Tough side of Byron's poetry for Maltings, St Albans

HAILED as the brightest new star on the poetry block, Byron Vincent is appearing at Oral Cabaret at the Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans next Wednesday, July 22.

Dragged up on some of the country's toughest council estates, Byron's flowery name and love of language prompted him to choose to fight back with poetry.

Armed with poems such as Kevin's An 'erbert and Never Buy Drugs At A Festival, his witty and subversive brand of barking doggerel has gone down a storm on the UK poetry scene.

Subject matter for Byron's poems ranges from Elton John's salad preferences - he is a rocket man apparently - to a night out in Preston and the state of the nation. In performance his poems are linked with self-deprecating quips and wry observational comedy.

He is one of the spoken word circuit's most popular performers and is a regular at theatres and festivals throughout the UK.

Oral Cabaret, which gets underway at 8pm, will be hosted by Hemel Hempstead's own poet laureate, Mat Lloyd. Often referred to as The Skater Poet, Mat cites Gil Scott Heron, Ice-T and Benjamin Zephaniah as just a few influences on his poetry.

Tickets are �5 with concessions �4, available from the box office on 01727 844222.

Saturday Children's Cinema at the arts theatre next weekend finds a performance of The Secret of Moonacre getting underway at 2pm.

When 13-year-old Maria Merryweather's father dies, leaving her orphaned and homeless, she is forced to leave her luxurious London life to go and live with her eccentric uncle Sir Benjamin at the mysterious Moonacre Manor.

It is there she discovers she is the last Moon Princess and, guided by an unlikely mix of allies, she must overcome her family's pride in orders to unearth the secrets of the past before the 5,000th moon rises and Moonacre disappears into the sea forever.

The film on Saturday, July 25, stars Ioan Gruffudd, Dakota Blue Richards and Tim Curry and tickets are �2.50.