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.
Eleanor Hooker, Dromineer Literary Festival
Four Poets Series with Helen Ivory | The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place London W1T 1JB | 11 December 2024 | 7pm |
Ware Poets with Helen Ivory | Southern Maltings, Kibes Lane, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 7BS | 13 December 2024 | 8pm |
Poems Not Bombs, Forest Poets with Helen Ivory | Walthamstow Trades Hall | 22 January 2025 | 7.30pm tbc |
Satellite of Love Bristol with Helen Ivory | John Sebastian Lightship, Cabot Cruising Club, Bathurst Basin, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6SG | 26 February 2025 | 7pm |
Utter, Luton with Helen Ivory | The Hat Factory | 06 March 2025 | 7.30pm tbc |
Fire River Poets | Zoom | 03 April 2025 | 7.30pm |
Poets’ Café, Reading with Helen Ivory | Poets' Café, South Street, Reading | 09 May 2025 | 8pm |
Shrewsbury Poetry with Helen Ivory | The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE | 13 May 2025 | tbc |
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