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Feb
3rdSecond Perth Review!
We’re about half way through 0ur run at Fringe World, Perth, and feel like we’re starting to hit our stride now… So considering this review was from our first night I think we got off quite lightly! REVIEW: Anthropoetry The West Australian January 31, 2013, 1:10 pm PERFORMANCE Anthropoetry (UK) Presented by Ben Mellor Noodle Palace, Mt Lawley Review: Isabel Inkster Before taking my date to this show, I found myself warning her: “Now, it IS a poetry show. . .” It is a shame that in the current scene in Perth, even poetry lovers feel the need to make excuses for the art form. Ben Mellor’s Anthropoetry, however, needs no disclaimer. It certainly is poetry, but leaving the performance limited to that description would not recognise the comedy, scientific spin, and musical prowess that is equally present in Anthropoetry. Ben Mellor (BBC Radio 4 Slam Champion), supported by the essential musical contributions of Dan Steele, presents a collection of stand-up poetry linked by the theme of anthropometry – or the measurement of the body. What strikes most is Mellor’s manipulations of language and his penchant for puns, combined with a clearly well-researched body (pardon my own effort) of scientific knowledge to provide the “backbone” of his poetry’s purpose. Steele wields a guitar, loop pedal and samples to provide an engaging soundtrack that pulls the performance together in a way that the loose theme of “the body” may not. At more earnest moments – for instance in the beginning of [...]
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Jan
17thAnthropoetry
How do we express our spleen? Whose business do we stick our noses into? When did we start wearing our hearts on our sleeves, and why are we up to our elbows in heels and bums? BBC R4 Slam Champion Ben Mellor takes you on a stand-up poetry and music fuelled tour around the body, attempting to get the measure of modern life through anatomical analogy. With sounds, beats, beeps and whistles by Dan Steele. Anthropoetry is inspired by anthropometry, the study of measuring the human body. Informed by archaic quack medicine and hokey beliefs, combined with searingly topical social and political commentary and some personal body and soul searching, Ben presents a set of brand new spoken word poems and stories that get to the heart, or the bottom, of modern life. Presented with Ben’s trademark mix of free-verse poetry, rap, beatbox and a healthy dose of satirical humour, the text is underscored live by Dan’s use of guitar, keys, drumpad and live-looping technology. The show was premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012 as part of PBH’s Free Fringe. It received four 4* reviews, including The Scotsman and Broadway Baby, excellent audience feedback, and was featured on Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe. ‘Elegantly crafted rhymes… always engaging’ **** (The Scotsman) A fine body of verse… vitally affirms poetry as a spoken medium… a joy to listen to. **** (Broadway Baby) ‘Slick poetry set to music, and a particularly impressive political and lyrical bent’ **** (Sabotage Reviews) ‘A [...]
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Nov
9thBang Said The Gun – The Roebuck – City of London – 09/11/12Who Bang Said The Gun When Friday, November 9, 2012 8:00pm – Where The Roebuck (map) 50 Great Dover Street City of London SE1 4YG Other InfoEVERY Thursday – Stand up poetry for people who don’t necessarily like poetry. A full on verbal romp including Top Acts + the World Famous RAW MEAT STEW Open Mic Spot – read a poem, tell a joke, juggle a pigeon, dance a jig and win your own slot at the next Bang Said The Gun night. “Comprehensively the best poetry gig I have ever been to… the finest portrayal of how performance poetry should be…” PopShot Magazine “Bang Said the Gun is one of the best poetry nights in the country; the combination of excitement, enthusiasm and deep, deep concentration on the poems is a wonder to behold! Long may it continue!” Ian McMillan “Let England Shake! Bang Said The Gun grabs poetry by its shoulders and shakes it until dirty, funny words fall out. Bang Said The Gun crosses poetry reading with stand up comedy to create a hilarious and rabid poetry mongrel. It’s a night as political as it is trivial, as serious as it is funny.” Londonist “It really is the best spoken word night in London, if not the Northern Hemisphere.” Matt Harvey “One of the best performance poetry clubs I’ve performed at in the last 20 years…” Attila The Stockbroker “The best club gig I’ve been to in 12 years. Other promoters should be at Bang Said The [...]
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Oct
24thAnthropoetry – Gulliver’s – Manchester – 24/10/12Who Anthropoetry When Wednesday, October 24, 2012 7:30pm – 18+ Where Gulliver’s (map) 109 Oldham St Manchester, UK Other InfoBBC R4 Slam Champion Ben Mellor will be performing his Edinburgh Fringe 2012 show, Anthropoetry in Manchester on the 23rd & 24th of October. Created in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Dan Steele, Anthropoetry is Ben’s first full-length spoken word/musical show. It is a humorous, musical, poetic journey around the human anatomy, attempting to get to the heart, or maybe the bottom, of modern life. After receiving a clutch of four-star reviews, an appearance at Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe, and some great audience responses, Ben and Dan have decided to give the show a Manchester airing, to try out some new pieces and get the show filmed and recorded before touring nationally and internationally next year. It will be returning to a Manchester theatre in 2013, but this is your chance to see it while it’s cheap, and if the recordings are any good, maybe featuring on the CD/DVD! Anthropoetry was inspired by anthropometry, the study of measuring the human body, and is informed by archaic quack medicine and hokey beliefs, combined with searingly topical social and political commentary and some personal body and soul searching. The show fuses Ben’s blend of free-verse poetry, rap, beatbox and satirical humour, with Dan’s subtle but emphatic use of guitar, keys, drumpads and live-looping technology. The result is a fresh, funny, moving and thought-provoking experience that will appeal to fans of [...]
