YOU can’t beat a bit of festive verse.

And there’s a very special bard who’ll be bringing his particular brand of poetry to Write Angle’s first Christmas at the Folly Upstairs venue.

He is Paul Lyalls, who is said to be funny, fast-moving, hip, accessible, rhythmic, clever, quirky and real. Wow.

Says Leah Cohen, of the popular Petersfield poetry group and open mic: “His charm and personality will knock you off your feet!”

As a performance poet, Paul’s gigged at around ten Edinburgh Festivals, Eton College and Glastonbury.

He’s also played to large crowds with esteemed contemporaries on the circuit including Michael Rosen, Roger McGough, John Cooper Clarke, Will Self, John Hegley, Benjamin Zepphaniah, Rastamouse and more.

One of the poets for London’s Olympic festivals, he is Poet in Residence for the Museum of Oxford and the Roald Dahl Museum, and he presented and starred with former World Poetry Slam Champion Kat Francois in the BBC’s The Big Poetry Slam House.

Paul’s poems have been published in the new A-Z of Poetry (Penguin/Puffin) by Michael Rosen, and more unusual gigs have included opening for indie rock group The Libertines and appearing on the national news after performing on a London bus.

He’s also run hundreds of workshops, youth projects, prisons and has been poet in residence in 24 schools.

The gig is at 7.15pm for 7.30pm on Tuesday, December 15, at The Folly Upstairs, Petersfield. Tickets £14 to include hot and cold food.