“Bound” – Ian Gouge

Bound – Ian Gouge

The poetic monologues in Bound are the unspoken thoughts of individuals who find themselves in situations in which they are somehow tied or trapped. In their own way, each ‘speaker’ attempts to come to terms with their situation, to reconcile themselves with it, and — in some cases — perhaps find a way out.

Echoing some of the work of Samuel Beckett and T.S.Eliot, the poems are designed both to be read off the page and delivered on stage as dramatic monologues.

The penultimate piece in the collection is, Crash: the last 30 minutes of a life.

From the 2025 performance at the Louth Literary Festival:

“I was spellbound.”

“Ian’s solo performance holds his audience mesmerised with Crash, taking them on a meandering journey through a man’s jumble of memories, dreams and imaginings, which weave together into a life, while all the time there’s a remorseless count-down to the end of that life.”

“Crash is an infusion of complex reverberant images and allusions which keeps an audience engaged and alert.”

Crash was first performed by the author in its final form as a dramatic monologue at the Ripon Theatre Festival, 2023:

“Ian Gouge commanded the sell-out audience seated in the vault at the Ripon Festival with his performance of Crash. His highly original poem, with hints of Dylan Thomas and Milton, was more than a reading: Ian’s acting gave life to the stanzas and the spaces around them giving the audience value for money, plenty to talk about and most importantly, a good think.”

“I found ‘Crash’ to be a meticulously-crafted flow of images and ideas that was both absorbing and intriguing.”

“Crash is an intimate look into the end of a life fully lived. This poem is unsentimental but realistic in unpacking the thoughts which may seem significant in those final moments. The poet expresses insight into the reality of his life and provides the audience with much to consider.”

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