Caligula on Ice

If you are not much into poetry performance, it may sound like a hippy happening shrouded in substance fumes.

But this was bang up to date. There were three sets like a well- rounded play with long intervals.

The opener was from Martin Figura, a stand-up poet of nostalgia and our first Christmas poem - “Every year we gather round the tree, opening old wounds.”

Tim Turnbull recited a philosophical puzzle about God living with teenagers. His work is a narrative of assorted tales, littered with props, voices, mimes and acting.

Turnbull's final set is the main piece - Caligula on Ice. It's a parody of a spiel for backers of a show that is comedy, circus and topical observation.

I left wondering what is the difference between a performance poet and a stand-up comic. Now I know the former wants to sell books, the latter wants to be loved, like a dog!