Martin Figura…. a poet, teacher, retired army major, qualified accountant (winner of the 1976 RAPC Apprentice College Accounting Prize), Randy Newman fan and photographer; but mostly a poet.

He’s a proud member of the Joy of Six, with whom he’s performed from New York to Cromer since 2000 and is an Apples & Snakes associate artist; they produced his show Whistle which received Arts Council Lottery Fund Awards in 2010 and was short-listed for the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. It won the 2013 Saboteur Best Spoken Word Show Award. Most of all he’s proud to be married to Bloodaxe poet Helen Ivory.

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Helen Ivory She is currently an Editor for The Poetry Archive & of the webzine Ink Sweat & Tears, and Course Director for Creative Writing for Continuing Education at UEA and lives in Norwich with her husband, Martin Figura, where they run Café Writers – a live literature organization.

She was born in Luton in 1969 & began to write poems at Norwich School of Art in 1997 under the tuition of George Szirtes with whom she is co-editor of In their Own Words: Contemporary Poets on their Poetry (Salt 2012). She won an Eric Gregory Award in 1999 and then disappeared into a field in the Norfolk countryside to look after two thousand free-range hens. When she emerged ten years later, she had two Bloodaxe Books collections, her fourth being Waiting for Bluebeard.

She is also an assemblage artist and makes shadow boxes from found and squirrelled objects.

Accessibility info:-

The event is suitable for adults, young people and older children - children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  Young children are also welcome to come along but be aware some poems may contain adult content (although we try to keep these until after children have left!). 

The event is held on our first floor, which is accessible by a wide staircase with a sturdy banner, and seating is provided.  We regret that, due to space and other constraints, we are unable to relocate this particular event to the ground floor for those who require level access - so sorry. 

Timings:

Doors 7.30pm, performance starts 8pm and will be finished by 10.30pm latest.  Please note that, although we attempt to always start on time, performances here are innovative and challenging to set up and may start slightly later than the advertised start time.  Our cafe is open beforehand so that you can enjoy a drink, light supper or snack if you arrive early.

Travel information:-

We are a city centre venue and parking can be in short supply.  If you are driving, please make sure you leave plenty of time to find a space click here for a map of where the nearest parking spaces can be found.

We are about 10 minutes walk from Southampton City Centre train station and on the route for most city centre buses.

Do you have a question about coming to this event?  Please click here for a list of our event FAQs

Click here to go to The Art House what's on page

FAQs

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

Events are open to all ages unless otherwise stated, however please note that our mission is to provide creative activity primarily to adults, therefore most of our programme is aimed at 16 years and over.  Performances may include stronger language.

Life drawing classes are open to over 18s only.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Please click here for details of how to find us.

What can/can't I bring to the event?

Please don't bring your own food or drink to The Art House.

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

The best way is by email to info@thearthousesouthampton.co.uk

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

If you have a smartphone, we prefer that you save paper and show us your ticket on a phone.

What is the refund policy?

Tickets are not refundable unless the event is cancelled.

The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay?

As long as the person making the booking is with you, that's fine. 

All bookings for events are subject to our Terms and Conditions which can be viewed here