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
Poetry CafeHampton Hill Theatre, Noel Coward Suite24 August 2024tbc
Poetry Alight, Lichfield with Helen Ivory Duke of York Lichfield, 23/25 Greenhill,Lichfield, 17 September 20247.30 pm
Under Red Guitar, Bristol with Helen IvoryEl Rincon, the Spanish Bar18 September 20247.30pm tbc
Morecambe Poetry Festival with Helen Ivorytbc22 September 20241pm
Uncut Poets, Exeter with Helen IvoryExeter Phoenix Bradninch Place Gandy Street Exeter EX4 3LS24 September 20247.30pm
Word Cafe, Totnes with Helen IvoryThe Barrel House, Totnes25 September 20247.30pm
Tangerine Cafe and Poetry Space, Beaminster, with Helen Ivory & Rosie JacksonTangerine Cafe and Poetry Space, Beaminster, Dorset.26 September 2024tbc
Gloucester Poetry FestivalTiger’s Eye Gloucester28 September 20242pm
Tiger Bay Poetry, Cardiff with Helen IvoryCarruthers Room, Coal Exchange, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff30 September 20247.30pm
Wirral Poetry Festival with Helen IvoryBridge Hotel, Port Sunlight06 October 20247.30pm
Bury St Edmunds Poetry FestivalTBC11 October 2024tbc
Forest Arts Centre with Helen IvoryForest Arts Centre 22 October 2024tbc
Red Door Poets with Helen IvoryZoom27 October 20247.30pm
Ouse Muse, Bedford with Helen IvoryEagle Bookshop, MK40 2NN,05 November 20247.45pm
A Lovely Word, Liverpool with Helen IvoryThe Everyman Bistro07 November 20248pm
Buzzwords, Cheltenham with Helen Ivorytbc10 November 2024tbc
Winchester Poetry with Helen Ivorytbc11 November 2024tbc
Milton Keynes Literary Festival – Movember EventZoom12 November 2024tba
Poetry BreakfastZoom (Much Wenlock)14 November 20249am
VerboseKings Arms, Salford18 November 20247.30pm
Wivenhoe Poetry with Helen IvoryThe Old Grocery, Wivenhoe21 November 20247.30 tbc
Medway River Lit Festival with Helen Ivorytbc22 November 2024tbc
Wymondham Literature Festivaltbc23 November 2024tbc
Enfield Poets with Helen IvoryFORTY HALL, FORTY HILL, ENFIELD, EN2 9HA04 December 20247-9pm
Ware Poets with Helen Ivory Southern Maltings, Kibes Lane, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 7BS13 December 20248pm
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
Shrewsbury Poetry with Helen Ivorytbc08 May 2025tbc
Poets’ Café, Reading with Helen IvoryPoets' Café, South Street, Reading09 May 20258pm

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