John Hegley

SproutSpoken welcomes back Luton's favourite son to Sprout Health Foods with his new show...

John Hegley returns to SproutSpoken with a celebratory jamboree chock-full of daft and deft wordplay, sing-along numbers and against all advice, a selection of ‘drawings’ and other curiosities. Gape in baffled exhilaration as the much loved bespectacled poet lays out a treasury of new and selected potatoes for your enjoyment, drawing on his recently published book ‘A Scarcity of Biscuit’.

The collection weaves gentle fictions and fanciful meanderings around the letters of Romantic poet John Keats to reflect on the ordinary business of living as the wellspring of true creativity and love. Featured amongst these gems in the wordpile, Hegley’s own mixed bag of on the road encounters with poetry enthusiasts nationwide have inspired a rich jumble of assorted writings to delight and bewilder by turns.

Join the intrepid boy glasses-wearer and his little sister aboard the Supersonic Sofa for loopy time-travelling adventures in exotic lands far from his Luton bungalow. Groove to the sweet harmonic sounds of French Baroque child prodigy Elisabeth Jaquet De La Guerre, set for mandolin with hand clapping, toe-tapping accompaniment and optional dancing. For virtuoso dromedary ventriloquy, look no further. Bring your own biscuits.

John Hegley is a poet, comedian, lumpy draughtsman and committed Luton Town Football Club supporter. Throughout the year, his performances and inclusive workshops in arts centres, theatres, comedy clubs, galleries and museums, literary and music festivals, hospitals, prisons, schools and libraries around the country encourage all to explore their creativity with unselfconscious brio.

(All image credits: Suzi Corker)

Doors open: 7pm
Sprout Health Foods open with hot food and bar.
Age guidance: 9+