Part of Stamford Verse Festival

The Further Adventures of Monsieur Robinet: John Hegley

'Typically brilliant songs and stories about a Gallic small-town hero with a dog called Chirac' - The Guardian

John Hegley's father was half French (the bottom half), and his comic poet and songster son has continued to dabble in the cross-channel heritage with imaginings in the rotundish shape of Monsieur Maurice Robinet, who is a playful and benevolent influence on both the world and its words (largely English, it should be noted).

John Hegley presents tales about a Frenchman with some unusual [but clean] habits, which include burying his dog’s kennel and his own luggage pieces. The stories appear alongside other new works, which include an address to aliens on the subject of transport, a poem about a non-talking parrot and and the demonstration of cardboard animals.

Deft and daft, the audience are invited to sing along. But not to dance. Much.

Hegley is known as a poet and singer with a common and comedic touch, hence the quotation from The Observer, 'Awesomely mundane'

The poet Adrian Mitchell said of him: 'Just because he is one of the funniest men alive, do not underestimate his dedicated gentleness.'

And The Luton News said that his lyrics, '...quite often make little sense'

Devised for adults but not unsuitable for the odd 9 year old.