Doctor Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine

Contact: www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Doctor Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine
Written and performed by Martin Figura

‘I see a lot of poetry but yours is the first show I ever gave a standing ovation. It was a tour de force - moving and deeply courageous.’ Jo Bell Director of National Poetry Day on Whistle by Martin Figura

Is there a mathematical equation for love and the behaviour of a beating heart? What can be retrieved from life’s catastrophes and wounds? When our windshield is blurred with rain and we’re wearing our reading glasses, can we learn to look in the rear view mirror and smile?

Doctor Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine, the new stage production from award winning poet Martin Figura, turns to inspirational mathematics guru Sir Erik Christopher Zeeman’s iconic machine, the moon and photographs to shed light on these pressing questions and to help him sort out love, loss and when to let go.

‘Figura was a revelation – funny, sharp and on top form.’ Robert McCrum, Observer

The show finds the adult life Martin made for himself, following his moving portrayal of the shocking events surrounding his mother’s death at the hand of his father (when Martin was just 9 years old) described in his show Whistle. It has early performances at Poetry-next-the-Sea Festival in Wells, London’s Roundhouse and Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

As he approaches 60, Figura comes to terms with his own mortality in a theatrical performance fusing words, sounds and visuals. With his measured skill, poise, wit and humour he looks back to his first marriage (and subsequent divorce), the birth of his children, their development and meeting his current wife in 2004.

Mostly set in the latter half of the 20th century, the 'post war, mod or rocker generation' of which Figura (an occasional mod) is part, the show blurs the edges of personal memory as he learns to move forwards and how (some) catastrophes eventually turn out for the best. He takes an American road trip with his son and his Down’s Syndrome daughter, engages in intense relationships with cartoon characters and leaves home for college.

On stage the titular Catastrophe Machine (which used mathematics in an attempt to understand human behavioural science) is built as an imposing prop that plays an active part in the proceedings, becoming a tool for marriage guidance and the deeply moving humanity of the poems.

The show is illustrated with visual projections and an atmospheric soundscape and the script was developed and edited with support from poet and multimedia provocateur Ross Sutherland. Figura has a commanding yet genial stage presence, drawing out the wit in the words as his poetry come alive on the stage, illustrating how our pasts, presents and future blur. Doctor Zeeman’s Catastrophe Machine will interest anyone charmed by Whistle while introducing him to new audiences.

‘This show is astonishing… full of details picked out by a poet’s eye’ ★★★★ Natasha Tripney, Exeunt (Whistle)

Born in Liverpool and now living in Norwich, Martin Figura is a poet, retired army major, qualified accountant (winner of the 1976 RAPC Apprentice College Accounting Prize no less) and photographer. But mostly a poet. His breakthrough collection Whistle was published by Arrowhead in 2010 and toured extensively in the UK and to India as a stage show. It won the Hamish Canham prize, the Sabotage Best Spoken Word Show and was nominated for the Ted Hughes award. He has been been widely published and exhibited as both a poet and photographer.

Price: £10.00. (£10 (or £18 joint ticket with Linton Kwesi Johnson same night)www.norwichartscentre.co.uk)

Time: 8:00pm