AFTER taking London by storm with sell-outs galore, Bang Said The Gun will tour theatres nationwide.

Started as an antidote to dreary poetry and even drearier poetry nights, co-founders Dan Cockrill and Martin Galton established the spoken word club in a pub in Soho. The rich mix of new talent performing alongside some of the most established names in poetry including Roger McGough CBE (BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please presenter), Kate Tempest (Ted Hughes award winner) and Sir Andrew Motion (ex Poet Laureate), trademark makeshift maracas and anarchic spirit quickly gained a cult following and was soon being played to packed audiences on a weekly basis. Since January 2016, the raw, fast-moving and highly-energised night has continued its rise with various residencies and one-off shows including an Edinburgh Festival Fringe performance.

The bill at Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham on May 5 will include world Slam Champion Elvis McGonnagall.

Tickets and details from bangsaidthegun.com