John Hegley’s Biscuit of Destiny – PAWF

We are more than delighted to have festival favourite John Hegley join us to complete our Purbeck Art Weeks Festival line up.

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Expect a celebratory jamboree chock-full of daft and deft wordplay, sing-along numbers and against all advice, a selection of ‘drawings’ and other curiosities [he says…]. 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.

Full price tickets are £12, concessions are £8, and under 15 year olds are £5. We also have a family ticket for £30.

Please note that this event is made with adults in mind but of interest to the odd nine year old.

About John Hegley

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. He is the author of 14 books published variously by Serpent’s Tail, Otter-Barry Books, Methuen, Bloodaxe, Hodder Children’s Books and Donut Press. Beginning his writing and performing career as a member of the Interaction Community Arts company in London, he progressed to Comedy Store and cabaret spots subbed by energetic busking in Covent Garden with his band The Popticians. Following John Peel sessions on BBC Radio 1, he was the host of Border TV’s poetry series ‘Word of Mouth’ and a nominee for the Perrier Comedy Award. BBC Radio 4 commissioned three series of ‘Hearing with Hegley, and a variety of one off poetry programmes over the years. Currently he is working on a story about a travelling Frenchman, to be performed with a brass octet.

John will be on stage at 7.30pm for two 45 minute shows, with time in between to grab another drink from the bar. He will also be running a drawing workshop for adults and children on site on Sunday 11th June.

This event is part of our programme for Purbeck Arts Weeks Festival 2023 – we have lots more on offer across the two weeks from 27th May to 11th June, from open studios to workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and performance.

Important information

This is an open air concert so please dress accordingly for a Purbeck summer evening. We will have some hay bales and folding chairs on a first come-first-served-basis but please bring your own camping chair or similar if you want to be sure to sit down.

There will be no regular parking on site – the closest car park is at the National Trust visitor centre. You could use the regular bus service from Swanage or Poole, or even take the train from Swanage or Norden. We are a three minute walk from the village square, through the railway station and over the footbridge rather than along the main road.

Do let us know if you need seating or parking because of a health issue – we will try to sort something out for you.