Gigs

Martin is at home on stage at Stanza International Poetry Festival, Latitude, Book Slam, Bang Said the Gun, a pub, a Tank Festival!, compering Cafe Writers, touring India for the British Council or at a conference for Looked-After Children.

He often double-bills with his wife, the talented Bloodaxe Poet Helen Ivory.

What a great, great evening of poetry to celebrate Poetry Day Ireland, Helen Ivory and Martin Figura were astounding – their poetry really is quite magnificent.
Eleanor Hooker, Dromineer Literary Festival
Poems Not Bombs, Forest Poets with Helen IvoryWalthamstow Trades Hall 22 January 20257.30pm tbc
Satellite of Love Bristol with Helen IvoryJohn Sebastian Lightship, Cabot Cruising Club, Bathurst Basin, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6SG26 February 20257pm
Utter, Luton with Helen IvoryThe Hat Factory06 March 20257.30pm tbc
Fire River PoetsZoom03 April 20257.30pm
Poets’ Café, Reading with Helen IvoryPoets' Café, South Street, Reading09 May 20258pm
Shrewsbury Poetry with Helen IvoryThe Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE13 May 2025tbc

Gig Archive

Reviews

“a revelation – funny, sharp and on top form.”
Robert McCrum, The Observer

“Martin Figura’s luminous reading made the audience hold their breath as he read from a new collection rich in warmth and pathos. Strongly recommended.”
Caroline Gilfillan – Poetry-next-the-Sea

“Martin Figura’s poems are sharp and funny. One of the best performing poets on the circuit. Has never disappointed when I’ve booked him for festivals and club gigs.”
Luke Wright

“I didn’t think old people could be funny, you were really really funny.”
Ten-year-old boy Port Eliot Festival 2017

“Pitch perfect, he knows his lines and knows how to deliver them. You will be entertained and moved in equal measure.”
Patience Agbabi

“Martin is a word-storming, crowd-warming, poetry-performing delight. He’s an engaging act, with witty and poignant poems interlinked by charming chat. Martin brings a positive and lively energy to the stage, with his work readily connecting to an audience that he brings on-board in his own personable style. Fantastic.”
Dan Simpson

“How brilliant was Martin Figura at BANG tonight?  He was one zillion out of ten brilliant and we loved it. “
Matt Abbott

“I can see why you gave up photography”
Martin Parr

“Thank you for a marvelous reading. My feeling that you should read last was exactly right!”
Anne-Marie Fyfe, Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour