It's poetry, but not as we know it

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Wandering on, tie askew, flies agape, he delivers poems about, among other things, goats, romantic rejection and David Blunkett. It would be unfair to say that his writing rambles because few pieces run to more than a couple of stanzas. But there is an aimless quality, with some rhymes simply petering out.

Yet there is clearly more to this subtle act than meets the eye. Brandishing an ever-present lager, it would be easy for Key to play the roaring drunk card and harvest obvious laughs. Instead he works the room with understated charm, flinging barbed remarks at soundman Tom here, doing clumsy magic tricks there.

Key has been compared to Spike Milligan and while the lunacy comes across clearly in his debut collection, just published by Zoo Logic, it does not always come across in performance. This is an amiable hour but forced to choose between Key onstage and on the page, I'd choose the latter.

Until 15 December (08700 600100, www.ticketweb.co.uk).

Tim Key: The Slut In The Studio
Arts Theatre
Great Newport Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 7JB