Bop Local Productions present Vox Local ~ 4 Poets

Contact: Alison Bell: 07818 256 434

Bop Local Productions present Vox Local ~ 4 Poets and a Pasty!

On Friday 15th February, Bop Local Productions are pleased to be staging Vox Local at Chorlton Irish Club, Manchester. It will be a light-hearted evening of the spoken word, plus a pasty supper and music. It will be one of the most splendid events ever to take place in the suburb of Chorlton!

Poet, broadcaster and comedian, Ian McMillan will be hosting this first Vox Local. Ian's guest poets will be Mike Garry, Mark Mace Smith and Marvin Cheeseman.

Aside from presenting The Verb ~ BBC Radio 3's 'cabaret of the word' ~ the Bard of Barnsley, Ian McMillan has been a regular guest on Newsnight Review, The Today Programme, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word, The Arts Show, Have I Got News for You? and and Coast. He is poet in residence for the English National Opera, The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC and was featured with his orchestra on The South Bank Show, as well as recently being a castaway on Desert Island Discs. Ian performs at gigs throughout the UK on his own and with award-winning cartoonist, Tony Husband. He also writes weekly columns for The Yorkshire Post and The Barnsley Chronicle. His rip-roaring poetry shows are legendary! Poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy says of Ian: 'He is world-class – one of today’s greatest poetry performers.'

Mike Garry has been touring with John Cooper Clarke for the past year, as well as performing at numerous festivals, including Latitude, Kendal Calling and Festival Number 6, Portmeirion. Mike was recently commissioned by Manchester United to write a poem ~ 'The Threads That Weave' ~ to launch the start of the 2012 football season, as well as being asked by the BBC to write a poem to summarise 2012. Mike performed this commissioned poem, 'Rondeau Rebouble for 2012' live on Monday 31st December on BBC Breakfast. His published poetry books are Mancunian Meander and God is a Manc. As journalist/broadcaster/musician, John Robb puts it: 'His poems of life in Manchester are hypnotic, tough and funny as f**k.'

Mark Mace Smith (aka Thud Dub) is BBC North/Media City UK's poet in residence and a poetry slam champion. He has won competitions across the country, from Brixton to Barrow, including the Glastonbury Festival and on BBC Radio 4. His ‘dub poetry’ is a form of poetry spoken to music or with a rhythmic, reggae and hip-hop influenced style. Mark has published his poetry in A Head Full of Green and written articles in The Guardian, Manchester Evening News and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Marvin Cheeseman is as much a stand-up comedian, as a perfomance poet. His poems have been featured on TV and radio and his published work includes Full Metal Jacket Potato; a boxed set of limericks entitled Making Prawn Sandwiches for Roy Keane and recently, We Hate it When Our Ex-Lodgers Become Successful. Writer Rob Cochrane sums Marvin up: 'Like Noel Coward, he has a talent to amuse by raising a knowing smile that lingers long in the mind. Wit and warmth. What more could you wish for?'

Aside from our four fantastic poets, there will be a delicious pasty supper served in the Lounge Bar. After the poetry, a dancefloor will created for DJ Phil Beckett to play some top tunes for all those who want to make a full night of it. The bar will be open from 7pm until 1am, but closed during each performance on stage.

Tickets for Vox Local are £15 via boplocal.com or from Chris O'Connor at Chorlton Irish Club: 17 High Lane, Manchester, M21 9DJ 0161 881 2898

Bop Local Productions ~ Tom O'Toole::Phil Beckett::Alison Bell

www.boplocal.com

Price: £15.00

Time: 7:00pm