10:35am Thursday 11th June 2009
By Kat Dibbits
POET John Hegley has long been known for his silly, witty and whimsical creations.
London-born John, who is appearing at the Met in Bury tomorrow, is an afficionado of glasses, dogs and Luton, where he grew up.
His new show centres around an alphabetical carnival of animals, who are just as kooky as fans will expect.
He said: “I’ll probably do most of the alphabet of animals I’ve written, some of the new little French stories and I’m going to show some drawings — of the animals, the bungalow in Luton and some drawings of what this Frenchman I’ve been writing about might look like.
“I try and bring in the drawings, songs, get the audience to chip in here and there. I try and make it a mixed presentation — a variety show of one person.”
Hegley’s father is French and the French stories he refers to are part of a new book he has published, although he assured me that the audience will only need the most rudimentary grasp of the language.
“Everything’s translated,” he said, before explaining how taking on a new language has affected the way he writes.
“You become another writer,” he said. “Apparently that’s what Beckett said, that’s why he wrote in French because it took him away from his own perception and the language takes over rather than your thoughts because you’re restricted in what you can do.”
John’s career began at London’s Comedy Store, and his poem Malcolm was voted the second funniest in the country. He often works with children, and says that poetry’s “difficult” image is often undeserved. “I think people are aware that there are different sorts of poetry — everyone knows a limerick, that simple sort of rhyme, and then there’s stuff that’s a little bit more of a challenge,” he said.
This attitude is probably what makes his shows so family friendly . . . that and all the rhymes about dogs.
“It’s nice when parents bring their children,” he said. “Sometimes I joke that they’ve been dragged along, but hopefully they have to be dragged out at the end. It’s a warmer, more real thing if it’s a mixed crowd.”
l John Hegley appears at the Met, Market Street, Bury, tomorrow. Tickets cost £14/£10 concessions and are available from themet.biz or by ringing 0161 761 2216.
kdibbits@theboltonnews.co.uk
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