![John Hegley Pens New Poem Ahead Of Beverley Appearance](http://www.hu17.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/jh.jpg)
Stand-up comedian and poet John Hegley has penned a new Beverley-themed poem ahead of his appearance at the Stage4Beverley arts and music festival this month.
Called “A Spinster by Beverley Minster” it recalls a time in the 1970’s when he was starting out – his first public performances for which he received money was as a busker on the streets of the town and neighbouring Hull.
By 1980 his “act” had transferred to the streets of London (Hegley was born in Islington) and soon after he achieved a breakthrough at London’s Comedy Store. He went on tour as one half of The Brown Paper Bag Brothers and received national exposure when he appeared with his backing band, the Popticians, on Carrott’s Lib (the TV show fronted by comedian Jasper Carrott) and recorded two sessions for John Peel.
Stage4Beverley is delighted to present John Hegley at the East Riding Theatre, Beverley, as part of its inaugural festival, from February 17 to 19. His family-orientated lunchtime show (suitable for aged 8 upwards), “Family Wordship”, will take over the main auditorium on Saturday February 18 at 12 noon.
Across the festival weekend there will be concerts, workshops, informal sessions and even a late night club, using every inch of the ERT – main auditorium, the excellent cafe bar (which boasts great food and drink by the way!) and theatre meeting rooms.
Headline acts include Scotland’s finest singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean, performance poet and comedian John Hegley, gypsy jazz sensations the Tcha Limberger Trio with Mozes Rosenberg, two-time BBC Folk Awards winners Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, the New York Brass Band and an appearance by Coope, Boyes and Simpson, on their farewell tour.
As well as the top names, the festival is also demonstrating its desire to encourage and promote young artists in the various musical styles. Each concert will feature one or more young acts and even some workshops will be led by, or aimed at, that age group who wish to perform or try their hand at the more technical side of staging performances.
The full programme can be viewed (and tickets ordered) via www.eastridingtheatre.co.uk
John’s poem (which you are free to reproduce):
A SPINSTER BY BEVERLEY MINSTER
I lost my busking money bag in Beverley.
it was the middle of The Seventies,
I’m pretty sure I left it on a bench
and to my jubilation,
it was handed in at Beverley police station
and I went in I signed for all the money I’d collected
and a foreign coin was indicated,
let’s say it was French.
Let’s say it had been thrown by my Aunt Daisy,
Aunt Daisy who I’d never get to meet.
Cleverly, she’d passed me by unnoticed
and thrown a little something at my feet.
Daisy, I sense you were someone playful
French and funny, not somebody dull.
Come with me next time I come to Beverley.
Go with me next time I’m off to Hull, Grimsby
or Barton-Upon-Humber.