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Oct
23rdAnthropoetry – Gulliver’s – Manchester – 23/10/12Who Anthropoetry When Tuesday, October 23, 2012 7:30pm – 18+ Where Gulliver’s (map) 109 Oldham St Manchester, UK Other InfoBBC R4 Slam Champion Ben Mellor will be performing his Edinburgh Fringe 2012 show, Anthropoetry in Manchester on the 23rd & 24th of October. Created in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Dan Steele, Anthropoetry is Ben’s first full-length spoken word/musical show. It is a humorous, musical, poetic journey around the human anatomy, attempting to get to the heart, or maybe the bottom, of modern life. After receiving a clutch of four-star reviews, an appearance at Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe, and some great audience responses, Ben and Dan have decided to give the show a Manchester airing, to try out some new pieces and get the show filmed and recorded before touring nationally and internationally next year. It will be returning to a Manchester theatre in 2013, but this is your chance to see it while it’s cheap, and if the recordings are any good, maybe featuring on the CD/DVD! Anthropoetry was inspired by anthropometry, the study of measuring the human body, and is informed by archaic quack medicine and hokey beliefs, combined with searingly topical social and political commentary and some personal body and soul searching. The show fuses Ben’s blend of free-verse poetry, rap, beatbox and satirical humour, with Dan’s subtle but emphatic use of guitar, keys, drumpads and live-looping technology. The result is a fresh, funny, moving and thought-provoking experience that will appeal to fans of [...]
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Jul
18thSpoke \\\’n\\\’ Heard – Gulliver\’s – Manchester – 18/07/12Who Spoke ‘n’ Heard When Wednesday, July 18, 2012 8:00pm – Where Gulliver’s (map) 109 Oldham St Manchester, UK Other Infohttp://www.monkeypoet.co.uk/spokenheard « Back to the calendar
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Feb
16thHappy Hour (post-show event for \’Two\’) – Royal Exchange – Manchester – 16/02/12Who Happy Hour (post-show event for ‘Two’) When Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:00pm – Where Royal Exchange (map) Cross St Manchester Other InfoSTAY FOR A DRINK AFTER TWO AND PAY ONLY £2.50 FOR A PINT OF JW LEES BITTER OR A GLASS OF WINE. Come and join us in the pub and enjoy a drink and a chat. Every Thursday there’ll be free live entertainment after the show – pub quizzes, live comedy or a live band. RAFFLES AND GAMES – With prizes including gifts from Craft Shop and tickets for shows. Play POOL, TABLE FOOTBALL, JENGA, DARTS, DOMINOES – All available from the Bar. IT’S ALL HAPPENING AFTER THE SHOW – SO STICK AROUND AND ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE. Why go anywhere else! « Back to the calendar
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Feb
13thLove Box – Bristol Old Vic – Bristol – 13/02/12Who Love Box When Monday, February 13, 2012 8:00pm – Where Bristol Old Vic (map) King Street Bristol BS1 4ED Other InfoIn the spring of 1993 a young a German philosopher named Haddaway asked the world a question. That question was “What is Love?”. On February 13 2012 at Bristol Old Vic, we’ll finally be giving you an answer, sort of. Two crack teams of highly skilled word warriors will be pitting their similes against each other to find out whether love is a beautiful bond that gloriously unites our disparate souls or just a biological imperative conning us into spewing rug-rats and buying over priced greetings cards. WHO WILL WIN? You decide. In the lovers’ corner: Ben Mellor, Radio 4 National Poetry Slam Champion Jodi Ann Bickley, Birmingham’s brightest, lovable, lyrical rising star Jonny Fluffypunk, Cheeky moustachioed dichotomy with a heart of gold and an adamantium tongue Rachel Rose Reid, Broadsheet favourite and UK Story teller of the year In the cynics’ corner: Byron Vincent, Splenetic, sparrow legged word monkey, BBC poetry season’s new talent of the year choice Anna Freeman, Funny, tender, Bristol legend in the making Adam Kammerling Award winning poet, rapper and knitwear advocate Vanessa Kisuule Multi award winning Slam Champ and sandwich fetishist As I started this copy with a cheesy anachronistic music reference, it’s only right I go out on the same note. I’m nothing if not consistent, seriously, nothing. So remember folks, LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD! (Yeah?) Come, I promise it will be [...]
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Feb
7thTommy\’s Poetry Night – Tommy’s Bar (UWICSU) – Cardiff – 07/02/12Who Tommy’s Poetry Night When Tuesday, February 7, 2012 9:00pm – Where Tommy’s Bar (UWICSU) (map) UWIC – Howard Gardens Campus, Cardiff, United Kingdom Other InfoCome on in! Take of your skin! And dance around in your bones! « Back to the calendar
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Feb
5thWord is Born – The Others – London – 05/02/12Who Word is Born When Sunday, February 5, 2012 8:00pm – Where The Others (map) 6 and 8 Manor House Road, Stoke Newington London, United Kingdom N16 5SA Other InfoDescription Back once again. Word Is Born will amaze and delight you every time. We welcome Cynikal, fresh live hip-hop, with his raw band, featuring members of Word Is Born regulars Parallel. http://www.cynikalmusic.com/ The fantastic Ben Mellor will be appearing to perform his own hilarious and intelligent poetry’n'shit. http://www.benmellor.net/ WordIsBornRapManJoshSolnick will be delighting us with some of his oral treats. Harry & Greg will play a little bit of jazz with two guitars. PLUS ROWDY HIP-HOP FREESTYLE LIVE BAND JAM SESSION AT THE END! YEA! « Back to the calendar
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