuko Selormey, Ken Hawes, Steve Hobbs, The Shaman of the North, Lee Nelson, Justin Time, Lionel Welch, James Fielding, Alex Toms, Fitzgeorge and Fay Roberts
11 January, 2009 saw the beginning of a brand new Performance Poetry and Spoken Word initiative born right here in Milton Keynes.
“Tongue in Chic” is a new regular Poetry and Spoken Word night taking place at MADCAP Performing Arts Centre, Wolverton every two months. It is a combination of Open Mic spots for local writers and performers to showcase their work and a special Headline guest at each show.
January’s guest was A F Harrold who was witty, entertaining and proved himself to be a wordsmith of the first order. A full house at the Madcap Concourse enjoyed a excellent night and they gave the performers a wonderful reception.
Open mike performers were:
Steve Allen,Theresa Kelleher, Craig Lambert, Alex Toms, Ian Barker,
Gill Bowker, Ashley Coggins, Chris Coggins, Lionel Welch, Billy Dillon,
Bella Madden, Danni Antagonist, Leslie Jeffery, Darren Turney,
Alan Bainbridge, Fay Roberts, Mawuko Selormey, Neil Beardmore,
Justin Time, Dick Skellington, Yaw Asiyama, The Shaman of the North
MK Featured Poet: Liz Hayward
Compère for the evening: Mark Niel