Well, it makes people laugh and that’s always a good start. It also captures the tone of Mark’s ambitions:to be different, inventive and make Performing Arts accessible and enjoyable for as many people as possible.

Mark is based in Milton Keynes but has performed all over the UK. You can click on the links to the left to find out more about him.

Mark acknowledges, and is very grateful for the financial assistance of Arts Gateway MK (formerly Milton Keynes Arts Association) and support from Arts Council England.

What others have said

“Mighty Fine” Elvis McGonagall

“A rising star of the UK Poetry Scene" Steve Larkin, Hammer and Tongue

”A histrionic Tour de Force" Rachel Pantechnicon

“Stuff like that is the reason I still go to poetry nights” Niall Spooner-Harvey

“Just seen Mark Niel smash it at Speakeasy. One to watch, literally and figuratively”. Tim Clare

Breaking News
May I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies? I missed a month! Careless of me I know but it has only been because I’ve been so very, very busy. I won’t bore you with huge swaths of detail so here are the edited highlights for June and July

• I played a headline gig for Hammer and Tongue in Oxford. Thanks to Steve Larkin et al for a wonderful night. This led to an appearance in “The Stage” as part of a feature about Poetry becoming more known for it’s performance.
• I did a couple of days at the Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham. Thanks to Alison Brumfitt for the invitation and organisation
• I was part of the One World Club’s appearance at Stony Live. A brilliant night this with a packed house at the Cock. (We’re only at the 7th June btw: I told you’d I’d been busy!)
• Tongue in Chic launched their anthology “Reflections from Mirror City”. This included a sneak preview at Scribal Gathering (also part of Stony Live this month) and the official launch at MK Library with the Mayor Debbie Brock. (As part of MK Reads) Thanks to Deborah Cooper and the staff for all their help and hospitality.
• I did a quick set at the Midsummer Fayre in Campbell Park and did a heat of “So you think you’re Funny?” in Leicester. Strange little gig this one. I did an eight minute set which went down well although the audience was mostly other acts. Sadly I didn’t progress any further and I’ve come to the conclusion, these competitions are looking for younger blood.
• I played a lovely gig at Jamboree in London. This is officially the most bohemian gig I’ve ever done as an artist painted the gig! Everyone had their portrait painted as the gig progressed as part of a montage. Lovely people and a great little gig.
• As the winner of the Wenlock Poetry Festival Slam, I was invited to read at a fund raising event for next year’s festival at the Dower House Gardens. This was a lovely summer day in a Rose Garden with a series of readings by different poets as we ate strawberries: Bliss!
• Next, the most horrendous gig of my life as a poet. See “The Poet as Pinata” post at pawhouseboy.blogspot.com/2010/06/poet-as-pinata.html
• Hurray! We’re into July! I had the honour of winning the Ledbury Poetry Festival Slam and followed this up with a feature performance at Bang Said the Gun!
• Buxton Fringe! This could be a chapter by itself! I took a Tongue in Chic Showcase to the Fringe (Thanks to everyone who gave up their time and especially Fay and Danni) and I was also a writer and cast member of “The Bright and Shiny Radio Show”. (Thanks to the cast for a wonderful time too). We all got good reviews and we covered our costs so that an excellent first Festival experience for us. I hope we can go on to bigger and better things
• Finally, I got through to the final of the UK Unsigned Spoken Word section which meant I performed at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 25th July. I was the runner up to Tsaka Campbell and congratulations to him. It was an awesome experience to perform on the same stage as so many of my comedy heroes from the past.

This has already been such a great year and there’s lot still to come. August sees me hosting the One World Club as well as appearing as part of Rrrants piece of the Camden Fringe and appearances at Word4Word in Stratford (East London) and the Green Man Festival in Brecon Beacons.

Please see the Gig Diary for more details and I hope to see you at an event soon. You can find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @GlamourSlammer

My very best for all your plans and endeavours. Keep writin’ and recitin’

Mark